The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-09-27
Because the rebels aud Coppsrhea
don't want il adopted.
Objections TO It's Adoption.

| II allows negroes TO vote.
God has given them reason and speech
which marks them as men. They are able
to accumulate property, pay taxes, yield
obedience to the laws and defend the
State, which is what Government requires
of the citizen. The only proper disquali
fcaton for the privileges OF citizenship in
our Cove, nment Is crime. Color Is o.
crime. aud it is as reasonable that color
should excuse q man from his duties to the
State, as that it should exclude him from
its privileges In slavery the negro was
forced to serve his master without wages.
We condemn that as unjust. The high
privileges of citizen are the wages the
S ate pays for faithful pertorme, os of a
citizens duties, aud when State withholds
auy part of the wages il becomes to that
extent tyrant Let us purge Ohio of this
yranny.
7" 1t will establish social equality"
This is bug bear, intended TO frighten
men of weak minds, aud has no more sub
stance than a ghost. Every white man
knows that he is politically the equal Of his
white neighhors aud he knows too, that
the matter of social equality il wholly reg
ulated and determined by other oousdere,
tions. No man whom he don't waut there
can, because a voter, clam ADMISSION to
his home circle, aud he, although voter,
can establish himself in no social circle,
where. he is not wanted,
1t will promote miscegenation."
This is another bug bear. The reality is
that this evil has ilouriShed most where
the inequality of political condition has
been greatest Every advance of the
lie 5ro race IN civilization, streng thening
| ,,J 10, nT ~,
aueLoe enabl n; it to wi hstal the al
urements of the white mans power has
made the white mars conquest more diff.
cult, which is just what these men who cry
out "miSceg to frighten people,
don't want should happen.
1.-THE colored men are ignorant, and not
fit to vote"
This is pure assumption, and it might
be successfully maintained that the colored
men of Ohio are as well informed as some
other classes of citizens. But the law does
not prescribe any degree of intelligence for
| white men, and the men and the party now
insisting that the negro shall possess a
certain degree of intelligence will b. the
last to consent to the application OF any
such test, by law, to other citizens. whether
native or natural zed. The negro will not
complain of any standard of fitness which
shall be impartial in its application to all
| men.
I'VE shall be subjected to negro rule
Shall WEI "Flgule es don't lie." Let us
look at the figures. There are 400 900
white voters in the State, and not over
1000 c0lored men who will be made voters
il the Aint ntndment ,s adopted. That is,
there will be seventy votes cast by white
fnr.A ntn hua N1nr. I'll
man. We shall never see in this State an
election in which less than $4,000 ballots
are cast, but such thing must happen be.
fore the colored men, as a class, carry any
measure against the white men.
"The Amendment will disfranchise white
men"
Not because they are white mon. 1t will
disfral chise criminals. Rebels. deserters,
and sneaks who fed the country to escape
serving it. whether white or black, are
criminals by the laws of the United States,
If majority of them are white it's a pity.
But that circumstance ought not to shield
the gully from the operation of an impair.
tial law, which declares that any men guilty
of these crimes have forfeited their priv
lege of participating with brave and sacri-
6chg patriots in governing the country
they failed to support protect and defend.
I" But many true and brave soldiers who
left the army when the rebels surrendered
under mistaken idea of the conditions OF
enlistment have been classed az deserters,
and this amendment will disfranchise
them"
Not at all. Congress, during the extra
session last July, passed the following law;
Bs enacted, de-, That no soldier or sailor
shall be taken or held To be a deserter from the
army or navy, who faithfully served, according to
his enlistment, until the 10Th day of April, 1855,
and who, without proper authority or leave first
obtained, did quit his command, refuse to serve
after said date This act shall
be construed solely as a removal of any disability
such soldier Jr Sailor may have incurred by the
loss of his citizenship in consequence OF his de-
serton.
This law expressly provides that every
honorable soldier who fought the good
fight through to the end, shall enjoy all the
privileges OF citizenship, one of which is
the right TO vote
Conclusion.
These are all the obiectiors to the
Amendment that are urged with any show
pr pretense of plausihility; and no one of
them has any foundation in truth except
the objection on the ground Of color, aud
this is an objection started, hot by Justice
nor by wisdom, nor by a regard for our
principles of free government, GOr by com.
mon charity, but by an unworthy and mis-
guiding prejudice, which arose under he
sway of debasiug institution now swept
from the land. Does it become us 10 fos
ter and perpetuate the diseases with which
it infected our political system Ought
we not rather to rid ourselves of them as
quickly as we have an opportunity?
| On the other hand, a strong array Of con
sideratiOns have been presented in favor OF
the adoption OF this Amendment. all OF
| which are in accordance with the spirit Of
our institutions, with the demands Of i'm
partial justice, with the impulses of hu
manlty, and with the precepts Uf the Ser
mon onlhe Mount.
In perilous hour of the nations history,
Daniel Webster appealed to tie people of
New England and the whole North to g con
| quer their preiudices against the guilty
STAKEHOLDER. Now, IN an equally perilous
hour, nobler voices than that Of Webster--
the voices of justice and patriotism---ap
peal to US to oonduer our prejudices
against the guiltless race that was once en-.
slaved, and to make bur wolk OF smancipa
tion complete and enduring.
Coop RUEEs ron ALL.-Profans swearing
is abOminable.
Vulgar laag tage is disgusting.
lnquisiuyeness is offensive.