Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-01-19
LEGAL DISABILITIES OF C0LoRED PEG.
PIE IN OHIO.

from the use of the elective franchise, by the ftl
article Of the Constitution, whish declares tina
every whae malo citizen of the United State
shall have the qualifications Of an elector and b
entitled to vote at all elections"
End. They are prohibited from serving in tn,
militia by the FIRST section Of the ninth article o
the Constitution.
Sd. By Legislative enactm ent, they arc prohibit
ed from serving on Juries.
4th. they are excluded from the benefit of Thu
laws for the relief of the poor, notwithstandin
their property is taxed for the general support Of
the poor.
5th. The School laws make IN UNNECESSARY and
~inyidlous distinction in regard to colored pupils.
This we believe includes the legal disabilitie,
under which the colored population now labor
These distinctions so far as they exist by statute,
should be abolished this winter by the Legislature
now in session. They should be abolished because
they are utterly without benefit to any class Of ouI
population-They should be abolished because they
are unjust and wicked-B,causc they bring forth
the fruits of misunderstanding and confirming
the prejudices and unreasonable hatred of one
class. and exciting the just discomfort and indig-
nation of another.-Becaus they minister direct
support to slavery and array the citizens Of our
whole State on the side of that grievous national
w~rong-because they foster ignorance, take away
the incentives to enterprise and m provemcnt,crush
out individual self respect, and prevent the citizen
from enjoying, in case of ACQUISITION of crime, an
opportunity to be .ried by a jury of his peers ac.
cording to the declared intent of the Constitution
In a word whatever view may be taken of the cues
ton, whether Of its policy-morality or constitu-
tional right these invidious e~nnctments should dis
appear from our statute book. They are not less
injurious to the individual than dishonoraSle to
the State.
Again, every in%duccment which exists for the re.
peal Of these disgraceiul statutes, exists also for
tie change of the Constitution where it makes
distinction on account Of complexion. The Lepis.
lasure should therefore take the necessary prclim.
mary steps to have these provisions obliterated.
The people have II right to expect this at the hands
of the Legislature because Of their antislavcry rre.
ten.ions, and they should not fail to demand it of
them with earnest frmness.
Petitions should be circulated ard presented for
this object, without delay. Adopt any form you
choose asking briefly and distinctly for this object.
You can copy the following or write a better.
To THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ONO.
The undersigned citizens of Ohio respectfully
ask the repeal o. all laws making distinction in
regard to Color Also that preliminary steps he
taken to amend the Constitution, so as to secure to
all inhabitants of the State, the enjoyment of equal
rights and privileges.
When the petition is signed, send it to tho Sem
or Representative from your district, and urge
him to sustain your request before that body.
We are glad to see the colored people themselves
moving on this subject. Let them lead on; all
at least, will give them hearty COOPER
alton in removing all disabilities from their shout
ders and the reproach from the State.
A local Convention of this class of our fellow.
citizens, recently assembled at Columbus. issued
the following address 10 the people of Franklin
We copy it from the Columbian and rom,
mend it to the attention of all the people of the
State
ADDRESS,
To the White Citizens of Franklin Counfv. from
The Colored Contention held in Columbus, Dec. 2S,
1856.
FELLOW. CITIZENS by the mysterious providence
IF Almighty God, we, the Colored people of Ohio
ire in your midst. We nre among you without
our will or agency we are here deprived of many
IF our civil and political rights. Grievous wrongs
IRE imposed upon us strange, unnatural and in.
'idlous distinctions are made in the Constitution
md laws, between us and our " hite fellow.citizens
the Bill of Rights of our State most en-,
1hatically declares, That all men are by nature
rec and Independent, and have certain inalien-
.ble rights"-"Al political power is inherent in
he people'-"And government is instituted for
heir equal protection and benefit"
In relation to these selfevident princinles the
irst Section of the fifth Article of the Constitution
declares that every ahie citizen of the United
states n y shall have tho qualifications Of an
lector, and be entitled to vote at all elections"
Also, the first Section of the ninth Article provides
nat all "uhtte male citizens, residents of this
State, n n n shall be enrolled in the mill.
ia, and perform military duty" &c &c.
An act approved July 10, lS49, ard which now
isgraces the statute book of Ohio, enacted tina, all
cts and parts of acts which ~'enforce nny speciaI i
or confer any special privileges, on
cconnt of color, is hereby repealed ercept the
ct OF the 9th July, 1881, relating to Juries, and
he act OF the 18th of March, 1881, for the relief
t tho poor" True wisdom, as well as sound mol.
y, dictate that, between the fundamental princi
les OF any government and the subsequent Con- i
itional legislative enactments, there should be n q
erfect consistency. Does this consistency exist a
etween the Bill of Rights found in the first Article d
the constitution, anu the above prohibitOry -
auses and laws {? And why this strange depar-
ire from the true principles of govern mental pol
" Why are we denied the invaluable right of d
le elective franchises right ;nestimable oevery C
eeman, and formidable to tyrants only?' Do We il
Of aid in supporting the government? Are we 4
taxedf And shall not taxation and represeu- u
.tion be co-extensive? If we bear the burdens t
government, shall we not enjoy its benefits ? '
hall men sit in counsel on our rights, and collect h
"a disonrse our money-and shall we have no
in their election 7 Remember. that our raro,
ltlonary fathers long since decided that 'taxaticn
ithout representation is tyranny"
But why are we denied enrolment in the mil, Il
al Have we proved ourselves enemies to our n
ountry Have not our fathers stood side by side d
nth your fathers in the battles of the revolution h
nd the war Of 1872? Was not the first blood @
aed In the revolution that Of Crispus Attuck. a a