The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-29
JUDICIAL Blindness,

we are not struck with judicial blindness,
we shall cling 10 the Constitution as the
mariner clngs to the last plank when
night and the tempest close around him"
One cannot but feel when reading the crude
surccstions OF northern Republican papers
as 20 what may or may not be done under
the redera, Constitution TO compel the
southern states TO vote the Republican ticket
IN presidential elections. that che EDITOR OF
those papers have indeed been "struck
with judicial blindness" Their malignity,
TOO. Is exha,istless. There seePs to be no
cu,e for Il. II il chronic disease, and
will probably last as long rs the editors
aforesaid themselves. Here is specimen
suggestion:
DrsrRaNcHIsEp CIIIzESs.-lt is the duty
OF the nation. under the Constitution, 10
guarantee 10 every State republican form
~ government. This being the case. the
INQUIRY Is pertinent: What is republican
form Of government. II is government
OF the people by the people, and the term
people means the citizens OF the United
States. A free ballot is the basis OF this
Government. Every male citizen, whether
white or black, rich or poor, foreign-Dorn
or native. Is entitled by law to the ballot,
and a state that denies by law or force the
free exercise Of this privilege Is IN reoei,
hon against the Constitution OF the united
States. is disloyal to the Government. ana
forfeits its right TO representation IN Con-
press and in the electoral college that
chooses President aud Vice-President OF
the United States.
First. let us say that women are citizens
of the United States. The 18th article OF
amendments TO the Federal Constitution
provides that "oll persons lnot al male
personsl born or naturalized in the United
States. and subjec, TO the jurisdiction
thereof. are citizens OF the United States
and Of the state wherein they reside SO
that II the term "people" means " the
citizens Of the United States" it includes
women. And il Government cannot be
republican in form which denies the right
OF suffrage to all its "people," then no
State in the Union has a republican form
OF government. That of itself Is con-
elusive answer to all the suggestions con-
tanned in the paragraph quoted above.
But, secondly, il "eyery male citizen,
whether white or black, rich or poor, for
eien.born or native, is entitled by law to
the ballot" then the Republicans OF Penn
ylvlnia, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts,,
have not learned the fact. They have not
heard Of any such law" and would no
doubt be greatly surprised if the astute
Mr.. HALsTEAD-the author OF the nonsense
we are commenting upon-eOuld point
them 10 such a law. In Rhode Island citi-
zens of foreign birth are not allowed to
vote unless they own real estate. In Mas
sachusetts no voter. "white or black,
rich or poor. foreign-born or native"
is allowed 10 vote unless he is able to
read the Constitution Of that State. In
PENNSYLVANIA, no citizen is allowed to vote
who has not paid tax Of some sort, and
paid II a month, or perhaps two or three
months. before the election. Is ga free
ballot the basis OF the governments oil
Rhode Island, Pennsylvania. and Massa-
causetts. Are those intensely Republican
States lin rebellion against the Constitu'
ton Of The United States! Are they
"disloyal to the Government! Have
they forfeited theiE right TO representa-
ton in Congress ana in the electoral col
leee that chooses President and Vice
President OF the United States!
rhirdy, the Constitution as It was rati-
fed nearly hundred years ago contained
the provision Mr.. HALsTEAD refers to
Guaranteeing to every State republican
form OF gevernment). At that time, and
for for;y-odd years afterwards, none bu'
freeholders could vote in Virginia. Oh
sGearped THEBAN," is 1t possible that JET
FErsoN. MADISON, MONROE, HENRY, RAN
poLPu. and WASHINGTON, did not know
what the trainers OF the Constitution mean
bv the words "a republican form OF gov
eminent. II they had been as wise a
Mr.. HALsrEAD. they would have laid
down as an indisputable proposition tina
no State that legalized the institution
slavery could have "a republican form
government"
What must the people be whose leader
teach such false doctrines as are taught l
the Republican journals OF the Norths
il any cause OF wonder that twenty yeai
after its close the war between the State
appcars TO be involved in every election!