Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-05
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
STATE AFFAIRS OF THE MICHI-
GAN LEGISLATURE.

'EhAN
We have read with great interest, and
should be glad to transfer to our columns, if
we had room, the entire Report of the Com
mittee in the Michigan Senate on the petition
to extend the right of suffrage to the colored
man of that State. A short extract viii be
found on our first page. The whole abounds
with truthful, just and republican sentiments.
The following is the basis of the argument:
"These reasons induce your committee to
report favorably to the petitioners prayer.
LIST. Because Of the great principle %involv-
ed-the Siamese brotherhood Of taxation and
representation.
2. Because of the danger to the suffrage
principle by tampering with it.
Sd. Because the precedent such tampering
affords tor the most odious restrictions.
4th. Because of the debt due to the gov
erned, and our constitutional obligation in
that behalf.
9th. Because of the constitutional provi-
sion against exclusive privileges.
9th. Because Of the promotion Of State in
%terests.
9TH. Because of the peculiar claims on de-
mocracy tc carry out its principles.
AN OH ltdSOH Is lOuTu III tIO unutLcId-
bic Iittleness in taking from a class, year az
ter year the means OF supporting our govern
ment, Of paying our governor, judges, legis-
lators, &C., and yet DISTINGUISHING the payers
from voting, and from representation. There
is not a member OF the present Legislature
who has not in his pocket the money of the
DISTINGUISHED, and politically degraded tax
payer Of color.
A 9th reason is suggested in the prepos-
ferrous p%uerility Of making color a qualifca-
ton for suffrage. To deny the right to a
man born on our soil, whose flthcrs fought
with ours for American independence; who is
SINE, crimelesS, a taxpayer, and a good citl-
zen; and to deny it only because the Crea-
tors sovereignty dictated the color of his
creatures skin, is a procedure, in your COM
mittee's opinion, beneath the dignity of sove-
reign people, claiming intelligence, and an
mated by IA just self respect"
The Committee seem to have gone as far
as politicians can &c in defence Of truth and
Justice. This remark which we find in it,
d" Be our opinions wha; they may, the Peo-
ple's will is our law" shows that he who is
true to the government of which he is a mem
Der, is trammelled and cannot pursue that
course that his own sense of justice dictates,
If the peoples will is in accordance with just
and righteous principles, it should be our law
but if not, it should be no law for us; and he
certainly cannot be deemed g~uiltless in the
sight of our great Lawgiver and Judge, who
~sustains a law which contravenos the laws OF
his Government.
We doubt not the petition referred to, will
be granted, for we learn from the Report
that public sentiment has already abrogated
the State Constitution in this respect, as vii
appear from the following extract:
"AIready the constitutional restriction ha'
been swept away before the rising sentiment
and the colored man was permitted to vote IL
Detroit, on an election of unprecedented in
terest, neither party having the hardihood +
offer a challenge on the ground of color"
We hope Ohio will not be behind her sis
ter State in extending to the colored man hi
rights at the ballot box.