Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-02-21
rhe Constitution aud Negroes.

Of Muskingum county recently petitoned
the Legislature Of Ohio to pass law pro- !
hibiting the immigration of negroes into
the State said law to be submitted to the
people for acceptance or rejection. sena-
tor GuScKEL, from the mgjOrisy Of the
Judiciary COMMITTEES, reported that such
law would be unconstitutional, and the
report was agreed to-
The object Of the citizens of Musking-
um County was evidently. to prevail up.
on the Legislature to provide a plan
whereby the people Of Ohio could decide
whether the State shall be invaded by the
hordes of worthless negroes which have
been and are being released from their
masters in the South. II they have not
set to work at this matter constitutionally,
il is their misfortune, and we presume
they will, with the new light afforded
them, so alter and amend their plan that it
will answer the end they seek. while it
win not be liable to the objections urged
.lAgainSt their first effort by the majority Of
the JudiciGry COMMITTEES.
..... The newborn love this Republican Leg
isiaturs have evinced for Constitutions is
refreshing. To some persons it seems to
indicate their return To ",he line OF safe
preeedents." We fail 10 zee il in. that
light. We are not, to any great extent.
impressed with delight at the demonstra-
ton. 1t has the manifest ring OF the des-
perate Snowman plea--"For this time pm
ly" ......,. .....,..
The legal merit Of the reason set forth
by the majority Of the Judiciary Commit
tee OF the Senate for refusing to grant tho
prayer of the Muskingum people, we will
not consider, We know that, when il has
served their purpose to go beyond Oonsti-
tutonal limits, they have not hesitated to
do so. The career OF the dominant party
in the present Legislature will not bear a
Constitutional investigation. With the
plea that "the exiyencies OF thes times de-
nianded it," they have legislated with out
special regard to the Constitution. or tn,
rights of the masses. Indeed, very lhtl'
pretense of moving within the .'metes and
bounds Of written law" has been set up by
the gentlemen who have had charge ol tho
Legislative and Executive Departments o
the STATE for the last year or two.
1t is unfortunate for the sincerity of th'
plea made by the Senate Comrnittee, anc
endorsed by that body, that the only cas-
whereiti'the Constitption hes bssh urgeC
BY them as barlief,so the passage Of al
act, -wasto favor neyrcesSAt the expens
, Of white people, The thing. LOCKS yer.
like. a quibble. Il is nolOri rus that grca
many slaves--( mostld worthless trash, th
able.b bodied men having been taken to tn
iur South, where theyaare secure )--hav
been brought into the Stats, and they ar
constantly arriving. They are a very nm
desirable population, and their presene
will soon be a serious annoyance 70 whit
." people. Ii we would Avoii condition {
affairs hich will surely bring great Itror
Die hereafter. some legislative cheek shoul
bs given these invading hordes. Is Il b,
lisyed that the present Legislature woul
sustain any msAsurS--hOwevsr copstitl
tional--whicb looks to this end Whe
constitutional objections fail them, the
would resort to any exPedient they deene
necessary to defeat the passage OF au
q. measure looking to the exclusive Of nsgro
from the State, .,,,,
There is nothing desirable in tho way
legislation to bs expected for white ,peop
from the Abolitionists any where. as lor
as the negro is not in possession of all 4
rights and privileges which we epjOy.-
The only hope for the country is in d
Democracy suecceding to the control
4 the Government. It was thought by IN
ny that the Democracy did not mana
ths Government exactly us il was desir
sbls to them : but comparison. 0, Dem