Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-08
The Constitution AS It Is.

II the northern Republicans are not set
OF political pharisees. there are none 10 the
WIDE world. To the fraud. corruption, and
trickery which are features OF the elections
in the northern states may be attributed no
small part Of Republican success in every
State which the Republicans carry. And
yet the organs and orators OF that party have
the unblushing impudence to call the SOUTH
ern people TO account because all the negroes
in the southern States do not vote the Re-
publican ticket and send Republican con-
gIessmen 10 Washington.
The history OF the Republican party Is
history Of destroyers OF the Constitution;
or. as President HARRISON might say, his
tory OF covenant breakers. II was organized
10 render null and void constitutional
guaranty that slaves sbonld be surrendered
20 their owners by the northern States. 1t
began its career by trying 10 deprive slave
holders OF the right 10 carry their property
into Territories belonging as much to the
South as TO the North. II brought on the
war between the States, and when martial
success seemed impossible without negro
help issued, or caused TO be issued. pro-
camation freeing the slaves in contempt
and violation OF the Constitution. This
PROCLAMATION was ISSUED by a Republican
President who had sworn TO support the
Constitution which that proclamation tram
pied into the dust. And this violation OF the
Constitution hss become perpetual. AT the
last presidential election more than a million
OF negroes voted the Republican ticket upon
the strength OF an alleged amendment to the
Constitution which became an amendment
not in the mode prescribed in the Consttu-
ton for amending this instrument, but be-
cause the southern States ratified C) 1t under
duress. We are glad the negroes are free.
We wouldn't enslaye them If we had the
power. But facts are facts and we don't In
tend for Mr.. HARRISON or the northern pa
pers TO lose sight OF them.
The Chicago Tribune oyetlooks the his
tory OF the last three amendments 10 the
Federal Constitution, and bypocriiicaly
says:
awhile the President absolutely rejects
the suggestion OF q special executive policy |
for any section OF the country no doubt can |
attach TO bis determination that all the laws |
az Congress and the amendments TO the Com |
stitution shall be enforced equally snd uni |
iormly. Upon this point he says explicitly:
AS a citizen NAV not elect what he will !
ohev, neither may the Executive elect what
be will enforce. The duty TO obey snd 10
execute embraces the Constitution IN It's en-
tiretv and the whole code Of laws enacted |
under IT."
what assurance. GAN the laws Of Con- |
gress" are 70 be enforced 1.-The COnstitu- |
too In Its entirety" is TO be respected |
And this from the men who wrecked the /
Constitution and rode into power upon !
broken oaths. Let us look into the facts OF
the history Of the ratification OF the four
teenth amendment.
Up to April, 1867. twenty-one States had
ratihed the fourteenth amendment, and
thirteen States had rejected 1t. As IL re-
Quired the votes OF theee feurths Of the
States to rstiiy 1t, 1t had then been slready
Iejec'ed. Afterwards California rejected it,
and Iowa and Nebraska ratified Il. But
that didn't help the matter. Ii still stood
rejected. Oho IL January, 1868. withdrew
her ratification. so there were fourteen
states against it aud ten were enough to
Nil it, In February, 1868, New Jersey with
drew her ratification. In October, 1868,
Oregon withdrew her ratification. The
amendment wac dead; but fraud and force
revived II. Certain southern States were
compelled TO withdraw their rejection
and to ratity the amendment or
else be deprived OF representation
in Congress. Mr. SEwARD's proclamation
as Secretary Of State declaring the four
teepih amendment ratified hintfd that It had
not been ratified; for he refused to say that
II had. He declared thst twentythree
State legislatures ont OF thIrly-seven ii. re-
CURED twenty -eighD had ratified it, and
that II bad also been ratified these are SE-
WARDS own wordsl "by wly-coDstituted
nud newly-establshed bodies avowing them
selves 10 be, and acting as, tue Legislatures
Of Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, South
Carolina Louisiana, and Alabama"
What did Congress DO? That unprinc. !
pied. wicked, unpatriotic sectional organi- |
zation known a. the Republican party IN
duced that body TO pass the following reso-
luton.
"That SAID fourteenth article Is hereby de- |
c'sred to be- part Of the Constitution OF the !
United States"
What force had that resolution? None |
whatever The fourteenth amendment was
either ratified or not ratified, aud the fact
was not to be leglslated out Of existence by
resolution Of Congress.
Delaware. Kentucky, Maryland, Arkansas,
Florida. Georgia, Louisiana. Mississippi, |
North Csronns, South Carolina. Texas, and
Virginia rejected the amendment and thus
killed IL. New jersey, Ono, aud Oregon
rescinced their ratification. California didn't
ac,.
sixteen States were opposed to the r1tidcs.
tiou. and II required only ten to reject. rhe
refusal OF the Rump Congress to allow the
southern states TO be represented In Con.
gress until they ratified or pretended to
ratiiy The amendment operated TO induce
some OF these States to 20 through the form
OF ratification. But they Just as clearly bad |
toe right to reject a. Vermont had the right
20 raiiiy. II they were ia the Union they |
had whatever rights tue oiher States had II
they ware cut ofthe Uniou they hsd 10 right !
either 70 rstify or 10 reject. In word, the |
!. hypocrites WHO thresten to enforce "alt |
ne laws and sll the Amendments well |
.noH that those laws and those amendments
are wat they are because twenty years aso |
Republican Congress treated the Constr |
tulion
"As thing
Der Which tho raven nsys is fnnerai wing" |
1t is pstursl that the President should |