Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-27

heaven and the country, stands solemnly
pledged t
The Presidents policy, If understand
him-and about which l think there Is nc
room for doubt-assumes
1st. That treason Is crime. Thata por-
tion of the people of several of the States,
by conspiring together, to sever by force
the connection and relations between those
States and the Federal Government were
guilty of treason, but having failed In theiT
purposes, the States remain in the Union
shOrn of none of their powers as States,
but as living members of the confederacy,
and entitled to theimmediate and uncondi-
tional exercise of all their rights under the
Constitution. 1i ... ttfI .| tt ~
I'd. That the Union being preserved and
not dissolved. IL Is competent for the Gov
ernment to deal with those guilty of the
attempt to dissolve IL, in accordance with
the laws and the Constitution, and as, it be-
comes Government conscious of ofitspower,
but that the States, rs such, are in no way
responsible for the conduct of any number
of It's Individual citizens. 9oi 10 s.o
3D.. That the States being "restored to all
their functions as States IN conformity with
the organic law of the land, have the right
to an immediate representation in the SEN
ate and House of Representatives, when
ever they select for such representatives
persons qualified by the Constitution and
the laws to occupy such positions in the
Government. '.
Such are the principles andpoliey of the
President, and such are the questions sub
mitted to you, my countrymen, not origi-
mating with the Democratic party, but orig
mating In that perilous condition In which
we now find the Government by the action
Of those who profess to be Its peculiar
friends and especial guardians, and who for
the time are in possession of its several de-
partments. 'I'
Now, my countrymen, having said this
much in explanation of the principles and
policy advocated by the Democratic party,
[ ask you to follow me whilst for a few
moments examine into the principles and
consider the policy advocated by the Re-
publican party. d."
The only resolution of the Republican
Convention, which on this occasion l deem
worthy Of remark, is that one to which l
have heretofore called your attention, as
approving and indorsing the amendments
to the Constitution as proposed by Con-
gress and in considering that amendment /
shall not detain you by talking about the
public debt, or about the prOpriety ofeX-
Guiding out of millions few hundred men
from office. These are but devices. Upon
these points, it was supposed by the au-
thors of that amendments they could eX-
cite the prejudices and fears of q portion
of our people, and thereby keep concealed
from their viewthe serpent which was ly-
ing beneath the other clauses of the pro-
posed amendment, the only ones for which
they had any real concern, but which they
dreaded, if exposed to the public gaze,
would be repugnant to the public mind,
and woul1 meet with that condemnation
they so richly deserve. .-
the first provision of the amendment,
then, to which shall direct your attention,
and TO the support of which the Republican
party stands committed, is that which pro-
poses to secure TO every man, without re-
gard TO race or color, born in the United
States. all the rights and privileges Of citi-
zens of the United States, viz: That before
the Constitution and laws of the United
States, all shall be EQUALS.
Now, nv countrvmen, what is meant by
this proposed amendment? Heretofore the
title of American citizen had its meaning
at home and abroad. We all understood It
to apply to the descendants of those great
and good men, who. through trials and per-
lis, the like of whi h had never before been
encountered by any people, sought this
land, redeemed it from the control of the
savage of the forest, asserted its independ-
ence of all foreign powers, and founded
and fashioned the Government under which
we have so long and so happily lived. But
adopt this amendment and be We where We
may, standing on the Banks of the Missis-
sppi, or those of the Thames, rus
ticatiDg In our own Alleghanies, or
sealing the Alps, the title of Amer
lean citizen will excite but the inquiry,
Is he of the red man of the forest sou
of Africa, or is he by chance white man9
Oh, my countrymen, such Is the uncertain
and degraded condition to which your ma
tionality is about to be reduced. But is
this all? Is it only in name, in reputation,
in self-respect, at home and abroad, that we
are to be effected by this amendment Far
short of it, my friends. Adopt this amend
ment and there is no office In the gift of the
Government, which is not open to the ne
groes. You may possibly withhold the
right of suffrage, under the succeeding
clause of the amendment, but you cannot
deprive them of the right to occupy any
place within the gift ofthe people, or with
in the gift of the man who for the time be-
ing may control the patronage of the
Government. You will be liable to have
them represent our Government at the
Courts of any and all foreign powers, to be
our legislators our Judges, our jurors, to
distribute our school funds, and In all
other matters, administer and execute our
laws. Are the people of this great State
prepared for this degradation? 1t Is
proposition, my countrymen, can't argue;
love of country, respect for the intelli-
nf nfrxu a nd coll
all forbid it.
The remaining clause of the proposed
amendment is that which proposes to
withhold from the basis of representation,
that portion of the eolOred male popula-
ton of any State, who by the laws of such
State, are not permitted to exercise the
right of suffrage. t'.1r
BY this provision, the right of each State
to determine for itself who shall be its
voting population is recognized, and If all
the States were permitted to take their
proper part in the administration of the
affairs of the Government In all its de-
partments, subject to the Constitution and
the laws, and without any other restraints
than those imposed by the Constitution,
there would be some show of reason in sub
hitting to the people for their approval or
rejection, an amendment excluding from
the basis of representation the colored
people, because it was inconsistent with the
whole theory of our Government, that they
should ever be admitted to the right of suf-
frage. But there is nothing in the state OF
our public concerns, which now justify the
adopting of any amendments to the Consti-
tuition. .eqr-Js
y know that some of our Republican
friends become indignant when charged
with being in favor of negro suffrage, and
l believe there is a great conservative in-
terest. in that party, which is opposed to 1t,
and would manifest their displeasure by