Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1869 — The Proposed XVth Amendment. [ARTICLE]

The Proposed XVth Amendment.

The following is the proposed Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, recommended by Congress, and now submitted to the Legislatures of the several States for ratifioation: ü ße it ruolvtd, That the following amendment to the constitution of the United States be submitted to the Legislatures of the several States, and, when ratified by threefourths thereof, it shall become a part of the Constitution: “Art. 15. The right of the citizens of the United States to vo.te shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. “Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” As perhaps might bo expected, the Democrats are almost a unit in opposition to its adoption, while the Republicans arc not united in its favor. It involves principles of graye national importance which deeply affect the interests of every man in the country. It demands careful thought and should not be hastily passed upon. Without expressing an opinion upon its merits we may be permitted to doubt the expediency of a policy that would rush its ratification through legislatures elected upon a platform which expressly stipulated that the question of suffrage in the loyal States belongs exclusively to the. people of those States. “No person appointed to any office instituted by this act shall directly or indirectly be concerned or interested in carrying on the business of trade or commerce, or be owner of the whole or in part of any sea vessel, or purchase by himself, or another in trust for him, any other public property, * * * * or take or apply to his own use any emoluments or gain for negotiating, or transacting any business in the said department, other than what shall be allowed by law; and if any person shall offend against any of the prohibitions of this act, he shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and forfeit tn the United States the penalty of $3,000, and shall, upon conviction, be removed from office, and forever thereafter be incapable of holding any office under the United States.” By this law, passed in 1789, it is found that A. T. Stewart, altbo’ unanimously confirmed by the Senate, is iuelligible to the office of Secretary of the Treasury, on account of being engaged in importing. Probably none of the Senators knew of tbe existence of thia law, and it would have remained forever hidden, but for tbe jealousy of some who were opposed to Mr. Stewart’s appointment. On the 6th, the President sent a message to the Senate, containing the request that inasmuch as Mr. Stewart had been unanimously confirmed by them, that a joint resolution be passed exempting him from the operation of the law.— This the Senate very properly refused to do, and Mr. Stewart m ill be forced either to close up his immense importing business, or resign the Treasury portfolio.