Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-14
Tho Federal Constitution-The Last
Amendments.


The fourteenth article OF amendments
10 the Federal Constitution was framed
for the purpose Of compelling the south
ern States to cosfer upon the negro the
right 10 vote. THID. STEVENS and his
gang could n1 devise any better plan OF
humiliating THO southern people and at
the same time strengthening the Repub-
licsn party in the South. These were
their objects. But tho amendment had
hardly been ratified when it was discoy-
eeed that II fully authorized the south
ern States TO disirsnchise tho negro for
Ii provides that whenever he is dis
franchised for anything else than crime
he shall bs excluded from the basis OF
representation in Congress. rebellion
or other crime are the words which old
THAp. rolled as a sweet morsel under his
tongue and put into that amendment.
The fifteenth article OF amendments
was therefore next framed, and the
southern States were required to ratlfy
it. This provides in go many words that
the right OF citizens OF the United States
to vote shall not be denied by the United
States or by any State on account OF
race, color, or previous condition OF ser
vitude. In word the fifteenth amend
ment prevents the Acknowledgement of
the negro. He may be disfranchised
for any other reason, but not because he
is a negro.
Well, the South acquiesced in that
amendment also, and has permitted the
negro to vote. But, as VIC said yester
day, his votes do not always please the
Republicans, who arc greatly grieved
because tho measures which they resort
ed to for reducing the power of the
South in the national councils has SEEM
ed rather to increase that power. So
here comes Mr.. Dorm. of Oregon, with
q scheme to reduce the representation
in Congress OF the States which deny
not the right of the negro TO vote-but
the right of illiterstes and other men or
classes of men to vote. The fourteenth
amendment WAS framed, o. we have said,
for the purpose Of compelling the south |
ern States to eniranchise tho negro.
Now that amendment is relied upon to
furnish the necessary authority-as it
does-for recognizing the right Of
every State to disfranchise Just as
many poor men, white or black, as it may |
choose to disfranchise, provided only |
that nobody shall bo DISTINGUISHED be-
cause he is q negro or because he is a
white man. Oh, lame and impotent
conclusion Connecticut, Massachu-
sets, Mississippi, and Wyoming were
mentioned by Mr.. DoLPH as having de-
MED the right to vote to certain classes
Of persons who are allowed to vote in all
the other States, and he would have the
basis OF representation reduced pro-
portionately in these States This is
the same Mr.. DoLrH in whose State. as
We have more than once mentioned,
negroes are not permitted to be en-
ployed on public works-building
bridges, for example. Is not the South
fully indicated?
Speaking of amendments to the Fede-
raj Constitution We are reminded that of
course Mr.. TILLMAN's proposition 20 al
low TO each State six United States SEN
ators can only become operative in the
form OF en- amendment to the Federal
Constitution, Congress having no power
10 increase the number Of senator's And
this again reminds us that the equality
OF the States-the rights OF the States
the States rights doctrines of the south
ern people were fully recognized by the
fathers OF the republic when they pro-
yided that the smallest State should have
rs many senators as the largest. Mr..
TnLMAS would perpetuate this equality
of the States Bat if his amendment
ever comes up for consideration in Con-
gress it will probably DO so amended as
10 allow each State to be represented in
the Senate as in the House. in proper
ton 10 its population. Thus will pesti-
lent New England be punished for her
unwise departure from the paths blazed
ont for her by the trainers of tho Consti-
tuition.
Tho best-laid schemes of mice and men
Gang aft aglee."
(.raaf Nopa1c