Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-09-20
An Impending Danger.

when Gov Hayes, IN his letter of &C
ceptance, said that the guarantees of the
National Constitution aust ali be respect
ed, and its provisions be enforced, those
that are new equally with those that are
Old, he showed his sagacity as well as his
sense of justice. He indicated by his
statement that it might become question
IN the future, whether the later guarantees
OF the Constitution-the amendments
adopted since the rebellion was conquered
ARE to be considered binding and to be
enforced. Many, perhaps most, people
Will say: Why, of course, the new
amendments cannot now be disturbed
they are all safe enough-why raise this
query?' But due reflection and Il knowl-
edge of the whole situation will convince
possibility, but a near one, of this very
question being forced on the attention of
the people, provided Tilden and Hen
bricks are elected, and a Congress with a
Democratic majority along with them.
The conquered rebels never have felt any
respect for the amendments to the Consti
tuition that secure the freedom of the col
ored race and the elective franchise to the
freedmen. These amendments were rati-
fed in spite of their hostility, and if they
could they would abrogate them. Already
they practically nullify them in many por-
tons of the South. The old copperhead
element of the Democratic party in the
North was equally hostile to all the
amendments, and opposed their adoption.
The Democratic candidate for the Vice
Presidency, Thomas \. Hendricks, in the
United States Senate, and out of it,
openly and violently opposed these
amendments, as he also opposed
and denounced the emancipation
proclamation of President Lincoln. Men
like Hendricks would gladly cooperate
with the jeff Davis school of Southern
Democrats in getting rid of these amend
ments, if a way should be opened which
would make ii possible There is not a
shadow of doubt as to what these men of
both sections would do, if they could. But
YOU will say: &" How can these men ever
accomplish their desireN' They never
can while the executive and legislative de
! partments of the Government are con
| trolled by Republicans. But, given "A
! Democratic President and Democratic
/ Congress, and the work of undoing the
| labor of the last twelve years would not
! be So difficult as may be imagined The
| whole tenor OF Congressional legislation
would be hostile TO the practical enforce
ment of any law made in pursuance of
/ these amendments But the most impor-
/ tant of all is the plan which is cherished
1 by these men in reference TO a change in
I the United States Supreme Court that
would give them precisely the advantage
they seek. They remember the days of
the doughtaces, and OF the superservice
able zeal of fancy, and his associates
they recall the bred Scott " decision
1 and have scheme for the future that
promises well for their wishes, provided
the Democratic party is restored to pow,
er. Ii is clearly set forth in a letter re-
Gently written to Col, John W. Forney
of the Philadelphia Press, by a gentle
man who resides in the South, who wa,
before the late war a Douglas Democrat
of high standing. Read now what this
Southern man says to Col Foney:
" Let me say to you, my dear friend
that if Tilden and Hendricks are elected,
the Secessionists viii own them, and viii
control the Government We viii have
no peace for a century to come The SIR
orems Court Of the United States 5siH BE- en-
I tfrgal % make majority Qf' Democrats on
I rs bench. rho lriH deelGre the FGHYt5eaH
and ether amendments no part # TIE Con.
st,tu'ioa # tie CaHea Stutes. Many o.
our former slave-ownerS believe that il
the Democrats can get possession of til,
Government that sach owners will b,
uaid Tor their slaves Jefferson Davis. in
that case, viii he peuSioued within til,
next three years, and the family Of every