Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-05
Nenro DisabiIities in Ohio.

J.H. Riley, Of Columbus has published
PAM hlet review, by John H. James, of the
decision of the Supreme Court of Ohio, of the
question whether colored persons may vote
in Ohio, as "white male citizens" and
whether election officers are liable for mis-
takes in refusing persons vote.
The difference between the Republican
and Democratic parties in regard to people
of fcolor, is merely one of degree, or of policy,
not Of principle. Both agree that the black
man is subject to legal disabilities aud infe-
riority of condition, which may be imposed
by the white race. The differeoce is only
between complete subsection to the superior
race, with such care and protection as natur-
ally exist in that relation, or partial sub
lection, and legal exclusion which creates
and increases caste divisions. This is all
there is of the question which Is now agi-
tating the whole country. Put in that shape,
there are few who will say that it furnishes
any material for division of parties; yet
there is nothing else of it, for Republicans
profess great indignation at the charge of an
intention to give the black man equal rights.
In this State we have suffrage question
which places all parties in rather an absurd
light. 1t is whether persons with a pre-
ponderance of white blood shall be deemed
white men, and therefore voters. The gen.
eral tone of the Democratic party toward
colored men is not supposed to have made
them very favorable to Democracy, conse-
quently Democracy is quite unanimous that
all who have any admixture of African
blood shall be considered negroes. This is
not negro equality, but it is making the
slightest visible or suspected fraction of
negro blood superior to all the other blood
in the veins of white man. 1t is pretty
strong negro superiority.
Our Courts have uniformly held that the
preponderance of blood decided the race O.
the person. In Virginia the same law pre-.
walls, and so we presume, in most of the
South; showing that the duty to "mitigate
and finally eradicate the evil of slavery"
which but little while ago was one of the
'ancient and time-honored principles AS
the Courier expresses it--of the Democratic
slavery, to increase the disabilities of the
blacks.
The Republicans generally hold that a
preponderance of white blood makes q man
voter; although some, who call themselve
conservatives, insist that the disfranchise
ment shall extend to all who have any ting
of African extraction. This is the distin
gushing Characteristic of what are cale,
conservative Republicans in Ohio. The reg
ular or radical Republicans talk of respect
ing the decision of the Court, in.the regula
Dred Scott manner, and insist that mar
the smallest fraction more white than blacl
shall vote; but they plant themselves in
movably on this nice shade, and repel wit
Indignation the charge that they wish to g
the slightest shade darker, even to allow tn
half-and-half breed to vote.
The whole question is involved in sucl
nice shades of admixture, and involves S
much suspicion and scandal in cases wher
the tinge becomes doubtful, that one of thes
days the mind will be compelled to fly 70
relief to the system which disposes of tn
question finally by recognizing no rights a
all in the black man, and which settles tn
admixture question by making the chill,
follow the condition of the mother. Thi
doubtless will shock our Republican friends
but SO long as they assume to prescribe HOY
many of the rights of man shall be granite
toi the colored people, and how many with
held, they had better Withhold any denuI
Citations of their Southern brethren for will
holding such rights as they regard to be fC
the best for both races.