their decisions in
the courts on questions involving our civil and political rights, they
have stultified their own grand declarations of the equal rights of
citizens in a republic.

When the XIV Amendment was first proposed, the Hon. Charles Sumner
opposed it, because, he said, there was already enough of Justice,
Liberty, and Equality in the Constitution to protect the humblest
citizen under our flag. He had always taken the ground that the
Constitution was an Anti-Slavery document, hence to vote for an
amendment was to contradict his former position. We opposed the
amendments because, in the Constitution as it was there were no
distinctions of sex recognized, while the amendments declaring
"manhood suffrage," established an aristocracy of sex. However, in due
season, Mr. Sumner withdrew his opposition; and without changing his
opinion, voted for the amendments because negro suffrage was a party
measure, and the political necessity of the hour. We, having no party,
no votes, no political right but to petition and discuss the measures
up for consideration, saw no reason for changing our opinions, hence
we used the best possible means to keep up the agitation until the
amendments were passed, and beyond reconsideration. Nevertheless, in
the midst of this general hostility, the sound policy of the agitation
carried on against the Republican party and its measures was evident
in the numerous bills some of its liberal members soon after presented
in Congress. In _The Revolution_, December 10, 1868, we find the
following:

NOW'S THE HOUR.--Not the "negro's hour" alone, but everybody's
hour. All honor to Senator Pomeroy! He has taken the first step
to redeem the Constitution from all odious distinctions on
account of race or sex. He lost no time in presenting, at the
opening of Congressional proceedings, the following as an
amendment to the Federal Constitution to regulate suffrage
throughout the country:

Article 15. The basis of suffrage in the United States shall
be that of citizenship; and all native or naturalized
citizens shall enjoy the same rights and privileges of the
elective franchise; but each State shall determine by law
the age of a citizen and the time of residence required for
the exercise of the right of suffrage which shall apply
equally to all citizens; and also shall make all laws
conce