The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-08-30

of the States from their proper rep
resentation. Early in the war Con.
gress declared the purpose fol
which it was waged. 1t was moi
to interfere with the rights, or-to
impair the dignity Of the States.-
1t was simply to maintain the Un,
ion. Under that banner had the
soldier enlisted; under it he had
been victorious; and now, all oppo-
sition overcome, he asks no guar.
antee for the future. His own
right arm is his sufficient guaran-
tee. But Congress, in the face of
its declared purpose of the war, is
attempting to do by legislation
what the rebellion failed to do by
the sword. For eight long months
eleven of the Southern States have
been asking admission to the halls
of Congress. Radical and sweep
ing measures, nearly affecting their
dearest interests, have been pass
ed. Though States in the Union,
they are allowed no voice. With
this fact before us, it caunot be
denied that, though the war is over,
the Union is not restored.
The speaker proceeded to review
the measures which made up The
legislation of the so-called Con-
gress. He showed up, in its prop
er light, the covert attemptto force
negro suffrage upon the South by
unconstitutional amendment. 1t
was but q preliminary to universal
suffrage. If the South could be
induced, by the fear of a loss of
representation, to enfranchise the
negro, then could these plausible
gentlemen show a little more of
their hand, and argue that unless
the Northern States gave the bal
lot to the negro, they could not
compete with the South. That
these gentlemen are in favor of
negro suffrage is plain. The bold.
est of them avow it. The fear of
their constituents makes the most
of them discreetly silent upon the
question at home. Mr.. Bundy-
whom the speaker mentioned as
his predecessor in ofice"-is not
in favor of negro suffrage when
among his constituents. lie
knows them too well. But he
showed his hand when he voted to
force it upon the people of the
District of Columbia, and upon the
Territories. The people of the
District of Columbia had spoken
against it by an overwhelming
vote. And yet this representative |
of the people, having no fear of
their votes before his eyes, voted
to impose it upon them against
their expressed wishes. So with
the Territories. Now, why does he
not advocate it for this District
Simply because he dares not. He
thinks the people of this District
need to be educated up to that
point.
Then followed a scathing review
of the underhanded attempt to |
override State laws, and to usurp
State power, by making the negro
citizen of the. United States, and
thereby a citizen of the State in |
which he may reside, and then, by
a partizan constitution" of the
law, declare him entitled to suff-
rage, and every other right of the
white citizen. The State has the
right to regulate suffrage. 1t is in
this underhanded way that Con-
gress would steal from her her
rights.
The speaker then dwelt with
great force upon the unwiSe and
policy of Congress, which
tends to widen the breach between
the two sections, instead of uniting
them, and healing the wounds made
by our terrible civil war. He
spoke Of the great love these Radi-
Gals have for the soldiers as exhib-
tied by their voting him the paltry
sum of one hundred dollars, and
themselves the neat fortune of five
thousand apiece, and then, in the
hurry of the moment, forgetting to
appropriate cent for the soldiers
pittance, while they made their own
little sum secure. In conclusion,
he called upon men of all pafties,
to calmly consider the issues in
volved in the present contest,
to examine closely the acts of the
men in power, and to unite at the
polls in defence ofthe Constitution
and the liberties of the people.
AT the close of Col. Moore's