New-York tribune., 1903-05-14
THE REPRESENTATION QUESTION.
Duty of Congress in Regard to State Constr
tutions and the Fifteenth Amendment.

Duty of Congress in Regard to State Constr
tutions and the Fifteenth Amendment
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In an editorial footnote to my commuhlca-
ton. published April 29 The Tribune says:
No apportionment has eyer been made Tnasr
the second section OF the FoQTteeR5n nm I'M Snns
futon prescrbes a vote for every adult male
1eaeral t cz9 6rescrpon is not obeyed have over
representatio compared win NoLCLs ii.a-5s
hat every such federal citizen shah have an
equal voice IN national affairs
1t is very gratifying to have my contention sus-
tanned by so high an authority as The Tribune
that 'the number OF representatives is fixed aIter
each census and the South has now only her
legal representation as apportoned on thaI OASIS
Before the next appointment after the census
OF 1910 we may hope the premium offered py lhe
second section of the Fourteenth Amendment LOT
an nliterate and irresponsible manhood Suffrage
NAV be withdrawn. Because this condition was
forced upon US by Republican Congressional legls-
Iation long before the Fourteenth Amendment was
declared to have been ratified We may also nope
that representation will continue to be based on
population at present even II we hflS our
suffrage 10 intelligence and property without as
elimination 10 color. Representation baseC oN
ropuIation is fair and just to all State hmltauon
OF franchise in harmony with the supreme law Is
also fair and Just TO all 49,
Will The Tribune kindly state where the Iact
that the Constitution prescribes vote for every
male federal citizen may be found? Individual
opinion as to what the Constitution clearly N
tends" cannot be accepted as law. AS we uhoel
stand representation In Congress Is from supui-
,s,o,,s of States as decreed by themselves, a1ter
the census apportionment by Congress- and Sen
stors are elected by State legislatures not from
communities The irregular action OF coinlfuH
flies as to franchise have no relation 10 repre-
sen+a+tor in Congress II is the official corporate
sct of States with which alone Congress can oeal-
It has been stated in the headlines TO my COM
rnunications that my reconInendluoIs o1i ~
ron
the South as a remedy. or course any one VINO
has read those communications is Delter IN
formed How absurd It would De 10 tax
oe yaducing representation from States whose
constitution and laws. like Georgia LOT III
stance are in perfect harmony with ana In SUD
lection 10 the constitutional supremacy OF Ihe
United States. Her representation has Deeh aP
nor+ioned after the last and must stand ir-
respective Of the number Of votes cast untn the
enro-tionu1ert after the OF 1870 II III
communities" or Congressional districts la"RuI
voters should be deprived Of their political rights
that is a matter for the State courts on com
plaint against its election managers or for inves-
tfgaticn by Congress to the election OF It's own
member. The number Of votes cast has no Feia-
ton TO its validity.
The Tribune is the guiding light: the pillar Of
strength for the non-partisan loyal thought OF TINS
great republic. The question now before US is. DO
the amended constitutions Of some Of the states
sc to franchise violate the mandate OF the flI-
+eenth amendment? VIII the Congress inquire into
and determine that question in each case and II
apv State is found in defiance will it apply the
remedy? g. A.,
The Republican party being in the majority the
resnonsibiIitv has been put upon it by the people
viii that party. like a child frightened py the
shadow of its own act skulk behind the skirts OF
the Supreme Court in the hope that some one one
disappear by CLOSING the door Of hope" against
'our brother in black OF Wnorn @ Hiole ia % fo@ the
proper exercise Of suffrage curing nearly 9of9
20 the fndgnity Of the Overseers lasn or lne
domination Of masters command in tbaig case so
| They are free born American cluzehS Ike oui
II the Republican party Is anxious to T2Tget ano I
have others ioTgea;+ +oI Is tbaf Oblivion cannot
secured by ignoring its capstone ana GoheIHus i b
States ratihed after the Confederate states were
rea6n5ee4 % @ 20 oconsf,tutions OF these States ad
rnftted were submitted ana aPpT0V&ea & py be sate
nonstitntions have been changed and the Supreme
Court has definitely announced fs LnaI ntS 70 take
R@ssicion shall Congress evade it's plain duty2
To maintain the national supremacy viii not 1Ee 1n
cite . m sS7os hsat 10 ave these questions closed
and disposed Of for all time as tnS o Senators
ana nqs qRepresentfTes from the States which have
amended their constitutions vii be present tbev IN C9n re
IN the amended State constitutions defy the
Fifteenth Amendment then OF necessity, 3sa end Ia
tions held under them & are Vola s gtafes have not
baan lawfully elected and not entitled to seatS,
i>et tn0se 5% Zach in It's own way by its own
people adopt amendments to their state congs' IN
fSons which In the opinion OF Congress- are a., ~
barnnonv with the Fifteenth Amendment InaI Iii Is
sue will then be closed by leaving the
% a,pe- STATE master Of the political situatltol
Senator'S and members of Congress eIectea II In Inq @@
Sta+ae I,rder q lawful franchise VIII nno q VAIN
| nre1coTne 10 seats in Congress as al present az
nortioned During the interim the aut4hoiy ;y,,Iic ~
| ~ S+ares will not be disturbed, ana the puolI0
service rendered IN them by the national govern
-oent will not interTupted. - a. ,ha
San we not rely The Tribune 70 lee9 N o
| erort for Congress TO stand BY me & az its
sEroananent and settle this disturbing issue at lI'
next stssion Instead of indqging the e V5n VSrorsht
se--Ta-5 40 the Supreme Court under WnIch l.Ie
legal and not the political supremacy oL
gT1arantees 10 the negro Will De testsGI
! stitutloiisl BUSA T3TTFUJS B. BULLOCK