The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-06-07

woman or child, in any Of the rela.
tions or conditions, or affairs of life.
And this bill brings them all to the
feet of the military authority as ex-
ecuted by the most ignorant and
degraded fellow who can be hired
as a servant of the Bureau for $500
a year. cite this bill only as an
illustration. By the grace of God
and Andrew Johnson's veto, it did
not become law. No thanks to
the Radicals for that blessing.
Examine the proposition to
change the basis of representation.
The Constitution provided that
population should be entitled to
representation and that each COM
munlty is essential to the existence
of a free State.
This proposed amendment pro-
vides that the basis of representa-
ton shall be population, but when.
ever the Negro is excluded from
voting, his race shall be excluded
from the basis; and the number of
Representatives shall be accord
ingly diminished. That is to say:
The power to determine who shall
be elec tors belongs undoubtedly to
the st ates. They may exercise it
as they see fit. They may exclude
or they may admit to suffrage as
they may think right. They may
exclude the young, the old, the
poor, the unlearned, the women
they may exclude every soldier who
has entered the army, if they
please-and, if the parties so exclu-
ded only be white, they may still
be counted in the basis of represen-
tation, and others may elect for
them. But if the States shall pre-
sumo to exclude negro from the
ballot, neither he nor his family,
nor any of his race shall be count
ed in making up the basis of repre-
sentation. Amazing love for the
negro ! ..f .. ..-. -.asa
But this proposition presents an.
other alternative to the States. BY
counting negroes in the basis of
representation, the Southern States
have Sixteen members of Congress
more than they otherwise would.
If they will consent to give up,
these sixteen members and the po-
litical power they WELD, then they
may exclude the negro from the
ballot-box for all time, and are quite
welcome to do so.
Do l wrong these Radicals in
Congress. They will not admit the
Southern States to their constitu-
tional equality and recognize their
right of representation, because ne
groes are excluded from the ballot
box. Their outspoken leaders bold
ly say so. And yet within two
weeks, by very large majorities,
they have passed a bill to admit
Colorado to the Union, whose peo-
pie have declared in the most au-
thentic and offensive form that in
their new State none but white
men shall vote. DO you remem-.
Der the statement of Thaddeus Ste
vens, that if the South should be
permitted to vote, the Democratic
party would again come into pow
er? And do you know the fact
that the Senator'S from Colorado
are Radicals, whose votes in the
Senate it woulG be convenient to
have in case of another veto9
Do you believe that protection
of the negro was the true purpose
Of the amendment. No, sir. 1t
was to cross the boundary OF State
authority, and to lay violent hands
by Federal power on the most sa-
cred of all the guaranteed rights
of the States. This amendment
passed the sitting section of the
House of Representatives, and
now awaits the action of the SEN
ate. .... -...
Consider the Civil Rights BILL
1t declares that all native born
persons of whatever race, color or
condition, are citizens of the Uni
ted States, and that all citizens
shall enjoy equally all civil rights,
and that all citizens shall be pro-
tected alike, and be punished with
the same measure of penalty
What does this mean9 Suppose a
State law prescribes a less penalty
in the case of negro than Of a
white man convicted of crime
against State law9 Has Congress
authority to say he shall be pun
ished more severelys If Congress
may abrogate the clause of the
State law relating to the negro, and