Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-11-07
more of the Dispatch and its
Wilfullness.

Dispatch.
Who are sswhite" men2 The edi-
tor of the Dispatch is not white"
man, in the true, literal meaning OF
the word, and could not vote, If, in
that strict sense. which he argues is
the correct one, it were thus applied
in his case. He is called "white," !"
and can vote, because heis nearer
"white" than its opposite, black
Webster defines the word "white"-
thus-.being of the color of pure
snow," DC. Who, then, are "white"
men2 The question having thus
arisen. as to what the word meant, as
used in the Constitution, it came be-
fore the courts of the State for set
tlement, in the manner provided for
by law, and these courts, being the
Interpreters of Constitutional, as well
as Statute law. without an exception,
decided that the word "white" meant,
and should include, every person
more white than blsek. They decided
the question in the only way that
honest, intelligent Judges could do it.
Every man, SO far as voting is con-
eerned, is either white or black the
white can vote, the black cannot
and line between the two had to be
marked, so that there should be no
dispute, so far as color is concerned,
who are voters. How just and
proper, therefore, that the interme-
date between the two races-en one
side, whites, On the other, blacss--
should have been selected as the
dividing line? Such being the de-
cision of the proper tribunal in the
case, every loyal man, whether he
likes it or not, will abide by that de-
cision, so long as it stands unrevers-
ed. We believe in ebeying the laws.
We have no safety for our continu-
ance as a free people in any other
way, and he, no matter who ne may
be, or what position he may occupy,
who has become so utterly toDless
as to advise any other course, is an
enemy to our system of free govern
ment, and must be classed with those
who, in the late war, sought its de-
struction.
We understand, fully, the motive
of the editor of the Dispatch, in his
treatment of this question. He knows
as well as any one that we have pre-
sented the truth of the matter-that
every one, having the other requisite
qualifications, who is nearer wk,te than
black, no matter how smell the de-
gree, is legal voter under our con
stitutien. But, in order to secure
mere partisan triumph, in the putting
out of one Senator and the putting in
of an other, is willing to aid in that
unwarranted scheme by attempting
20 mislead and deceive his readers in
regard to the law of the case. All in
the name of democracy" Such
democracy" is akin to that which,
in the South, brought on secession,
and then rebellion.
The treatment of this question, by
the editor of the Dispatch, teaches US
what all the talk about the s'sanctity
of the Constitution" means in
democratic mouths. 1t means
just nothing at all. If the "Consti
tuition" suits them they will obey it;
ifnot, they will override and destroy
it. Constitution and Laws" indeed!
Why, In the estimation of these men,
they are as mere waste paper when
they stand in the way of their parti-
san designs.
We have not again noticed this
subject in any hope of getting the
editor of the Dispatch to acknowledge
his error, and give the truth of the
matter Indeed, we did not expect
to do that even in the outset, His
Occupation" before becoming an
editor had so blunted, if not COM
pletely deadened, his perceptions of
right and wrong, that we had long
since giving him up as beyon3 the in
fuence of those cardinal virtues
Truth and Justice" What we have
had to say upon the subject. there
fore, has been alone for the enlight-
eDment of our own readers--men who |
love truth and abhor error.