Amendments Quote by Eustace Mullins
![“Thus these three amendments to the Constitution [13th, 14th, 15th] were ratified while the ten Southern states were under martial law, and "had no law at all." The Force Acts, the four Reconstruction Acts, and the Civil Rights Act were all passed by Congress while the Southern states were not…” quote by Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/329/eustace-mullins-25201_amendments_thus-these-three-amendments-to-the-const_1842281.jpg)
“Thus these three amendments to the Constitution [13th, 14th, 15th] were ratified while the ten Southern states were under martial law, and "had no law at all." The Force Acts, the four Reconstruction Acts, and the Civil Rights Act were all passed by Congress while the Southern states were not allowed to hold free elections, and all voters were under close supervision by federal troops. Even Soviet Russia has never staged such mockeries of the election procedures.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Murder of Abraham Lincoln, 1975
During Reconstruction, constitutional amendments passed under military control lacked genuine democratic legitimacy.
In simple terms: Amendments were imposed, not elected.
Key Takeaway
Question the legitimacy of forced reforms.
Themes
history
politics
law
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- civil rights legislation
- post‑war reconstruction
- modern electoral reforms
Key Concepts
constitutional law
military governance
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a legitimate democratic process?
- How should societies reconcile imposed reforms with later legitimacy?
A Different Perspective
Some view these measures as necessary to protect rights.
![“As Day and other observers had reported, the slaves were leading very comfortable lives. After this tactic [slave rebellions in the South] failed, it became obvious to the conspirators that an actual military invasion was the only solution to their campaign. The merchant bankers of New England…” quote by Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8f5/eustace-mullins-25201_bankers_as-day-and-other-observers-had-reported_1140278.jpg)
![“The increase in the assets of the Federal Reserve Banks from 143 Million dollars in 1913 to 45 Billion dollars in 1949 went directly to the private stockholders of the [Federal Reserve] banks.” quote by Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a7a/eustace-mullins-25201_assets_the-increase-in-the-assets-of-the-federa_1178350.jpg)
![“As soon as Mr. Roosevelt took office, the Federal Reserve began to buy government securities at the rate of ten million dollars a week for 10 weeks, and created one hundred million dollars in new [checkbook] currency, which alleviated the critical famine of money and credit, and the factories…” quote by Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/084/eustace-mullins-25201_banking_as-soon-as-mr-roosevelt-took-office-the_1432961.jpg)
