Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-09
IN ARsTRDTTY.

IN AhoAhnll1.
To is stated that REED is I'm favor Of
hurrying the enactment Of new fed
erai apportionment before the close OF
the present session, and i'm connection
with this project Washington corre-
spondents attribute 20 him "a scheme Of
cutting down the South's representa-
ton ia Congress and the Electoral Col
lege. One Of the best Informed cor
respondents says:
Reed is also contemplating applying 20
the Southern States I'M the reapportiOn-
mcnt, whenever 10 is made the provision in
section Of the 14th amendment 20 the
Constitution that when the right % vote at
any election for the choice OF Electors for
President and Vice President Of the Uni
ted States. Representatives in Congress,
the executive and judicial officers Of State
or the members Of the legislature thereof.
rs denied amy Of the male inhabitants Of
such state, being 81 years Of age and citi-
zens OF the United States, or in any way
abridged except for participation in rebel
lion or other crime, the basis Of reprenta-
ton therein shall be reduced In the proper
ton which the number of such male citi-
zens shall bear 20 the whole number of
male citizens 81 years Of age in such State. 80
Audacious and INSCRIPTIONS as REED
is DC is incredible that even he should
entertain such a project, unless tenn
porary success has actually turned his
brain. Speaking OF it an ldiotic organ
asks, "What is there is this programme
unjust or PARTISAN"
10 is sufficient answer Co this question
that there is no Southern State which
denies the right TO vote 20 It's colored
citizens. Moreover, there is not a Re
publican constitutional lawyer of recog-
nized standing who believes that the
provision OF the Fourteenth amendment
can Doe used 90 curtail the South's repre-
sentation Ga Congress. Some ten years
ago Republican members OF the House of
Representatives claimed that 10 could be
done, and q discussion followed, in
which JAMES a. GARFIELD admitted
that the proposition was impracticable.
The fact is that the Fifteenth amend
mont has made il impossible for any
Southern State 90 deny the right TO
vote Co negroes because they are me-
grocs, and no present universal suffrage
without regard 20 color, race. or prev
ious condition OF seryitude is established
throughout the South.
,.But. 20 use the words OF a contem-
porary. cit is an article OF the Republi-
can party creed-in which no well i'm
formed Republican belIeyes-that the
negro vote i'm an the Southern States is
suppressed by violence. II the silly
ialsehoods which most of the Reputli-
can papers print when an Important
election is approaching or their party
intends to commit q political outrage OF
wishes 90 excuse one were indisputable
facts, they would not constitute a de-
nial Of the right 20 vote by State. The
States are not responsible For criminal
acts of individuals, even when countcn-
anccd by the leaders % a dominant
party. I'm not few of the Northern
states large numbers OF Democratic
employees have been coerced by Repub-
licau employers into voting the ticket
OF a party TO which they are opposed,
but such civilized buldozing' is not q
denial Of the right 20 vote within the
meaning OF the Constitution. The
Electoral votes OF Indiana and New
Yorh wuuid have been Democratic ih
ISIS but FOR the wholesale bribery Of
voters by the agents OF the Republican
National Committee; yet the States did
not sanction these crimes against the
elective franchise"
II there are white rufians in some
districts OF the South who interfere
with the Negroes freedom OF exercising
his right Of suffrage, they ought 10 be
prosecuted and punished. So far as Con-
gressional elections are affected there
by. rigorous Federal laws exist for that
purpose. and their enforcement is COM
mitted 20 Republican officers. But in the
south generally the negroes are as free
Co vote as in the North, and for this
reason as much as on account Of conSti-
tutioual obstacles the Republican Sen
ate and Speaker REED in control Of the
House are not able 90 emit down the rep
resentation 90 which the South is con-
stitutionaly entitled.