Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-02-01
UNIYEBsAL SUFFRAGE IN ONO

UNLHE1t8AL SUFFRAGE IN OHIO.
The Republicans of Connecticut
have nobly placed themselves upon the
great principle of equal political rights
for all men. In their platform adopt
ed at the recent State Convention they
declare ''that the only just basis of hu-
man governments Is the consent of the
governed that in a representative re-
public such consent is expressed
through the exercise of the suffrage by
the individual citizen, and that the
right to that exercise should not be
limited by distinction ofTace or color. +"
Itis time the Republicans of Ohio
we're also placing themselves upon this
Just and firm platform Tt is the sol
emn and imperative duty Of the pre-
sent Legislature to take the lead in
the matter by proposing an amend
ment striking from our Constitution
the barbarous and absurd restriction
of the franchise to whit" men. If
this section of the Constitution we're
strictly enforced not a man In Ohio
could vote, for there is not a man, wo-
man or child in Ohio whose complex
ion is perfectly white 1t is just as
absurd to prohibit man from voting
| because his complexion is black. brown
or mulatto as it would be for the rea-
son that his eyes were grey, or his hair
red, or his feet dubbed. Tt would be
far more reasonable to prevent a man
from voting because he has a carbun-
| cled nose, than because he has fat
one 1t would be quite as proper to
keep him from the polls for having a
black mark above his eye as for having
white spot inside of it. We might
just as consistently say he is unfit for
the franchise because he is bow-Iegged
as because his heels are long or his
feet fiat. Nor is there any more reason
why man should not vote because he
has thick lips than because he has
hare IiDs. That such qualifications
for the franchise should be incorpo-
rated in the Constitution of Ohio and
in her statutes and the decisions of hel
courts, is a shame and disgrace. It is
an absurd barbarism unworthy of an
enlightened not to say a free and re.
I publican people. 1t is time it were
stricken out, and we call upon our Leg
! islature to strike it out. Ifit does not
do its duty in this matter during the
/ present session it will deserve the Sc.
verest reprobation. It will say to the
unreconstrueted States, we are in favor
of compelling you to accept universal
suffrage but we repudiate It ourselves
/ It will say the same thing to the people
/ of the District of Columbia, to those
of the territories, and to those Of the
new States knocking for admission tc
the Union. ItWill putthe Republican
/ party Of the State at least a year be-
hind in its inevitable progressive
march, and by enforced inconsistency
\ weaken its resistance to its enemies
IF we are right we are certain to sue,
ceed, if we are wrong we are always il
imminent danger of failure. Let US be
right and then 90 ahead. Let US not
falter and prevarieate when the course
of duty is so plain and the opportunity
SO manifest. five do we shall deserve
/ the reproach of sensible men of ou1
own party and the contempt of our
foes.
Let US then have universal suffrage
in Ohio. Let the Republican party
of the State plant itself on the broad
platform of equal and exact justice to
all men. Let all absurd legislation
against color be repealed. Let the
ballot be put in the hands of every
loyal and law-abiding citizen of com
petent age and sound reasoning facul-
ties. In short make suffrage asniUersaZ.
We would not keep it from women Il
they a0ant 1t. Whenever the ladies of
Ohio signify their desire to vote we say
let them vote. But thus far they have
very sensibly declined the privilege
Whenever they ask it, however. let it
be grante3, and let US no longer be
subject to the anomalous reproach OF
restricting political rights in Ohio by
any distinctions of color, race or sex.