The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-06-06


duce irritation and bitterness and treats @
resistance from which it was hoped to de
duce the necessity of establishing militar
governments and enforce martial law,
And why is this? 1t is because they hat
the Constitution of the United States-be
cause they hate our system of Government
They hate its two fundamental ideds-con
federation granted and reserved powers.
They admire the strength of CONSOLIDATED
government and confide in the wisdom O
an overshadowing, absolute, irresponsible
majority. They prefer to intrust the right
and liberties Of the people, the amelioratiol
OF the condition OF our race to such a major
ity rather than to the progress which con
sistS with the checks and balances of ou
system. speak of men with whom | havt
been associated, whom | know intimately
l recognize their intelligence and their pri
vate worth. do not question their integ
rity, or the sincerity of their motives. Yet
L repeat, | believe they hate our system o.
government and desire its verthrow -
What is that system? will not detain yor
either with an analysis of'its parts or his
tory of its foundation. The exigency Of
their condition required that the interna-
tlonal affairs and the commercial intercourse
of the States should be placed under
one head. They were committed to the
Federal Government. All other powers
and subjects were reserved to the States
The States were to regulate the civil and 30.
lltical rights OF their citizens, and so guard
ed were those who made the constitution,
that while in respect to foreign affairs, they
gave to the Federal Government absolute,
exclusive jurisdiction, in domestic affairs
they so entirely excluded il that it has no
power to try or punish an assault by one cit
lzen of Ohio upon another, or collect sim
pie promlssory note as between the same
parties. And this is the system which Con-
gress has determined to subvert and &C.
stroy.
Let me illustrate more particularly my
meaning. Take the Freedmen's Burea u
bill. A law intended to answer the same
purpose was in full force; its provisions
seemed ample; there was no complaint on
that score from any quarter; it was to ex-
pre- within year after the close of the re-
bellion. If the object of this new bill were
only to entend the time, single section in
two lines would have been sufficient. If in
any point enlarged powers were needed, an
other section, equally brief, would have sut-
feed But neither Of these was true pur-
pose Of the bill. Its main object is explain
ed in the eighth and ninth sections. The
eighth section provides that in all States
where the jurisdiction of the civil Courts
has been suspended, and where, by reason
of any law, custom or prejudice, the same
civil rights which have accorded to the
white man. have not been accorded to the
negro, the Pre- aident shall ''extend to all
cases relating % persons so Disseminated
against, military jurisdiction and protec-
ton, and the ninth section declares that
the agents Of the Freedmen $ Bureau shall
under the direction of the War Department
take cognizance Of all cases of this nature,
and shall try, and if guilty, punish by fine
and Imprisonment, all State officers who en-
force any such determinations created by
State laws-"And cases relating to persons
so Disseminated against" " What does that
mean? Did you ever considerit? All cases,
criminal and clvil-Whethcr to punish crimes
or to entore contracts, or to compel fair
dealings. Relating to such persons, -
whether the suit be between a white man
and negro, or between two negroes
whether the indictments be against white
man for beating negro, or against negro
for assaultlng white man, or even negro.
Military jurisdiction and what is that;
pray? Why, the jurisdiction of drum
head court martial, or of military commits
sion under the articles of war, which the
Constitution forblds except in cases of per-
sons enlaged in the land or naval service,
or in the militia, while in active service
Now the Constitution provides that no per-
or white man-shall be held to
answer for an infamous crime except upon
an Indictment, and that every person so held
shall be tried by jury, openly and speedily,
be confronted with the witnesses against
him, have the benefit of counsel and have
court Yet this bill, avowedly for the bene-
tit OF freedmen, proposes to deprive them of
these beneficient provisions, which they now
enjoy, and TO make it the duty Of the Presi-
dent in every case to substitute the short,
sharp process of a court martial where there
is no indictments, or jury, and where coun-
sci and witnesses for the defense are tolerat-
ed only by the grace and favor of the court.
Can Any man believe this law was inten-
ded to be Of service to the negro, or to am.
eliorate his condition, or to protect him
from injurious discrimination, or to accus-
tom him to the equal rights of citizens?--
No, sir. 1t was intended to invade ths
domain Of the States in the punishment of
crimes purely of State cognizance. 1t vas
intended wrongfully to break down State
laws, and to substitute for them Federal
laws, and thus to draw within the circle of
Federal military authority every citizen of
the land, "All cases relating to such per-
sons!' These words embrce all persons of
every age and sex who may come in con-
TACT, however remotely, with any negro
man, woman or child, in any of the relations
1r conditions, or affairs Of life And this
bill brings them all to the feet ofthe mill
ary authority as executed by the most ig-
1orant and degraded fellow who can be
hired as servant of the Bureau for $500
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
% the Radicals for that blessing.
Examine the proposition to change the
basis of representation. The Constitution
provided that population should be entitled
% representation and that each community
must decide for itself where the political
oower should reside. This rule was proper
: was the only consistent rule where States
ire recognized as self-govering and self.
existing. The determination who shall
WELD the power Of the community is assem-
.ial to the existance of a free State.
This proposed amendment provides that
he basis of representation shall be popula-
alton, but that whenever the Negro is
excluded from voting, his race shall be ex
,luded from the basis and the number of
Representatives shall be accordingly dimin.
shed. That is to say: The power to de-
ermine who shall be electors belongs un.
to the States They may exer-
Use it as they see fit. They may exclude or
hey may admit to the suffrage as they
hink right. They may exclude the young,
he old, the poor, the unlearned, the woman
they may exclude every soldier who has
entered the army, ifthey please--+and, ifthe
parties so excluded only be. white, they still
~ tba hae,e - /. -.