The Bedford Gazette

The Bedford Gazette

THE LATEST INFAMY.

We take the following despatch from the columns of the New York Tribune of yesterday:

The Constitutional Amendment- Proposition for Immediate State Action.

PHILADELPHIA,

Thursday, June 14, 1866. )

After the Senate adopted the Constitutional amendment, just concurred in by the House of Representatives, Gov. Curtin addressed a circular letter to the Governors of all the loyal States, suggesting the propriety of concert in action in calling together their legislatures for the ratification of that amendment. It is now understood that such uniform action will be had and that before the adjournment of Congress a ratification of the amendment will be made.

We had more than once heard a hint that a scheme, of the kind here boldly avowed, was in contemplation and had long been a matter of secret discussion in the councils of the radicals. But we would not believe it. It seemed incredible. There was nothing in Governor Curtin's recent political course on which to ground a suspicion that he would lend himself to such a shameless work, but, on the contrary, there were many things to justify an assured conviction that he would spurn any connection with it. But it seems that we were mistaken. We honored him over much. He has not merely given his assent to this base scheme for forestalling the judgment of the people upon a question of vital interest to them and their posterity, but has taken the initiative in it, and appears before the public as its author. Let us consider what it is he proposes to do.

It will be remembered that the Legislature of Pennsylvania, which he proposes to convene in special session, was not chosen by the people in anticipation that any such momentous alterations of the Constitution as those which have recently passed Congress would be submitted to it. We venture to assert that not one single candidate for a seat in that body dared to avow himself, pending the election, an advocate of negro suffrage. We know positively that every Republican who was chosen did his best to convince his constituents, when he solicited their suffrages, that no such purpose as that of enfranchising the blacks was in contemplation by his party. There cannot be a doubt that had the people understood that this question was an immediate and practical one, that it would come up for settlement by their representatives before another election and that by choosing a Republican Legislature they would give their assent to the establishment of negro equality within their own borders and throughout the land they would have cast such an overwhelming Democratic vote as would have left their opinions in no doubt. But they were deceived, and the party which got control of the Legislature got it on a false pretense. Their hypocrisy was all along manifest to us, but we did not suspect that of a design so outrageous as that which Governor Curtin's circular foreshadows.

It is now proposed to take away from the people the opportunity to say 'yea' or 'nay' to questions of nearer concern to their rights and interests than any that have ever been presented to them since the Constitution was formed. Their judgment is to be forestalled. A partisan legislature is to be called together, in special session, to hurry through a work of no little magnitude, without the people who will have to abide chiefly by the consequences who will have to elect with open eyes and a full knowledge on the part of their constituents of the interests which will depend upon the choice they make. The Washington Chronicle declared last winter that if the Republicans should go before the people of Pennsylvania upon the issue of negro suffrage they would be beaten horse-less and every where. In this declaration lies the secret of Governor Curtin's haste. It is hoped by giving a speedy ratification to the amendments not only to assure their adoption, but to take the questions which they involve, and which the Radicals dare not meet in the campaign, out of the heat of discussion.

No grosser violation of the spirit of the constitution than this was ever conceived, even by the party which has distinguished themselves by their contempt for it. The provision which requires amendments to be submitted to the legislatures of the respective States is of course, designed to secure an expression of the sense of the people of each State, speaking through their representatives. But, here, the Legislature is summoned to Harrisburg to decide a question of vital importance upon which the people of Pennsylvania have not passed, and have had no opportunity to pass, judgment. This is a fraud—gross and palpable fraud—one which must rouse the indignation of every honest breast. We hope that it will be exposed and denounced as it should be by the whole Conservative press of the Commonwealth. It is the latest and basest of those multiplied outrages upon law, justice, and decency, by which the Republican party has hitherto managed to maintain its power. We protest against it, not merely because of its intrinsic wickedness, but because of the strife it promises to engender—the stormy future which it forbodes for this country. Because we would not see revolution, we protest with all the might that is in us against an outrage which it would almost seem is intended to provoke it.—Age.