Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-12

Like the Washington Post, the Philadel-
phia TELEGRAPH is entirely mistaken in sup
posing that States can he admitted into
the Union 10y the President of the United
States. As we have contended from the
beginning. and as tho enabling act itself
shows. the States must be admitted by
Congress or not at all The power Of Con-
greSs is the same in such case IS IN the
case Of a proposed constitutional amend
ment. When the bill or resolution pro
posing the thirteenth amendment was sub
united TO Mr.. LINCOLN for his approval he
returned it 10 Congress with the eXplana-
ton that under the Constitution amend
ments To that instrument must be pro-
posed by the Congress and not by Con-
gress and the President. If the Telegraph
has read our articles on this subject It
knows that this was our contention in the
case Of the four new States. And we have
quoted from the enabling act 10 prove that
we were right. The following sentence
from the Telegraph shows that that paper
is still in the dark:
THE last Congress passed an enabling
net. and when certain conditions Of that
be declared TO be States by presidential
proclamation, in accordance with the
terms of the law"
Oh, no, the new States viii not be de-
clared 10 be States 10y presidential procla-
nation. Once more we quote from the
enabling act language that points out our
Philadelphia contemporaries mistake.
That act provides as follows
"And if the constitutions and govern
monts Of said proposed States are repub-
lican in form. and if all the provisions Of
this act have been compiled with in the
formation thereof, it shall be the duty of
the President of the United States 10 issue
his proclamation announcing the result Of
the election in each, and thereup0n the
proposed States which have adopted con-
stitutions and formed state governments
as herein provided shall be deV-d admit
ted by Congress into the Union" &c.
Can the Telegraph now see the trick?
Isn't it GEAR that the language we have just
quoted was used as means of eYading the
constitutional requirement that new States
must be admitted by Congrcsss That in
strument provides that they shall be thus
admitted if at all, and the language of the
enabling act declares that if certain things
be done which that act reqrires TO be done,
then and in that case the four new States
s',dR b. dssD,ed 10 be admitted By Congress"
Deemed is good. 1t does not help the
matter 10 say that this is not the first time
that the Constitution has been disregarded
or strained by Congress in its efforts to adj
nit new States. Nor does it justify such
legislation TO say that the Democrats had a
hand in it,
The Telegraph thinks that our fears Of
hostile national legislation are groundless.
May they prove to be so is our earnest de-
sire. But the history Of the Republican
party iustifies us in entertaining the most
doleful apprehensions. The Portsmouth
Tunes and Enterprise hits the mark when
IL SAYS;
Tho editor Of the Richmond Dispatch
has thoroughly demonstrated what the Re
publicans can not do constitutlonally next
winter in the organization of the House of
Representatives. The Dispdtcl's articles
are very comforting, but We would feel
more relieved still IL the Dispatch will de
wise a sure means by which the Democrats
can prevent the Republicans from evading
the Constitution when they make the at
tempt TO do so, for there never has been a
GiIto since the organization OF the hepuD-
lican party when it permitted the Consti-
tuition to stand in the way Of the accom-
plishments of its party ends"
The reconstruction acts were unconsti-
tutional. The civil-rights act was much of
il constitutional. The force bill was a
gross violation of the Constitution, or
would have been if it had become a law.
~ was the Democrats, not the Republicans,
,hat killed that unconstitutional measure
Indeed. the southern people have no good
reason for supposing that the Republican
mem ers of Congress will allow even the
planes, constitutional provision 10 stand
"a the way of any legislation which the
Republican malignants may demand at the
hands of Congress. We would be willing
70 make any reasonable concession in re-
parl to flibustering or to the rules of the
House in consideration of binding pledge
on the part of the Republican members
that they would try TO pass no national
election law and engage in no legislation
hostile to the South.