Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-01-23

I observe, has presented : resolution in
The Senate oftae UnSsed States Of which
I viii only qocte q email portion, that
being sufficient for The brief comments
and points design to make.
Z" Resolved a. the Judgment Of the Senate,
That the 18th, 18th and 18th Amendments % the
Constitution Of ate United States have been L.
gally ratified and are as valid and Of the same
paramount authority as any other part Of the
Constitution" &c, &c.
] have frequently known the Consti-
tuition TO be construed and applied As
EnSEesfioned authority, but do not re-
collect that Congress or any ether SEN
sible body Of men ever thought il ne
cessary until within q few years back
to adopt resolutions declaring the Con-
stitution "vaIid and Of paramount authori-
ty." No one ever thought Of doubling
il. But since Mr.. Edmund's party OBJ
tanned power, they have had Consfitu-
tional Amendments adopted in such .
way as 10 leave but little if any doubt
Of their utter inyslidiiy. Resolutions
upon resolutions have been Offered in
Congress, Nassk AegisIssures aeA po-
liticsl Conventions pro and con. 'and
have LEFT the public Judgment as unset
tied as Mr.. Edmund's resolution, no
matter what may be its fate, will leave
it. He must surely know that such
resCistion cannot establish either the
validity or invalidity ola Constitutional
Amendment. If ratified according to
the 9Th Article OF the Constitution, il
wants no resolution Of the Senate or
Congress TO give 1t validity; il not rati-
fed as required by said Article. no res
olution Of any body Of men.can take
away its utter invalidity. This is so or
the entire Constitution is q dead letter.
I am glad, however, that the Senator
has offered this resolution, as presume
he will undertake by argument to en-
tighten the judgment Of the Senate to
which he appeals q well ~ the public
mind upon the point which he raises
that these Amendments have been "le-
gally ratified" For one, / shall be
greatly obliged to him ,f he will re-
move my convictions Of the utter lille.
gality Of their ratification, for a. now
convinced, when I swear to support
the Constitution Uf the United States, /
swear net to support these Amend
meats, and have heretofore and shall
heresfter 10 every case as in duty bound
be governed by that oath.
Its the DISCUSSION therefore on the
subject the Senator has presented in his
resolution that will have beneficial eff
feet, and it is hoped Mr.. Edmunds will
open fully and that there will be other
intellects of the Senate who will take
care that the Constitution of ous revo-
lutionary fathers, which they are sworn
TO support, shall not go without brave
and gallant defence.
If you can allow me space, I will
present some ofthe questions and points
which think will be raised and eIuci-
dated in the great discussion which
must take place on Senator Edmund's
LIST. Upon the submission by Con- |
gress of the 18th and 18th Amendments
10 the several States, had not the Leg
islature Of each State the right freely,
without constraint and Internationally, |
10 adopt or reject them!
2nd. After being submitted to each |
State, did not more than one-fourth Of
said States, acting freely and without
reject the 18th Amendment.
and if they did (0s is certain how could |
i become a part fthe Constitution, the
5th Article Of which requires its ratifi-
cation by three-fourihs of the States
3rd. When thus rejected, coulditagain
,e acted on withouta new submission ac-
;ording to the 9Th Article Of the Con-
'titutions
4th. Was there any such submits
ion, and il said Amendment was
adopted without such submission, as no
loubt it was, is it q valid part OF, the
5th. Had Congress the Constitu-
ional power to compel the Southern
States latter they had already freely
elected the Amendment) 10 adopt il.
md was not Congress guilty of such
in making representation in
congress from those States to depend
Ipon such adoption: in other words. is
'ot constraint destructive Of election
9th. The 18th Amendmeu: was re-
ected by the votes Of the Southern
'tates and Maryland. Kentucky. Cali
urnis and others, making more than
ne-fourth Uf all the States. Was IL pro-
'er and legal that the rejection by these
ast named States should be made inef-
ectual by Congressional constraint
pom the Southern States an shown in
be law passed the 2nd of March, 1867,
y which they were compelled, as be-
ore stated. TO adopt it'
7th. II free negroes had possessed
III rights and privileges a. cilizens un-
er the Constitution ofthe United States
sit was originally adopted. could they Tor
ny other eitizens) have been deprived
{ those rights and privileges by an
mendment OF the Constitution ratified
D the same manner IS the 14th Amend
lent, aud if rights and privileges can
ot be taken away by such . proceed.
~, how can they be gwen?
8. Upon the whole, il il is agreed
y the people of the States that negroes
hall have all the rights claimed for
hem under the 1Afh and 18th Amend. |