The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-31
.whas the Deoisions Mean.


So far from limiting the powers OF Con
press, the decisions of the Supreme Couri
Id the Kentucky and Louisiana cases declare
that Congress has power to interfere In cleo
tionsfor State oficers-apower never claimed
byCongress itself.
The following extract indicate q just ap
preciation on the part OF the writers Of them
OF the purport of the decisions =
Jnthe so-calied enforcement law Congress
undertook to protect coiored citizens from
Discrimination on the ground OF their Color
In The exercise of political rights. Ibis was
q Legitimate ain, for legislation. It was
legislation intended to protect right cons
sorrefs by the Constitution. The fifteenth
amendment, says the Court, has invested
the citizens of the United States With new
constitutional right s9That right is ex'
cmption from discrimination Ia the exercise
Of the elective franchise on account OF race,
color, or previous condition Of servitude.,
But Congress in seeking to protect this RICH,
framed q lsw under which election officers
were held responsible Tor refusing to citi
zen The exercise Of the elective franchise,
when it wss not clear that the refusal was
based on the color or race Of the citizen.
must limit Its requirements to the clear pro.
visions Of the Constitution.--NeU York
Times. ia.
The Ccurtfulsy admits that Congress may
pass q law for insuring the civil and political
equality Of the negroes. Ii the Republican
psrty bad sooner known that by attempting
TOO much they had accomplished nothing,
it would have been In their power to substi'
tute appropriate legislation for the uncoDsti'
tueiopai law which they enacted. But thi;
decision ofihe Supreme Court, coming when
it does, not only apnuls the enforcement act,
but puts that provision Of the Constitution
In abeyauce which authorizes Congress 10
pass laws for the protection Of negro equal
ity. After the INSCRIPTIONS abuses OF fe'
gislation practiced by the Republican party
under color of that auth ority, and which the
Suprema Court has condemned, the Demo-
Gratis are not likely to consent to any further
legislation on the subject.-Ne,o York He
raid.
The decision of the Chief Justice denies
no principle ever contended for by Conserv.
alive Republicans, but, on the contrary, dis
timely sffirms the power of Congress to, pro-
tect the right to peaceably assemble for the
purpose OF petitioning Congress or discuss.
ing nations! affairs, and upholds the juris.
diction of the United States courts over all
offences committed in pursuance OF a con.
.spiracy TO interfere with this right.
The Kentucky case Ia the more important
of thetwo. because it raises the question as
to the power Of the Federal Government to
Observation-Disclosures against coiored voters
at State and municipal elections. The
court holds that the fifteenth amendment
does not confer the right OF suffrage on
any one, but it confers another right
to>Wit. the right of exemption from
discrimination In the exercise of the cleo
tive franchise on account Of race, color, and
previous condition of servitude. The Su.
preme Court holds that Congress has power
to enforce this right by appropriate legisla.
ton, to pass laws for the punishment OF In
.diyiduals who conspire to prevent the e1er.
else Of this right, and to give the Federal
courts jurisdiction over all offences commit
ted in violation of said laws. And IL is fur
ther held that this exemption from dis
examination on account of race, color, and
previous condition of servitude" applies to
State ard municipal as well 'ss Federal cleo
tions. Baltimore american.
Dangerous doctrine, truly. But, thank
Heaven, Democratic House of Represents
tives will not give the court the opportunity
to put 1t into practice. 81.