Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-26
TUESDAY MARCH 26. 1889.
The Constitution.

N The Roman augurs In olden times could
not look one another in the face without
Iarzhing. how can Republican leader OF
TODAY mention the Constitution OF The
United States as an object Of atieeionate
regard and real reverence without putting
his hand 10 his nose aud causing his fingers
10 move mystcrouslyS Mr.. WHTELAw
REID. the new United States Minister to
France. Is one OF the Republican leaders.
Hear mm tell us why the war is not over.
We quote from the New York Tribune:
(. Eut in deeper and truer sense II Is not
vet over. and will not be until genuine ana
hearty obedience TO The Constitution ana
laws OF the United States prevails at the
South. Toe southern men who resist ana
defeat negro suffrage on the plea that with IL
civilized society Is impossible are simply
making war on the Constitution OF the
limited States, an il they are right civilized
,ociety and good government at The South
uuaer the Constitution are impossible"
The Tribune speaks OF "the Constitution
and laws OF the United States" but It has in
contemplation only the thirteenth, four
tenth, and fifteenth amendments. We have
recently shown how these amendments were
forced into the Constitution, and how In the
case OF the fifteenth, even Dir. SEWARD de-
ellued to certify that IL bad been ratified IN
the manner prescribed In the Constitution
itself III the new amendments were not so
ratified, why should the Tribune exalt them
above the Constitution rs it was banded down
10 us by the fathers OF the republic!
The Tribune's article was based upon
speech recently made In this city by HENRY
W. FLoURNoY, Esq. Secretary OF the Com
monwealth. We do not think that Judge
,TLoURSOY consulted "that Tascaily virtue
prudence when he chose his subject. nor
when he developed his theory that the negro
ought TO be DISTINGUISHED. But he called
attention to weak place 10 the Federal Con-
stitution.
The Tribune aud the Republican leaders
generally may say what they please in high
sounding phrase concerning the Constitu-
ton and laws" OF the land; but the same
Tribune and the same Republican leaders
well know that the new amendments to the
Constitution cannot but be regarded by
every intelligent m,u who reflects upon the
subject at all ss lacking in one respect. They
were proposed IN due form and with due re-
spect to the constitutional requirements as
10 amendments, but they were not ratified
In the manner laid down in the Constltu-
ton.
We beg the Tribune TO remember that the
emancipation OF the negroes operated OF
itself to make them part Of the basis OF
representation in Congress. The RepuDh-
can Congress did not give to the southern
States the right to elect members OF the
: House Of Representatives to represent the
NEGRO population. On the contrary, as we
have Just intimated, the moment the slaves
were freed the Constitution as it stood made
them part OF the basis Of representation 10
Congress. We quote from Article l., see.
ton 2, paragraph 3:
Representatives and direct taxes shall be
apportioned among the several States which
NAV be included within this U0ion, accord
! ing to their respective numbers, which shall
I be determined by adding to the tohote num-
Der OF free persons. including those bound
10 service for a term OF years and excluding
! 1ndisps not taxed, three fiths OF all other
free PERSONS"
The emancipation proclamation-not the
: thirteenth amendment--m "free per-
sons" OF the slaves, and so made
them part OF the basis OF re-
presentation. 1t is clear case, therefore,
that the South need not base upon the new
amendments her claim to the representatives
she sends to Congress upon the strength OF
her negro population, though Mr.. HALsrEAD
and some other leading Republicans are in
the habit OF speaking OF this matter as IL
there had been g treaty made between the
North and South covering this point.
The only reason the Supreme Court OF the
United states has not before now declared
the three new amendments null and void is,
we suppose, that that tribunal holds that It
las not the night to do so. Congress passed
resolution declaring the fifteenth amendment
10 have been duly ratified; and the Supreme
Court holds that 1t was the duty Of Congress,
aud not OF the Supreme Court, TO decide the
question Of validity; Just as the ether day
the Supreme Court Of Appeals OF West Viz
ginia decided that il was for the Legislature
60 declare who was elected Governor, aud
no court could compel the Legislature to
perform that duty.
There IL, therefore, another view 10 be
taken Of this matter than that taken by the
Tribune. The amendments are in the Con-
suiullon and will stay there. Some persons
in the South would dIsIrancaise the negroes,
but nobody that We know Of desires their re-
enhancement 4 hideous wrong wa, per-
petrsted when they were made voters. To
tue southern people II IS an unspeskable, IT.
reparable wrong. Therefore, It does not lie
IN the mouths of the Republican politicians
OF the North to rant about "obeylng the
Constitution and laws OF the United states"
meaning the bogus amendments when they
know that New York and Indiana were
carried for HARRISON by the negro
voters Of those STATES and that
majority OF million OF the white
voters Of the United states voted for CLevE-
LAND. Who is going to reetiiy this wrong!-
this gigantic wrong which the northern
Republicans dare not discuSs before the
white people OF their own sectioni Snail
lessons upon constitutional duties be read
70 us OF the South by party which has
Airicanizej the country? The title of Han.
RlsoS to the Presidency Is based upon negro
votes. These votes were based upon the
ffieenih amendment, a. 10 which, we re.
peat. even Mr. SEWARD refused TO certify that
II had been consttutionslly ratified. Surely
II Is the white people Of both sections and
Of all the States who have the right 10 CON-
plain; not the negroes, nor the wnite Re-
publicsns as q party. II the war ought 10
be continued until all wrongs are righted.
the white men OF the whole land should take
hand IN IL.
-
The New yofk sfsma. s.cs that thu mar.