Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-10-08
VOL. xxxV.

happiness. are entitled to an equal protec-
ton. Such protection the negro now en-
Joys. We have not one code of laws for
the white man and another for the black
man. The same laws apply equally to all
of whatever race, religion or color. The
negro race occupies a higher status to-day
In Ohio than the Declaration evercontem-
plated. The conduct of the framer and the
signers of that Declaration plainly indi-
Gates that the negro race was rot included
niits provisions or entitled to its benefits
Ser rs SUFFRAGE A NATURAL RIGHTP ti
The favorite sophistry of the Radicals is
that suffrage Is natural right, and there
fore the negro Is entitled to vote. The
Radical leaders prudently omit giving any
proof whatever to sustain this proposition
I presume it would be disloyal to require
any. "a French philosopher once gravely
asked DIR. Franklin the reason why pail
of water containing a two pound fish
would not,weigh any more than the same
quantity of water ,oithoM the fish? Old
Ben drily replied '1ryit." And before we
t,1D it might not be amiss,to test its truth.
A natural right is given by the Creator to
the creature; lifeis natural right. Free
will is natural right-the right which
every man has to obey or to transgress the
precepts of his Maker. Tie universe re-
wolves in obedience to natural laws; and
by natural we mean the first cause, the
will of an all-wise Creator. When the
ancient poets, soaring on the wings of inn
agination, had conducted their heroes into
terrible difficulties and surmounted them
with appalling dangers, they Invariably, by
some pOetieal license, introduced a god to
extricate the heroes or to kill their adver-
saries. Thus it is with our. Radical breth-
rem; houndering IN the mazes of nonsense
they call upon the Deity toextricate them
Has the Creator endowed men with the
right of suffragep, This theory of natural
right, or divine right, for the terms are
is new application of very
old doctrine. The natural right of kings
to rule over and oppress their unfortunate
subjects has been proclaimed for centuries
BY the partisans of despotism.
Despots in all ages and nations have re-
pudiated the wishes of the people and
claimed natural right to govern, to op-
press, and to enslave. When Charles I. as
serted his natural right, untrammelled by
any constitutional restrictions, to deprive
Englishmen of their property and liberty
by force and violence, Hampden resisted
the odious measure and immortalized his
memory by a glorious death upon the field
OF honor. Charles 1. died like criminal
at the block. He is remembered only to be
pitied and despised, while the name OF
Hampden strikes a responsive chord in the
heart OF every lover of freedom on the
globei The last of the Stuarts had in
scribed on medal the motto of all despots
and tyrants, Req Del grGtid non ooluntate
honstnuns,-King by the grace of God and
not by the wish of men, The Queen of
in accordance with the doctrines
and the convictions of her predecessors,
proclaims herself '.Regind Del grGtia'-
Queen BY the grace of God and not by the
wish of John Bull. This doctrine of nat
ural right in governments is the corner
stone of despotism. 1t is foreign to Re-
publican institutions. Here, the people are
supreme, and Presidents are but the fnstru-
ments, the creatures OF their will. Should
the Constitutional Amendment pass. pre-
sumo our Radical statesmen, like the last
of the Stuarts, will strike a medal in COM
memoration of the event. bearing the in
scription. :" Sansbo ciUis gratia Del non DOL
lintate homiaan.' ''-Sambo is citizen by the
grace Of God, not by the wish of the peo-
Pile of Ohiow .II
This atrocious doctrine has answered. the
purpose of tyrants and stifled the wishes of
the people in other lands. 1t is, therefore,
peculiarly appropriate that the Radical
leaders should have this motto inscribed on
their banner.
Civil Government was formed by men.
and for men. 1t is political institution.
A compact between individuals, whereby
every individual surrenders q portion of
his natural freedom that he NAV be pro-
bected in the enjoyment of the remainder.
In other words, Government protects the
rights of each individual, and in return for
this protection. he submits to the laws
enacted by a majority of the community.
This is what Is meant by the original con-
tract of society. Now, Government itself
being political institution, suffrage, which
s only an attribute of Government, par
axes of the same nature. Suffrage, then,
Is political right, resulting from Civil
Government and belonging to those and
;he descendants of those who entered into
Ind formed this Government. This Gov
eminent of Ohio was formed by white men
ind for white men and their descendants.
The design of the trainers of this Govern
nent was to admit the French, English,
irish, German, &C., to its benefits. And as
he resultof that policy we have a homo
yeneous people. The celtic element is tenn
,ered by the patient assiduity of the
reutonic.V The volatile Gaul by the indom-
table Saxon, and thus we have become the
most wonderful, the most enlightened peo-
Die on the globe. =
To this compact, OF which the Govern
nent of Ohio IS the direct result,the negro aoas
aot party, and not being party to it, he
cannot claim any rights by virtue of it;
" udl PllVllCkCo nC QOcS cIlJOY eXlSb 1OU as
| matter of right, but by the liberality of
he white man. These privileges / would
not change or extend. We should be pru-
lent in our liberality and not scatter this
precious privilege of suffrage with the
needless, ruinous prodigality of a spend
thrift. The negro has no cause for COM
plaint. He enjoys the same rights and
mmunities of person and of property
which the white man enjoys. To claim the
la ~ Il - 4
ing to the negro, is the hight of absurdity
IS well as of impudence. Let me illustrate
my meaning by familiar example. You
have in this place debating society num-
bering, as / am Informed, forty members.
These persons assembled together, adopted
a Constitution and bylaws and elected
officers in accordance Herewith. Suppose
when this society is holding its annual
election for officers, should enter the So
ciety hall and say, Suffrage is a natural
right. All men are equal in this country;
want to vote and to assist in selecting the
officers of this society" The President
would very properly inform me, ''Sir, you
are not member of this society, nor have
you been admitted to its privileges by those
who are members. You are not member
Of our organization. You are an Intruder.
There is the door," The negroes OF Ohio
enter our council chambers and demand
The right of suffrage. We very properly
and trdthfully say to them: -. -
."You have not been at any time, nor are
you now, parties to the compact of civil
government in Ohio; you are not members
IF our political orgdnisdtion;; and none other
than members are permitted by the terms
Of the compact to vote or to meddle with
our affairs in any respect whatever" This
is precisely wtfat the negroes say to the
white man who solicits the right of suffrage
Hou n Tod 81
governments the white man is denied the
right of suffrage, and negroes only are
permitted to vote. This is proper. This is
ust. Those governments were organized
Dy negroes for negroes and their descend
ants. The white man has no right to vote
under such government. The negroes of
Hayti and Liberia have more sense and
IN r d