The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-09-18
Thoughts on the Situation.
from the Baltimore county Union. ]


We sometimes hear people say,
"oh, the country will be safe under
Democratic rule, and the rights of all
citizens are safe, because the amend
ments to the constitution guarantee
to every citizen of the United States
equal rights" That is very true, but
let US looks further; there may be
"breakers" ahead. 1t is wellknown
fact that there are class of men in
the Democratic. party-men of great
influence, too-whO have never adj
united that the amendments to the
constitution are constitutional. For
proof of which need only refer you
to the National Democratic platform
Of 1868. where you will find the fol-
lowing: 1.-The reconstruction acts of
Congress (Which were based upon the
above amendments and alone could
make them-the amendments -Oper.
ative) as such. are us,opatio,as and
unconstitutional, revolutionary and
Uoid." Now if that representative
body of Democrats that framed that
platform considered and declared the
laws made tho amendments operative
usurpations and unconstitutional,
revolutionary and void, is it not
reasonable to believe that they con-
sidered the amendments themselves
unconstitutional, revolutionary and
void? And is it not reasonable to
believe that the Democrats will,
practically, legislate them out of ex-
istence?
Some one may say that according
to the constitution it requires the
consent of three iourths of States to
alter or amend the constitution and
that three fnurths of the States wodld
not agree TO abolish them. The
Democratic party declared in 1868
that it was the reconstructive acts
alone that made the amendments
operative and if that be the case 10
does not require the consent of three
fOurthS or even one half of the States
to abolish them, but simply a major
ity of Congress to repeal the recos-
struction laws TO render them inop-
erative AMI void. But then we are
told that if Gen. Hancock is elected
the amendments are safe, for he has
so declared in his letter of acceptance.
That is true, but Gen Hancock has
never said that he would not give his
assent to the repeal of the reconstruc-
ton acts which make the amend
ments operative; on the contrary he
has said of the platform of the Dem
ocratic party in 1868, which declared
the reconstruction acts unc1bnstftu-
tional.. ''Those who suppose that /
do not acquiesce in the work of the
National Democratic Convention
know very little of my character"
A fter the reconstruction acts are
disposed Of by Congress ifthe amend
nlents are still in the way plans FIR
getting entirely rid of them are al
ready matured, one of which is to
obtain control Of the Supreme Court
and have said Court declare the
amendments unconstitutional. Some
one may say. 1.-The Supreme Court
is composed of nine Judges, seven of
whom are Republicans, and they
hold their Office for life. and conse
quently it would not declare the
amendments unconstitutional" That
is true as at present constituted the
Court wGuld sustain its former ebeci-
sion, but Congress has the power to
increase the number of Judges, and
on the Goth, Of last January Mr..
Manning, of Mississippi, introduced
bill to make the Court consist of
twenty.one Judges. This bill passed
a second reading and has been refer
red to a committee that is friendly to
its passage, and if the Democrats
carry this election it will be reported
and passed, and Democratic Presi-
dent will not be expected to appoint
any Republican Judges, but on the
contrary he will undoubtedly appoint
twelve Democrats, which will give
the Democratic party the necessa y
tw0.thirds.