The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-07-05
Letter from u Delegate The
Elective Franchise Eighth
Resolution.

now, that there should be great caution
and hesitation. And certainly there is
enough to justify us in the exercise Of
charity in our judgment Of the motives
and acts of our political brethren. But
while we do this, we must "kecp it be-.
fore the people" that he who serves and
fights for his country shall both be pro.
tected and have the right 10 protect him
self BY The ballot whuhpsr his color.
From the discussions in committee, ]
do not believe that there are such radical
differences in the party on this subject
that they cannot be reconcilcd.
The account given by The Cincinnati
Commercial of. the difficulties encounter.
cd in framing the platform are probably
not far out Of the way.
What some Northern members insisted
on was the following, adopted at the
great Grant reception meeting in New
York, on the 7th inst. (:
"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 VIC can cntrust the ballot to
preserve it.. And we invoke the co oyer.
alton Of the Federal and State Govern.
ments throughout the Union to use all
lawful means to establish a system of suf.
frage which shall be equal and just to all
loyal men, black as we'll us white"
This covered the whole subject Of State
action as well as Federal, ard coming from
high authority it was deemed proper to
urge it. II was reasonable and right, and
should have been accepted by all as the
true policy for the future. 1t did not
contemplate the immediate enfranchis
ment Of the blacks, but looked to taking
all necessary steps to right action in re-
gard to thai great subject. Though this
was offered and urged with a jealous de.
termination which was regarded by some
as ObStinacy, yet it was opposed by a spir.
it which the friends Of the resolution re.
garded in the same light, and the Opposi.
ton being backed up or rather led by the
military, under the command Of a most
able, bold and uncompromising General,
all hope of procuring the adoption of
this resolution, or its equivalent, by those
who offered it, was abandoned, and the
minority announced the determination of
Offering it in a minority report, to tho
Convention, when several of the MAORI.
ty offered a substitute for it which suited
neither party, when finally the Sth resO
luton was proposed, as follows:
"Resoloed, That the experience of the
last four years shows the absolute %necessi.
in all our political actions. Of keeping in
view steadily the great principle of our
Government, as set forth in the Declare.
ton of Independence"
This, after consultation among those
who compose the minority, and many of
the delegates from this District, was ac-
ccpted.
Under these circumstances it must not
be accepted as a mere form of "glitter-
ing generalities," having no meaning
1t was accepted for all that could posi-.
blp be made out of it, by a careful exam.
%inatiOn of the Declaration of Iadepond.
ence. Now, what are some of the prin-
ciplcs contained in that instrument, and
so plain that he that runnoth may read ?
LIST. All men are created equal.
ID. That their rights (unless forfeited)
are alike and unalicnable.
3D.. That to secure these rights Gov
ernmcnts are instituted among men {; dc.
irving their just power from the consent
Of the goreraed.
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 re.
quires that suffrage shall be conferred up.
OH the colored population of the South
because, first, they are loyal {: second,
they compose a very large, and in many
instances far the largest portion of the
population ; third, they are the goscrncd
people. Therefore, as &c governments de.
rive their just powers from the consent
Of the governed" the blacks, as we'll as
the whites, should participate and have a
voice in establishing that Government
under which they live. Nothing is plain.
er. No words could make it moro so.-
The resolution offered is not palmer than
this.
Another principle in the Declaration
is that there shall DO no taxation without
the consent Of the goycrned-that "the
right OF representation is a right incsti,
mable" to the people, "and 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.
II would have been more satisfactory t.
have passed the resolution offered and in,
jected, because nothing was left 10 refre,
ence or deduction ; but VIC get no loss il
tho resolution passed.
Tho Ohio Salesman accuses us Of this
in noticing the proceedings, in the follow.
ing extract:
"What do they mean by "the greaI
principles Of our Government as set forth
in the Declaration Of Independence Y"-
They have reference to that part Of The
Declaration Of Indedendence which de