Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-28
from The Cleveland Leader. June 26.l
THESTATEUNION PLATFORM
Letter from n Delegate-The Elective
ss Eranch hise--Eighth Resolution.

EDITORS LEADER:-H0u cannot help but
see that there Isl growing acquiescence In
the doings at the late Union State Conven-
tion- bu5none of us trust will abate one
jot or little of our political creed on the
suffrage question. We do not doubt that to
give unQuestioned assurance Of peace North
and South, the enfranchisement of the
blacks, either by allowing them a general or
aQaultfed suffrage, will become indispensa-
BILE. do not wonder, however, when
hear prudent, earnest Union Republicans,
in committees like that of the Union Con-
veution, set forth the difficulties in the way
of this being done Ungudh!fedly and no,c,
that there should be great caution and hes
itation. And certainly thereNi Is enough 70
Justify MS in the exercise of charity IN our
Judgment of the motives and acts .Of oar
political brethren. But while we do this,
we must "kcep it before the people" that he
who serves and fights for his coahtry shall
both be protected and have the right to pro-
tect himself By the ballot, echaterer his color,
From Cne discussions in committee, DO
not believe that there are such radical diff
ferences in the party on this subject that
they cannot be recOnciled.
The accountgivenb by The Cincinnati Com
mercial of the difficulties encountered in
framing the platform are probably not far
What some Northern members insisted
on was the following, adopted at the great
Grant reception meeting In New York, on
the 7th Inst: "a A-Fs -
"Resolued, That we hold this truth to be
self-evident, that to him with whom we
can entrust the bullet to save the life of the
nation we can entrust the ballot to preserve
| it.. And we invoke the corporation OF the
| Federal and State Governments throughout
/ ~ al ln,x ,f,.lr IN h
lish system of suffrage which shall be
equal and just to all loyal men, black as
well as white"
| This covered the whole subject of State
action as wellas Federal, and coming from
high authority it was deemed proper to
| urge It. 1t was reasonable and right, and
should have been accepted by all as the true
| policy for the future. 1t did not cOntem-
| plate the immediate enfranchisement of the
blacks, but looked to taking all necessary
steps to right action in regard to that great
| subject. Though this was offered and urged
| with jealous determination which was
regarded by some as obstina3y, yet it was
opposed by spirit which the friends OF
the resolution regarded In the same light,
and the opposition being backed up or rath-
er led by the military, under the command
of a most able, bold and uncompromisihg
|
of this resolutions or its equivalent, by those
who offered it, was abandoned, and the mi
nority announced the determination OF
offering it in a minority report, to the Con-
vention, when several of the majority Of
tered asubstitute for it which suited neither
party, when finally the Sth resolution was
proposed, as follows:
"Resolued, That the experience ofthe last
four years shows the absolute necessity In
all our political actions Of keeping in'view
steadily the great principle of our Govern
ment, as set forth in the Declaration of In
dependence"
This, after consultation among those who
composed the minority, and many OF the
delegates from this District, was accepted.
| Under these circumstances 1t must not be
accepted as mere form of "glittering gen.
eralilies," having no meaning. 1t was ac-
cepted for all that could possibly be made
out of it, by careful examination of the
Declaration of independence. Now, what
are some of the principles contained in that
instrument, and so plain that he that run
meth may read?
1st. All men are created equal. .,....
2l. That their rights (unless forfeited)
are alike and unalienable.
Sd. That to secure these rights Govern
ments are instituted among men; deriving
their just power from the consent OF the goo
erened.
Take these three propositions together, or
the last one, and if you can deduce any
thing from them you must certainly see that
it not only authorizes but requires that suf-I
frage shall be conferred upon the colored
population of the South: because, first, they
are eloyal; second, they compose very large,
and in many instances far the largest por-
tion of the population; third, they are the
governed people. Therefore, as Govern
ments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed" the blacks, as
we'll as whites, should participate and have
voice in establishing that Government
under which they live. Nothing is plain
er. No words could make 1t more so. The
resolution offered is not palmer than this.
Another principle in the Declaration is
that there shall be no taxation without the
consent of the governed-that ''the right of
representation is right inestimablen to the
people, land formidable to tyrants only" [
Now, Messrs. Editors, have we not all we
want in this resolution, especially when we
take it in connection with the first and
sixth. % anugrgyr-ttfn4 rftrss
4 1t would have been more satisfactory to
have passed the resolution offered and re-
jected, because nothing was left to infer
ence or deductions; but we get no less in the
resolution passed.
The OHIO STATESMAN accuses us of this, in
noticing the proceedings, in the following
extract: 'g 81 U EI.lI 8kHBG 4
".What do they mean by the great prin-
cipies of our Government as set forth in the
Declaration of Independence?". They have
reference to that part of the Declaration of
Independence which declares that all men
are born free and eQuap-black and white
equal before the law-equal in the witness
box--equal in the jury box+equal at the
ballot box" @E.SAHlM
But 1 will not proceed further on this
subject. Yours. &C., J.P. B. ,