The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-04-29
MULTIPLICATION.


Some Facts which 1t Is Important tho
People Should Understand.
1t is important the people should
understand clearly the position taken
by the Senate in regard to the appoint
ment of the Rebel General Lawton as
Minister to Russia. The objection to
Lawton was not based merely on the fact
that he had served in the Rebel army,
but on the ground that he had never
asked or obtained the removal Of his
disabilities, and his appointment would
therefore be illegal and in violation Of
the Fourteenth Amendment to the Con-
stitution. The Senate Committee SIM
ply declared that under this amendment
Lawton was not eligible. The Repub-
lican Senators were not governed by
personal or party feeling in the matter,
for they had suppressed such sentiments,
and spent several weeks in confirming
Cleveland's appointments Of Rebels to
the best positions in the gift OF the Gov
ernment. But when it came to the ap-
pointment of unpardoned and unre-
generated Rebels who still glory in their
treason the Senators pointed to the law
which declares such men incapable Of
holding Office under the United States.
Thereupon Cleveland withdrew the
name OF his unregenerated Rebel, and
apparently dropped the idea Of appoint
ing Lawton to office. No sooner had
the Senate adjourned, however, than it
was announced that Cleveland intended
to appoint Lawton and keep him in
Office at all hazards until the next meet
ing of Congress. To this extent 1t is
proposed to violate the law in the inter-
est of an unrepentant Rebel.
The law which applies to this and all
similar cases will be found in the third
section OF the Fourteenth Amendment,
which reads as follows:
No person shall be Senator or Representa-,
1 tive In Congress- or Elector Of President and
| Vice-President, or hold any Offices. civil OF
military, under the United States, or under any
State who, having previously taken an oath
as member OF Congress, or as an ofhcer OF
the United States, or As member or any
| State Legislature, or as an executive or judi
SttutoS Of z the I Untsd statss shall S have @ en-
gagged In insurrection or rebellion against the
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies
thereof But Congress may by vote OF two
thirds OF each House remove such disability.
This was a provision Of extraordinary
liberality. In the first place 1t relieved
wholly the great mass OF rebels, mas
much as they were young men and had
never held an Office Of any kind. The
specification covering the cases OF men
who has previously held Offices and
taken an oath to support the Consttu
ton Of the United States was OF such a
character that it released the rank and
file OF the men who served in the Rebel
army and aimed TO hold the ringleaders
and chief spirits TO some degree OF ac-
countability. Even these were not
punished In any way except by dis
qualifying them from holding Office,
and Congress was given power to re-
move even that disability. Such was
the generous spirit Of the people in
adopting the fourteenth amendment,
which relieved the mass Of Rebels at
once, and held out the promise Of par
don even to the ringleaders Of the Re-
bellion II they would show the slightest
signs OF repentance.
Lawton Is a man who comes within
the terms Of the Fourteenth Amend
ment. Indeed, his case is peculiarly
aggravated. since he was educated at
West Point BY the Government he aft
erwards sought to destroy. Neverthe-
less there has been full opportunity
for him to obtain pardon at any time.
During Republican ascendancy 1t was
the rule in Congress to grant complet'
amnesty to any rebel who would conde-
scend to ask for II. The mere applica-
ton for pardon was deemed sufficient
sign OF repentance. Lawton, Toombs,
Jacob Thompson and JEFF Davis were Of
the stripe Of rebels who would never
condescend TO ask to be made citizens
Of the United States. At any time
within the last sixteen years Lawton
could have been restored by simply
making the request, but he took his
stand with Toombs, JEFF Davis, and the
other unrepentant rebels who would
never condescend to ask removal OF
their disabilities. And now comes q
Democratic Administration declaring
this man is eligible 10 one Of the high
est Offices in the Government, and that
the provision Of the Fourteenth Amend
ment which applies TO his case Is utter
| ly void and will not be respected!
The people were warned that II a
Democratic Administration came into
power they might expect to see the null
lifcation Of the War amendments TO
the Constitution attempted. Already
the performance has begun. Cleveland
was not In Office month before he
sought TO appoint the Rebel Lawton in
defiance Of the Fourteenth Amendment,
and although the attempt was checked
by the Senate IL Is now announced that
the President will avail himself Of the
recess 10 make the forbidden appoint
meht With marvellous assurance Sec
retary Bayard announces to the coun-
try the decision of the Administration
that the section Of the Fourteenth
Amendment which applies TO this man
Lawton Is wholly null and void. Bravo
work the Adm nistration is making in
enforcing the Democratic doctrine OF
1868 that the constitutional amend
ments we're revolutionary, null and void.
Chicago Tribune.
I'm the town OF Warwick, in Rhode
Island, Is a boulder so poised on anoth-
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