The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-01-23
THE DEMOCRATIC RESOLUTIONS

for the s'good will resolution introduced
by Edmunds. 1t would seem that re.
publicans are fearful of the last three
amendments to the constitution and at
the short intervals go through the form
of affirming their validity. Nobody
thinks of denying that these amendments
are an organic part of the constitution,
and but for other matters in the resolu-
tons democrats would silently acquiesce
in going through a form which can
neither make more obligatory nor lessen
the force of amendments. How the
Wisconsin can find fault with citations
of the constitution in the resolutions
adopted by the democratic caucus, it is
difficult to understand. 1t is true that
the government of the United States is
one of delegated powers. 1t is also true
that all powers not granted by the con-
stitution to the United States, nor pro-
hibited by it to the states are reserved to
the states respectively or to the people.
Article X, Amendments.
This article gives powers to the state
which they may exercise when not in
conflict with the United States constitu-
ton, laws or treaties, which are declared
to be the supreme laws of the land, by
Art. VI, of the Constitution. 1t must
be true then that citizens owe an allegi-
ance to the state of which they are citi-
zens as well as to the United States of
which they are citizens. People become
citizens of Wisconsin by residence of
one year and declaration of intention TO
become citizens Of the United States. A
| good deal more is required to become
citizen of the United States. If there be
| a squint toward the extreme doctrine of
state rights in enunciating these princi-
| pies the fault is with the United States
Constitution. A state may require resi-
dence within its borders certain time of
citizen of the United States before he
! is allowed to vote. Is this an abridg-
ment of his rights as citizen of the
United States? When the state makes no
distinction on account of race, color &c,
the Constitution of the United States is
satisfied with any other requirement
which does not clash with its provisions.
Simple residence in the state of Wiscon-
sin of citizen of the United States is
not sufficient to render him eligible to
certain state offices unless he be also an
elector in the state. Is it not the duty of
Wisconsin to protect its citizens from the
administration as governor, of citizen
of the United States and of the state OF
Illinois, who is not an elector in this
state and hence not citizen?
The qualifications of voter are fixed
by the respective states. Though the
constitution of the United States fixes
the qualifications of president, sena-
tors and members of congress it leaves
the matter of the qualifications of the
primary electors of these officers to the
several states. As the United States
leaves it discretionary with the states to
declare who shall be electors, interfering
only to prevent discrimination on account
Of race &c, it would seem emiin1ently
tenders for the violation of its own laws.
The Wisconsin seeks to give
an unfair construction to the
fourth resolution which reads, THAT
when such right TO vote is denied OF
abridged by the conduct of person who
is not so acting by the authority and in
obedience to the laws of state, the iu-
rlsdiction to punish such conduct is in the
state government, and is not in the gov
eminent of the United States" Clearly
the word "acting' in the above refers to
"denied or abridged" and does not mean
''votlng" as the Wisconsin parenthet
ically explains. 1t does mean that when
the person is not acting in obedience to q
law of the state in SO preventing suffrage,
he is to be punished by the state. In
ferentially it means if he is acting in
obedience to any law of the state antag-
onistic to the 10Th amendment he is
to be punished by the United States, as
his allegiance to the United States is
paramount to his allegiance to the state.
The 18th amendment through the &C.
clared supremacy of the constitution of
the United States over the constitution
of any state, operated as an amendment
to these constitutions prohibiting the
right of suffrage to negroes.