The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-12-31
influential as the vote Of the Union
soldier north.
THE 14rH AMENDMENT.

/ lnuuentlhl AS tue NOto Oi the UNION
soldier north.
THE l4rH AMENDMENT.
But the white men OF the South did
not acquire aud do not hold this supe-
rior power by reason OF law or justice,
but in disregard and defiance OF both.
The 18th amendment TO the constitu-
tion was expected to be and was de-
signed To be "A preventative aud correc-
tive of all such public abuses. The
reading Of the clause applicable to the
case IL instructive aud suggestive
Hear il: Representatives shall be ap.
portioned among the several States ac-
cordIng 10 their respective numbers,
counting the whole number OF persons
in each State. excluding Indians not
taxed. But when the right to vote at
any election for tho choice OF electors
for President aud Vice President Of
the United States, representatives In
Congress. the executive and judicial
officers of State, or the members OF
the legislature thereof. is denied to
any of the male inhabitants OF such
State being 2l years OF age, and citi-
zens OF the United States. or in any
way abridged, except for participation
in rebellion or other crime, the basis
of representation therein shall be re-
duced in the proportion which the
number OF such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male cIti-
zens II years OF age in such State. The
patent, uudeniable intent Of this pro-
vision was that il any class of voters
were denied or in any way abridged in
their right of suffrage, then the class
so denied or abridged should not be
counted in the basis OF representation;
or, in other words, that no State or
States should gain large increase OF
representation ia Congress by reason
Of counting any class Of population
not permitted TO take part in electing
such representatives. But the con-
struction given 10 this provision is that
before any forfeiture Of representation
can be enforced the denial or abridg-
ment II suffrage must be the result OF
law specially enacted by the State
Under this construction every negro
voter may have his suffrage absolutely
denied OF fatally abridged by the vio-
lence, actual or threatened, of ire
sponsible mobs. or frauds aud decep-
tions Of State officers from the Govern
or down TO the last election clerk, aud
then, unless some State law eau be
shown that authorizes the denial or
abridgment, the State escapes all pen
atty or peril Of reduced representa-
lon. This construction may be up
held by the courts. ruling on the letter
Of the law, (which kllleth," bat the
spirit of instice cries aloud against the
evasive aud atrocious conclusion that
deals out oppression TO the innocent
aud shields the guilty from the legiti-
mate consequences OF willful trans
gression.
HOLLOW MoCKERY.
The colored citizen is thus most un-
happily situated; his right of suffrage
is but q hollow mockery; Il holds to
his ear the word OF promise, but
breaks il always 10 his hope, and he
ends only in being made the unwilling
instrument of increasing the political
strength of that party from which he
received ever-tightening fetters when
he was a slave, aud contemptuous re-
fusal OF civil rights since he was made
free. He resembles. indeed. those un-
happy captives in the East who, de-
prived Of their birthright, are compell-
ed to yield their strength TO the up
building Of the monarch from whose
tyranuies they have most to fear. and
to fight against the power from which
alone deliverance might be expected. -
The franchise intended for the shield
aud defense of the negro has been
turned against him and against his
friends and has vastly increased the
power of those from whom he has
nothing to hope and everything to
dread.
The political power thus appropriat-
ed ty southern democrats 10y reason of
the negro population amounts 10 35
representatives in Congress. IL il
massed almost soiidly and offsets the
great State of New York; or Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey together; or the
whole Of New England; or Ohio and
Indiana united; or the combined
strength Of Illinois, Minnesota, Kan
sas, California, Nevada, Nebraska, Col
orado and Oregon. The seizure OF
this power is wanton usurpation; IT IL
fiagrant outrage; il il violent peryer-
sion Of the whole theory Of republi-
can government. IL inures solely TO
the present advantage, aud yet, / be-
lieve, 10 the permanent dishonor OF
the democratic party. IL is by reason
Of this trampling down Of human
rights, this ruthless seizure OF unlaw-
full power that the democratic party
holds the popular branch Of Congress
to-day and will in less than 80 days
have control OF this body also, thus
grasping the entire legislative depart
meut Of the government through the
unlawful capture Of he Southern
States. IL the prescribed vote Of the
South were cast as its lawful owners
desire, the democratic party could not
gain power. Nay, il it were not count
ed on the other side against the in
stincts and the interests, against the
principles and the preiudices OF its
lawful owners, democratic success
would be hopeless. IL is not enough,
then, for modern democratic tactics
that the negro vote shall be silenced
the demand goes further aud insist
that il shall be counted on their side,
that all the representatives in Con-
gress and all the presidential electors
apportioned by reason OF the negro
vote shall be so cast aud SO governed
as TO insure democratic success-re.
gardless Of justice, in defiance of law.
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN ELECTIONS.
And this injustice is wholly uhpro-
/ yoked. / doubt IL IL be in the power
/ of the most searching investigation 10
show that in any southern state during
/ the period of republican control, any
/ legal voter was ever debarred from the
freest exercise OF his suffrage. Even
! the revenges which would have leaped
into life with many who despised the
negro, were buried out of sight with a
magnanimity which the superior
race" fail to follow, and seem reluctant
TO recognize. l know il is said in re.
tort Of such charges against the south.
ern elections / am now reviewing that
unfairness Of eqnal gravity prevails in
northern elections. / hear II in many
quarters and read IL in the papers that,
in the late exciting elections in Massa.
chusetts, intimidation and bulldozing,
IL not so rough and rancorous a. in the
south, were yet as widespread and Fl.
fective. have read. aud yet / refuse
To believe, that the distinguished gen.
tleman. who made an energetic but un.
successful canvass for the governor
ship Of that state, has indorsed and ap.
proved these charges, and l have ac.
cordingly made my resolution broad
enough TO include their thorough in.
| yestiQation 1 am not demanding fai,