San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-03-17

last and from q higher court there
was Q decree from which there II no
appeal; that the constitution and laws
made, in pursuance thereof, and shall
oontiaue TO be heSupreme law, bind
ing alike upon states. This decree
does not disturb the, autonomy Of
states, nor interfere with any neces-
sary rights Of local government, bat
il does Ak and establish . supremacy
of the Union, the will Of q nation
speaking with the vehemence Of bat
tie, and through the amendment the
constitution has fulfilled the agreed
promise Of l776, by proclaiming lib
erty throughout the land to all the m
habitants thereof. 'p'p' y. ~ -ll I
!, The elevation Of the negro race
from slavery 10 full rights Of citizen,
ship is the most important political
change wehAve known since the adop-
ton Of, the constitution 1857. No
thoughtful man can fail to appreci-
ate its beneficial effects upon our in
stitutions and the people it has freed
from perpetual dangerof war and dis
solution. II has added immensely to
the industrial interests Of our country,
it has liberated master aslwell asslaye
from n relation which wronged and
.nfeebled both; it has surrendered to
them our guardianship, the manhood
of more than 100000 people and
opened to each of them u career of
freedom and usefulness; IL has given
a new inspiration to the power Of
self help in both races, by making la
Dor more honorable in the one and
more necessary to the other. In the
future this force will grow more great
and bear richer fruit with the coming
years. No doubt the general change
has caused serious disturbances To
our southern communities this is to
be deplored, though it was perhaps
unfavorable. but those who resist
change should remember that under
our institutions there was no middle
ground FOR the negro race. Between
equal citizenship there can be no per-
manent disfranchised peasantry in the
United States. Freedom can, never
yield its fulness of blessings SO long
as law or its administration places the
smallest obstacle in the way OF any
virtuous citizen. The emancipated
race has already made remarkable pro-
gress. With unquestionable devotion
to the union, with patience and gen.
tlenessN not born Of fear, they have
followed the light as God gave them
to see light They are rapidly laying
the material foundation of self-sup-
port widening the channels of intel
ligence and enjoying. }, the blessings
that gather around the homes OF in
dustrlous people. They deserve the
generous encouragement of all good
men. So faras my authority can law
fully extend they shall enjoy the full
and equal protection Of the constitu-
ton and laws. The full and free en-
.joyment of equal suffrage is still in
tquestion, and o frank statement of
the issue may aid it's solution. 1t is
alleged that in manyplaces honest To-
cal government is impossible if the
mass of negroes are allowed to vote.
These are grave allegations, SO far as
the latter is true, it is the only solu-
ton that can be offered for opposing
| the freedom Of ballot Bad local gov
ernment is certainlya great evil which
ought to be prevented, sbut to violate
the sanctity Of suffrageis more than
IAN evil, it is acrime, which, If per-
sisted in, will destroy the government,
and if in other lands it sbe high trea-
son to compass the death Of u king,
/ it should be counted no less a crime
here TO strnngle our sovereign power
and stiae its voice. II has been said
of the unsettled question that I have
no pity for the repose of nations, and
it shouId be said with the utmost en-
will never give, repose1 or safety to
states or nations till each within its
own jurisdiction, makes apd keeps the
ballot free and pure by the strong
sanctions of law. -ui
.OAMGA.l m.;sos f,.,,,,, ~
Du' 'ne oanSer ~non .a. s. ~ T ~
snYrance III .ne .oOei so,a | 'for u,;dar
nieu' 10 oo'e,o - .uas,u"and