The Shasta Courier

SHASTA COURIER.
Constitutional Amendment.
Congress, by over a two-thirds vote, passed an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, declaring that slavery, or involuntary servitude, shall no longer exist in this Government. The great truth that "all men are born free and equal," is now consistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States. The Declaration of Independence no longer blisters the tongue of the reader by its broadness of assertion—and shortcomings in facts to sustain the declaration of freedom to all. Happy day! Grand step in progress! Americans may now say theirs is the best Government and the freest known to history or to man. Now the oppressed have but to place themselves under the Stars and Stripes, oppression ceases, the shackles fall, and freedom, in its fullest sense, waits upon him, let his color be what it may. Freedom now knows no distinction. Caste no longer rules. Talent, character, worth, now takes precedence of the accident of birth, and who can doubt the transcendency of the nation where alone such beneficent institutions exist?
Nevada was the first State west of the mountains to endorse the amendment above alluded to, and this honor she owes to the accident of her Legislature being in session when the news was telegraphed to her Governor. Most nobly did she respond, too, by adopting the amendment with only two dissenting votes. Considering the times, it is worthy of note that there were but two members in that body who were willing to damn themselves to eternal infamy by opposing the measure.
That Oregon and California will adopt the great measure of freedom, when an opportunity offers under their laws, there is no doubt. The telegraph informs us that all the Eastern States that have had an opportunity has sanctioned this measure of Congress, except that stupendous garden patch known as the sovereign State of Delaware. That State has the right to show her importance in the ratio of her insignificance. Whippets claim the privilege among big dogs that Delaware has asserted among States, and the result in both cases will be simply snarling and noise.