Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-06-23
Napro HnfraRa.

Negro Suffrage.
The Grsl impression OF person, upon
reading the Consultation of the State Of
Ohio, would be, that the clause declaring
that EvERY WHITE NAEB CITIZEN OF THE
UNIrED SrATEs Of the age Of twenty lone
years, who shall have been resident of the
State one year next preceding the election,
and Of the county, township or ward in
which he shall reside such time as may be
provided by law, shall have the qualifications
Of an elector, and be entitled to vote at all
elections, would be sufficient prohibition
against negro suffrage. 1t would be and is
such in the southern and south western
portions of the State, with few rare excepr
tiona. But in the northern portions, in the
chief strongholds Of the Republicans, it has
proved 10 be an insufficient safe guard, and
not only mulss.Sss, but full bloOded negroes
hSYs been permitted to vote with impunity.
The construction which has been placed
upon that article of the Constitution, declar'
ing that nan who has more white than AZ
Niueh bAoOu ih MS Wins Comtb unueE kne
head Of white men, is not consistent with
their views and almost all negroes were per.
mitted TO vote with impunity. The members
of the Republican party will not pretend to
deny that this is the fact, and even if they
did, hundreds Of good witnesses could be
brought forward to establish its truth. If
so disposed ws could adduce instances of
like nature, which have occurred within
our own observation, not far north of Colum,
bus.
1t was to remedy these abuses that the
present Legislature at their last session,
passed q bill declaring that no person hav-
ing single drop Of negro blood in bis veins
was white man, and hence that he had no
right to vote. No matter how far he may
be removed from the original negro stock, If
his system is contaminated with one drop Of
African blood, he is a negro still And it
seems to us, that the view that they took Of
the matter is the right one. Without negroes
are given the unqualified privilege of voting,
there must be limit some where. The ques'
tion is, where is that Limit to be. If we
draw the dividing line, where it was once
decided that it should be established, viz.
allowing no person to vote who is not more
white than black, experience shows that it
will not be lived up to, Even in the be.t
regulated districts, during severe political
contest, when the excitement runs high,
frauds will always be perpetrated and the
law evaded. 1t is difficult matter to deter.
mine whether man has more white than
black blood in his veins, and in some com
munities, if negro would come up 10 the
polls aud declare that he was more than half
white man, he would be permitted to vote
even If he was as black as an imp of dark
ness. Such law then, would be impracti-
cable and the question lies between the two
extremes of permitting them to vote without
any restrictions, or prohibiting them from
voting altogether. We shall not attempt to
show the sbSurdity of the first proposition
or It's incowPaHbility With the government
or prosperity of this or any other State in
the Union, Suffice i: to say that the DEM
Gratis Of the present Legislature. - -
TO be 30, and hence were dr'- -ecided i
alternative, that Of BH' zen to the otbei
vote at all, b. allowing negroes t
tinetly .. negroes they mean aud dis
d. lated, persons who are of African
--scent, no matter how remote, from the
original stock they may be. 1t is not at al
surprising that the Republicans should fnC
fault with their Interpretation of the Consti
tuition and with the law they enacted, seein,
that Gov. Chase and many others of thei
party were elected by negro and mulatt,
votes, and also, that they will be deprived o
30 many thousands of such votes at the mex
election. Had this salutary law been passed
long before, many difficulties and disputes
which have arisen, would have been entire
ly obviAted. No strife would have occurred
over the election Of Yallandigham, but HI
would have taken his seat without opposition
and his opponent would have been spared
ell the vain and futile efforts he made to dis
possess him Of il
The Democrats are now upon an equal
footing with the Republicans in this State,
and the latter deprived of their negro brethl
rem, STAND good chance of being defeated
at the next election.
We are entirely opposed to negro suffrage
IN this or any other State, it is going too
far and raises him above his level. II is
the next step to comforting Office upon him.
and the transition from that point to ANAL
gamAtiOn Is easy.
We cannot believe but that the mass of
the Republican party in this State are liks-
wise against their enfranehisement and
would commend the law prohibiting it. were
1t not for the assistance they desire from
them, in the elections We are also of the
opinion that the enforcement Of the law as
it now stands, win be entirely to the interest
OF the people Of the State.
A SIcKLEs TRAGEDY.--We learn from