Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-10-23
The Leader--The Journal-The
MEarnesi Men,


~Earmest Men,"
In leading article in the Cleveland Lead
or of recent date, the editor of that paper,
who Is an earnest and perhaps an honest
advocate of Negro Suffrage, urges the mem
bers of the next General Assembly, to see
to it that they submit a constitutional
amendment to the people of Ohio, at the
earliest period possible, enabling the ever
lasting nigger to vote, sit on juries, and
hold office. For this, the editor of the Ohio
Stdte Journal takes him to task, and says he
Is more "radical than wise." All right
thinking people will admit this to be just
criticism, for once; but what are the rea-
sons given by the Journal why the Leaders
advice should not be taken2 Does CoGGE-
SHALL say he is opposedto Negro Suffragey
Not a bit of it! After quoting the provis-
ion of the Constitution, which prescribes
the mode Of amending that instrument, he
SAYS: "From this article, 1t is clear that
the people Of Ohio cannot vote on any
amendment to the Constitution, until Octo-
Der, 1867. Now, aside from all other con-
siderations, will not the General Assembly,
atits session In 1866, have sufficient busi-
ness, without agitating itself for the mere
sake of agitation, upon issues not commit
ted to it by the action of the people, and, in
point Of practical fact, beyond its immediate
jurisdictionT
Now, is not this beautiful argument
against the proposition OF the earnest"
man of the Leader? The section of the
Constitution which the Journal quotes, re-
ouires a thi ee-fifths' vote in each branch OF
the General Assembly, and then submission
to a vote of the people at the next election
thereafter for Senators and Representatives
and if majority of the people vote in
favor of an amendment thus adopted and
submitted, it becomes part of the funda-
mental law of the State.
If what the Leader proposes is "beyond
the immediate Jurisdiction" of this Legisla-
ture, pray when will the jurisdiction ever
become more prorimatep The Constitution
provides only for biennial sessions; and If
the ''earnest men" are required to wait un-
til they can get nearer to the time of sub
hitting their amendment, they will get
tired waiting Ito show their strength!'
Does not every sensible man see the drift of
the Journals twaddle? Its editor has Ssmelt
amicer' He is trying to ignore the Negro
Suffrage issue-not because he is opposed
to Negro-voting, but because he fears 1t
will swamp" his corrupt party, and cause
some of the present office-hOlders to be
ousted from fat places, which they now hold
to the public detriment. In other words,
he SO uses the Negro as to keep the "earnest
men" 'in line' at the polls; but when the
time has come for decisive action, he looks
around, and if he discovers that his party
will lose votes by standing upon the plat
form, he talks to the "men of the Reserve"
who always furnish the maj0rities for the
Abolition candidates, in the following in
selent manner: s-4--r.
"You are not entitled to such considera-
ton, by virtue OF effective service for the
Union victory at the polls on the 10th in
slant, as is needed to authorize you, un-
challenged, to assume leadership in the
General Assembly"
Now, if this is not the basest ingratitude
toward the "earnest men," and the most
brazen-faced impudence on the part of the
Journal toward the Leader, then we ac-
knowledge that we are no judge of such
matters! But this is fight in which we
feel very little interest: we don't care much
whether the Leader is on top, or the Jour
nall We, however, detest ingratitude and
trickery, such as the Republican managers
in this city manifest and practice.
A large proportion of the Republican
party honestly believe that the Negro is as
good as the White Man; and are in favor
OF according the Negro all the rights and
privileges, political and social that are en-
joyed by the White Man. But there are
many in that party who will "go the
Negro" If it ''pays;" and if they think it
''won't pay" they are willing to ignore
him. The Journal belongs to the latter
class. The time, however, is not far dis
tant, when it will have to toe the mark, or
lose the "earnest men," There is fun
ahead