The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-02-18
KENosHA, WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IT, 1875.

that coloreds people shall be deemed
citizens (; andsthat no state shall enforce
any law which shall abrldge the priv
legcs and immunities of citizens Of the
United States. This provision was but
partially enforced, because the colortd
men had to go to the state courts, which
! were prtjndiced in their action. The
colOred man had no voice 10 making or
constructing the laws, and n" voice
whatever in the Government. We are
pral ected here in Wisconsin in the e,-
jnyment of our rights, because every man
is rhe equal OF every other man What
visits Us to-day may visit another to-
morrow. So we all have the SEINE and
common interest in obeyips and en-
forcing the la Rs. We have cur voice
in making the laws; in electlng Judges
to conetrue them and in selecting
oficers who are to carry judgments into
execution. This is the power which
every citizen wields to guard his own
rights.
The 18th amendment was passed for
the purpose of carrying this privilege
home to the colored man. This gave
to the col"red people OF the South who
were citizens of the United States, q
voice In the government; this gave them
voice as to what the laws should be,
and who should const1ue them The
provisions, however, are mere 6eclsra
tions of general right. They are not
capable of executing themselves. It is
provided that no state shall make or
enforce any law to impair the privileges
of any citizen. Suppose they do, what
than There is no remedy. Ccnse-
quent'y, Congress passed laws for the
purpose of executing those amendments,
giving the colored man right of action
in the courts of the Union for any vio-
lation. So, in other respects. Congress
made laws for the purpose of carrying
the am endments into effect, bringing
them home as personal shield for his
rights.
We all know that the Democratic
party eatertaiFs totally diff rent views
on this subject. Refer to the last Pres
iden'ial campaign. The Hon. Jeremi&h
8. Black wrote letter giving his rea-
sons why be would vote for Mr.. Greeley.
he said he had never sympathized with
Greeley's political sentiments, but if Mr..
Greeley was elected, the Democratic
party would be brought into power,
and that would be the beginning of the
end Of the hateful amendments to the
constitution. If there is a man in the
United States that knows the Democratic
party, Mr.. Black may be said to be that
man.
1t may be that the Democratic party
would be too prudent to propose an
amendment to the constitution to abol-
ish either of those amendments. But it
IS manifest that they canDot be carried
into execution without the existence
of acts Of Congress fer that purpose !;
and the Democratic party could in
bill Of ten lines strike out every act of
Congress which carries these amend
ments into execution. Suppose the
State deprlves a man of his vote, he is
Eowerless without an act of Congress
giving him remedy. Such an act has
been passed, making the provisions of
tho institution practical benefit and
| blessing to the colored man. Congress
might, tomorrow, by single statute
repeal all those acts, and leave the 18th
amendment dead letter in the consti-
tuition. There is very good reason to
| fear that such would be the case il the
Democratic party got into power:
desire to speak with kindness Of the
Democrats. see before me some of
them whom have known as friends
for years and now since they have
been brought into our camp, I desire to
treat them. justly. 1t is not unjust to
Judge of their motives by their actions.
Should that party regain the govern
meat, there is no doubt these amend
ments would be swept out Of ex stence.
This goes to the very existence of the
cclored man, to his right of franchise,
and to all rights that are dear TO every
citizen, and we, of the Republican party,