Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-06-28

BY invitation of the Union Club
Of Columbus, Hon. VIM. II. West, At
tornev General of Ohio, delivered an
able and effective speech on the pend
ing Constitutional Amendment, at the
Capitol on the evening preceding the
Union State Convention. The follow
ing is the principle portion of Mr..
Vests lucid and unanswerable argu-
ment for the adoption of equal Suffrage
in Ohio:
Enfranchisement is an issue natural
ly and necessarily arising from eHan-
cfpation. To ignore it is vain-tO sue
cessfully resist its ultimate cOnsumma-
ton is impossible. Impartial manhood
suffrage is but a question of time.
Emancipation was not more surely the
destiny of the slave, than enfranchise-
ment is of the freedman. This govern
unem6 cannot permanently maintain a
stable peace and tranquil unity, while
il contains within it a numerous and
powerful race alieniated and made enc
mics by exclusion from those privi-
leges which alone give enduring
strength to the ties of allegiance, and
lasting frmness to the bonds of uni
on.
Disfranchisement was an inseparable
incident of servitude. Slavery could
which in popular govern ments IS the
expression of the public will. From
that expression the voice of the slave
was necessarily excluded. 1t was un-
natural that il should be given to sane
ton or sanctify the riveting of his own
chains.
But the lettering of his limbs was of
itself not enough. In order to prevent
his restiveuess and discomfort, his as
piratiOns for freedom were discouraged
and repressed by crushing from his
/ heart every motive to seek it. To this
end nothing was omitted which would
/ render the condition of the freedman
/ more intOlerabIe, if possible, than that
| Of servitude. He was excluded from
/ citizenship the temples of Justice were
| closed against him he was denied the
/ cOmmOnest rights Of humanity. he
/ was made vagrant and vagabOnd by
4 the enforced disabilities which hemmed
/ him around, and for being such was
! condemned as a criminal, and return
| ed to his chains, or voluntarily sought
them as a relief from the miseries OF
his freedom.
Nor were these barbarous disabilities
| confined to the dominions of slavery,
The young States of the Northwest imi-
tated their example. Originally set.
tied by emigrants from the slave States
they inherited their preiudices and EN-
ulated their iuhumanity. Out of COM
plaisaney to themi they voluntarily
constituted themselves Outposts to the
citadel of slavery, and Janizaries tC
guard Its portals,
To this work Of barbarity and outrage
the earlier legislation of Ohio was pros
tituted- Her code of black laws Is thi
record of her greatest infamy and deep
est shame. This DrRcOuian code re-
fused asylum to the negro man, ex
cept under heavy bonds denied hin
settlement and the privileges of educa
ton virtually closed against him tht
courts of justice, by excluding hin
from the witness-stand; made it a cFiml
to give him employment E; required hi
departure or removal on failure 10 com
ply with conditions to him practically
impossible withheld from him bOti
public relief and private charity de
creed for him nothing but degradation
or exile. WheresoeVer he turned b.