The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-08-09

classes as they may deem detrl
mental to them, and while a State
may still prescribe a term of resi-
dence for persons coming into and
settling within its limits, the rule
under the amendment must apply
to whites and blacks alike. SO OF
the elective franchise, or any other
privilege of citizenship; for, being
alike citizens of the States wherein
they reside with their white fellow
citizens, the negro could not be
kept from the polls by any State
law which did not, on the same
terms and conditions, keep the
white man away. The States
might still, no doubt, prescribe
qualifications tor voters, such as
property or education, but every
citizen, white or black, who pos
sessed those qualifications, would
be entitled to vote. No State could
any longer say that none should
vote but white male citizens over
the age of twenty-one years, for
such law would "abridge the
privileges and immunities of citi.
zens of the United States" One
of the clauses of the Bill of Rights
in our State Constitution, declares
that "The General Assembly shall
not grant any citizen, or class Of
citizens, privileges or immunities
which, upon the same terms, shall
not equally belong to all citizens"
Now, will any one say, if the Con.
stitution of the United States con-
fer upon negroes born in this coun-
try, the right p of citizenship, not
only in the United States, but Of
the State wherein they reside, that
every native born negro residing in
the State of Indiana would not be
the political equal of the white
citizens of the State ? And being
citizens of the State, what rights
enjoyed by the white citizens
could, on account of their color,
be denied to them .-,I .f
But, says, Governor Morton, "as
to what constitutes citizenship in a
State depends upon its Constitu-
tion and laws. The conditions diff
fer in different States" That is
true under the Constitution as it
now stands, but how unfair to argue
that it will be so still after the
adoption of an amendment by
! which it is declared that citizen
ship in the United States and a
residence in a State shall constitute
all such without regard to local
laws or State Constitutions citizens
of such State. Again, the Cover
| nor asserts that one may still be a
citizen OF the United States, and
not a citizen of any State. That is
true, for he may reside in a Terrific
ry; but what benefits toresult from
this sage discovery of Gov. Nor
toms am unable to see,, Let him
or his friends answer this question.
Under the proposed amendment
can man be citizen of the Uni
ted States and a resident of a State
and not be citizen of such State?
And can any State law deprive any
class cf persons of such rights!
But | will not pursue this ques-
tion any further at this time. 9th
er subjects demand your attention
and mine. The purpose of these
amendments is plain; it is to make
all persons born in this country,
without regard to race or colol,
"equal before the law 1t is to
divide the power to govern with
! four millions of an inferior race,
and this is well known to the Re,
| publican leaders in Indiana, but
they have not the honesty to avow
it, lest the people condemn them
But l say to you be not deceived
for upon you finally rests the re.
sponsibility of deciding these great
questions. Beware, therefore, you
| decide them right. l. o,a r..lt. =
An Ugly Case of MiscegenatiOn--
COlOr-blinded COnnubial Bliss