The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-06-20
RANDOM THOUGHTS No. 0S.
BIT TIE EDITOR.

must be permitted, in oil good hnmor, to re-
view that portion of Esq. McCoys letter which
opposes negro suffrage. fear that Mr.. McCoys
objections are mere prejudice-the result of early
education.
Mr.. Mccoy has poor opinion of the negroes.
Well how about the white men2 He saws the
first settlers OF jackson county were counterfeit
ers--one OF them went to the Penitentary, and
Others ought to have gone. But they 'cere achhe
men. lie was cheated out of his hard earned
wages, CARRYING mortar to build some of the
houses yet standing in our town. But they ~ere
phite men 'cho rsUindled him.
Even at the present day, white men are not
perfect Any amount Of evidence might be pro-
duced to establish this proposition, but will here
only quote an editorial from the Columbus Jour
nal of last week. Speaking of the white men of
our State Capital, the Journal says:
There is no city in the land more overrun by
gamblers than Columbus. Large, hea lthy, BILE
bodied men whom on longs to see on the chain
gang, or in some other heaIthful and productive
occupation lounge about the street corners in
drOves. bullying quiet citizens by their insOlent
elbOwings, and insulting females with coarse jests
and brutal remarks. 1t would be a beathful
thing for the city, if our police and other civil
officers could be persuaded to execute the laws on
our statute books, and break up the business of
these fellows, and put them where they might do
the State some service. They are, almost to
man, healthy, active, abe-bOdied men, who
might add largely to the productive forces OF the
country. The State cannot allow all this energy
to lie dle.-much less to he excited for the des-
tructiOu of labor. and the debauchery of morals.
bpIOU
of our business men ruined by these fellows.
What return does society receive from them as an
equivalent? Are we sufficiently compensated by
seeing them gOrgeouSly arrayed, like the lilies,
while they toll not, neither do they spin? Are
we to pet these Man Eaters, and furnish them
with victims, choice and juicy, to suit their ten
therapeutics, while stupid honest labor is barely
able To make both ends meet, and pay its taxes?
He says negroes saw better times than the
white laborers at the salt works. Then why did
YOU not exchange places with them2 l have
heard it urged hundred times during the past
twenty-five years that the slaves were better off
than poor white IHen; but never could urge one
who used this argument to exchange places with
slave, and thus according TO his argument,
better his condition. Then, if slavery is better
than freedom, how strange to assert that the ne
groes fought to make their condition worse
Why is it that men will assert that the negro SOL
diurs were treated better than white soldiers
The negroes went into the service for less pay,
and no bounty, and were assured that if taken
prisoners they would be murdered or sold into
slavery. And when Congress, long afterwards,
agreed to pay them the same wages aud bounty
as white soldiers. the cry is raised that this tardr
act of justice gives them an advantage over the
white soldier.
He thinks that his white neighbor, who de-
serted, is treated harshly, becausj he cannJt ge I
pay and bounty. Mr. NJ. has been justice of
the peace for perhaps thirty years, and he well
knows that Swan laws down the rule that If
agree to work for twelve m nths and work eev-
en. and quit without cause can receive nothing
for what have done. "And TO cut him off from
the privilege of voting is too bad" Well have
q ncighbor, negro who went into the service
knowing that no quarter would be shown him.
He fought under Gen. Butler before Richmond,
and lett his strong right arm there But he dbl
not take the liberty to come home When
saw him sign his pension papers with his left
hand-when | remembered that he had a little
property to be taxed, which he had earned with
his lost arm--whcn | remembered that this arm
was left in Virginia in defense of me and in de-
fcnse of my country, / thou sht that to deprive
him of putting in a ballot with the remaining
hand, though it might be black, was too bad ="
The rebel who snCakcd to Canada or contributed
ten cents to the support Of Vailandigham, can
vote tot tax the property of this black soldier or
Jecdusc The mgyOes Of IIest Virginia, many years
ago 'oere sducy!
But suppose the negroes of Ohio are not so in
telligcnt as the white men, taken as a whole and
| have no doubt this is The case. What then ?
Shall they be dsfNnchisGd for this reason? Gov.
Cox, Mr.. Galloway, Gen. Schenck, and thousands
mud tens of thousands OF voters in Ohio are more
learned and intelligent than Esq. Mccoy or my
self yet we would not consent to be disfranchised
for this reason. My theory upon this subject is,
to ask nothing from Others to which would not
submit myself. | esteem voting right and a
privilege. | always vote at an election. As a
Christian man, how can fulfill the requirements
Of the Golden Rule when ! vote to deny this right
to Others who pay taxes, fight for the country,
and submit to the laws2 an things whatsoerer
ye would that men should do unto you, do you
even so unto them; for this is the law and the
prophets" Now suppose that the negroes had
control Of the Government, and Esq. Mccoy and
| were DISTINGUISHED, and the negroes were about
to take vote whether we should be permitted to
take part in the making of the laws by which we
were to be governed. 1t would be objected that
because we are not Of the same color as the negroes
and also because We were not as Intelligent as
Frederick Douglass or John NJ, Langston, there
fore, We were not flt to vote What would we
desire should be the result Of the negro vote upon
the question of our acknowledgements Putting IL
upon this principle, laid down by Jesus Christ as
the SUN and substance of all the rules of our ac-
lions toward our iel ow men. there can be no
doubt as to our duty in voting upon the amend,
meut. DO you not think ~ Mr.. McCOy2
D. NJ.