Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-15
[CONCLUsI0N.l


Sir, | am not the enemy of the colored
race. Heaven knows that have not the least
unkind or i'll feeling toward them; and while
| shall, aS a citizen of Ohio. steadily oppose
comforting upon the negro the right of suf-
frage, | shall always encourage, and be
gratiiied to witness, wise and liberal pol
icy practiced toward them by the several
States. ..
have no doubt but that the generous
and patriotic sentiments expressed by
Alexander ii. Stephens in his speech Of the
22i February lat, not only express the
views of the people of his State. but of a
majority of the people of all the States in
which this population is found. In that
speech, speaking of the colored race, he
said:
'In legislation. therefore, under the new system,
you should look to the best interest Of all classes
| their protection, security, ivancement, and i'm
| LrOVement, physically, intellectually, and morally.
All obstacles if there should he any, should be re-
moved, which can possibly hinder or retard the i'm
prOYement Of the blacks to the extent of ehir capac
ity All proper aid should be given to their own
efforts Channel 5 Of education should be opened up
10 them. Schools and the usual means OF moral and
| intel ectual training should be encouraged among
them. This is he dictate, not only Of what is right
and proper and just in itself, but it is also the
prOmptn2s Of the highest considerations Of interest.
1t is difficult to conceive greater evil or curse that
could beta our country, stricken and distressed as
II now Is, tndn portion Ot tS
this class will quite probably constitute among
he eaiter to be reared in ignorance depravity, and
| vice"
But, sir, if the Federal Government may
thus invade and control the legislation of
the States, in regard to their laws regula-
ting the civil rights enumerated in this act,
what is to restrain it from regula-
ting all other legislation of the
| States? You have Just as much power
| ,Int, q,
States relating to marriage, divorce, dow
er, alimony, common schools, the assess
ment and collection of taxes, as you have
to regulate the laws relating to the several
matters contained in this law. Nay, more
than this, by the exercise Of the sane pow
er, Congress may regulate and control the
| political rights OF the people of the several
States. You have precisely as much power
| in the one case as in the other; and that is,
| just none at all. You have as much right
TO say to the States that they shall allow the
negro to vote and hold office, as you
have to say that they shall permit him to
| be witness. The fact is you have no con-
| sttuti Jnal power to do either and when it
| shall be aCquiesced in by the people of the
| United States, that the General Government
may exercise such powers, then, indeed,
may we bid farewell to the rights of the
| States and our system of free government.
Such, sir it seems to me, is the purpose of
the men who control the majority in this
Congress. A spirit of aggression upon the
rights OF the States, strong, bold and de-
| termined, is busy at its work, and if not
arrested by the clear and overwhelming
condemnation of the people, at the coming
elections, it may be too late to resist these
encroachments, which gain strength as
they advance.
Sir, in my Judgment the doctrines of the
distinguished gentlemen who control this
Congress are inconsistent with our system
of government, State aud Federal. Their
organization can only survive by so chang
ing the system which our fathers framed,
as to make it conform to their radical views
of policy; and to effect this purpose, they
must have a continuance of power. Elev-
Ell States of this Union, clearly entitled to
representation, must be excluded, and their
voice hushed in silence, while such import
ant unwarranted and radical measures are
fastened upon the country.
Sir, | warn the people, that although the
rebellion has been suppressed, although we
are at peace, at home and abroad, yet dan
ger, the most thl eatening aud disastrous,
turks within our borders; that schemes,
the most dangerous to our system of gov
ernment are pressed upon Congress. Well
may the President, who so nobly stands by
the Constitution to ward of the assaults
made on tnat sacred instrument, declare
that
"They interfere with the municipal legislation of
the States with the relations existing exclusively
between State and its citizens or between nhaoit-
ants Of the same State; an absorption and assump-
tiOn of power by the General government which, II
acquiesced in must sap and destroy our federative
system Of limited powers, and break down the bar
r,ar M Ia rIht N ia
another step rather stride toward Capitalization
and the concentration of all legislative powers in the
National Government: Inc tenSency y OF thiS b i
to arrest progress of those influences which
more closely drawing around the states the bonds
of union and peace. .... .. ... .. ...
Sir. thank the President for his noble,
manly and patriotic defense of the Const-
tuition AID the rights OF the States. Some
times when contemplate the rapid strides
with which the extremists are carrying for
ward their inroads upon the great land
marks of our Federal system, | shudder at
the dangers which threaten us. But, sir |
have not lost all hope. So long as we have
faithful and honest Executive, and pat
rotic people, will not despair. 1t is to
the people at last to whom we must look for
the proper correctives. Free government
can only be maintained by constant vigi-
lance. .rn ...... .... ... .......
"The spirit of liberty will not permit rOwer to
overstep its prescribed limits, though good intent,
patriotic intent, come along with it," .
Gentlemen cannot deceive the people by
declaring that this law only involves ciuH
rights. Sir, it does more, 1t involves the
,iqht of the Federal Government to declare
tile laws and constitutions of the States,
which exclude negroes from voting, hold
ing Office, and acting as jurors, illegal, and
sets them aside, and punish the authorities
of the States for executing them; because
if this may be done in regard to CtUH rights,
so it may in regard to political rights. Sir
deny that any such powers have been del
egated to the General Government; and if
their exercise shall be sanctioned by the
people, then, indeed, will the rights of the
States, and all local legislation have been
completely stricken down, and our Federal
system converted into an overshadowing,
centralized despotism. ..n .-
Sir, shall always be found supporting
the General Government in all its just and
constitutional powers, as '' the sheet-anchor
of our peace at home, and safety abroad"
bnt, sir, SHALL with the same determined
zeal, support and defend the just rights and
powers of the States. They are our most
efficient and competent governments for
the home rights of the people; land the
surest bulwarks against i-Republican
tnndat ciae 81 hATha maintenance of thaap