The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-07-04

the Pope to occupy ST. PETERS chair,
and why is Brigham Young allowed 70
play the sultan amid the legalized
prostitution Of his western harem2-
Hus society, in these instances, no
right in its political capacity to inter-
fere2 |
If society be a natural right, arising
solely by virtue ola decree of nature
to that effect, and not from necessity,
there must be ut least as many natures
politically as there are constituted
governments; otherwise constituted
governments must be wrong, tyranni-
cal and subversive of natural right.
Again, if society has no right TO pre-
vent or prohibit any one in the enjoy
ment of an assumed right, every per-
sor would havea natural right 70 enjoy
the privileges Of society, or not, just
rs lie pleased; he not only would have
the right enjoy, but the right to mold
and fashion--not only theright to mold
and fashion, but the right to dissolve
and destroy; that is to say, if nc likes
not the social compact as it exists in
the United States, he has the right to
use every means in his power for its
overthrow and subversion, and to
establish it in some other form, or to
live with out it, according to his within
and caprices hence come SECESSION,
revOlutionrgnd rebellion. In one word
then, If we may believe the advocates
of Negro Suffrage, every person has
the natural, indefeasible right to do
Just as he pleases without let or him
drance. JEFF. DAVIS, when actively
engaged in rebellion against that
social compact of which lac had been
n member, was, according 10 the "Man.
hood Suffrageitcs" Ct Ohio, but acting
upon and ondeavorIng to support, by
force of arms his natural rightto with
draw from ono government and instl-
tute another, aud according to the
same high uthoriey, the Federal Gov
eminent WIS wrong and had no legal
power, naturally derived, to prohibit
him the full enjoyment Of his natural
rights. Aud we may suppose, DOW
that the "Arch Fiend' of rebellion is
turned loose upon society, backed and
encouraged by the Grand Sachem Of
natural rights, Horace Greeley, chat
the whole thing is in strict accordance
with the natural rights of man.
This argument, that passed society,
cannot restrain any ono in the enjoy
ment OF his natural rights, is but the
enunciation in a new form of tho old
higher law" doctrine-the father OF
the twin monsters, Secession and Alb
tion-that doctrine which has dis
severed the Union, suppressed the
Constitution, and revo~lutionized the
Ggysrppent.
The hypothesis, however, is false in
premise, sequence and %corollary, be.
cause 1t attempts u distinction where
there is no difference. Politically
; there is no difference between natura.
} rights and social rights. Upon this
idea our Government was founded.
All rights arising from whatovereourct
are equally respected by the laws, ano
in the enjoyment of these rights every
subject OF the Government IL protect
} cd. The Constitution and laws dc
clare what u rights are. We have
therefore, two classes of rights, whicl
may be denominated in the one cas-,
fundamental, and in other discretionary
All those rights enumerated in tn
| Constitution may be styled fundamen
tal, because only the people, eXercis
3 ing theirsovereign capacity, can chang,
or abridge them; all rights not Gnu
5 merated IN that INSTRUMENT may b,
called discretionary, because the peo,
. pie can alter or abridge at. pleasure
4 Hence, in Ohio, suffrage is II funda
Y mental right, because it is nude so h,
c the Constitution, the supreme law G
!, the State. Tho same instrument dc
fines an elector 10 be "a FREQ whit
male citizen of tho United States Q
6 the age Of twenty one years, who sha.
3 have Deen n resident of the State on
year next preceding the election an,
o such citizen is entitled to all the priv
ilegcs and lmmunities of an %elector, NO
o because he is a free white malo citize
Of the United Statcs,' not because {
n any natural right he may have, BIZ
- because the people in their sovereig
h capacity have incorporated the prir
ciple into the organic law Of tn
State.
10 In our country the right to vol
,e signifies tho right to say who shall, fC
le rhe timo beng, DO our rulers, and tn
Sc III every case either directly CIR ind
10 rectly. Directly, when the poop
0 vote for the person to fiji tho ofic
Y. indirectly, when the officer is appoint
ed by M previously elected. I'll
os effects OF suffrage, therefore, are ver
t. extensive; embracing every grade
official from President down to roa
at master. This il incidental to our for
ID of Government; the fundamental la
r. OF the land declares il 10 be so. ]
re England, however, the right to vo
en- does not signify 50 much; there IL
or people have NJ voice in the election
or their sovereign, A large portion
a tho In w-moEinO nnwar hold tha;, ~