Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-02
VOL. XXXIV. o2

galleries know it (poiuting to the galleries
filled with negroes.) Why, Mr.. Speaker,
there is not. a black mani in Columbus, but
who has known for weeks that this resolu-
| ton was the special order for to-day-look
at the crowd in this lobby and in the gall
leries. If members on this floor, claiming
| to be representatives of the people, are not
as well informed on the business of this
House as their colored friends who are not
members, they, should resign, and let others
take their places. go, ,,,s..
Every Democrat in the hall is ready and
willing to vote on this questin now. We
are not afraid to go on the record. We
will oppose this change in our State Con-
stitution IN all it's incipient steps during its
progress here and at the polls. Mr.. Speak
er, did not rise to discuss the merits of
the resolution itself, but simply to deny the
charges of gentlemen on the other side that
we were allies with the friends of the res
olatiOn. When the proper time comes to
discuss the merits of this measure, the
Democracy of Ohio will meet it fairly and
squarely, without any of that squirming
which our Republican friends are manifest
| ing here to-day. TTI4I slHIC4
Mr.. Schneider said the arguments urged
| in favor of postponament, were, fallacious.
The gentleman from Logan Mr.. Piattl said
the measure'would gain strength by defer
ring action. Where was the ground for
such a belieff Who would; be convinced
4
members were concerned, they had dis
cussed it in their caucusses last winter; af-
4 ter deferring the subject to this session,
they had again discussed it in caucus week
after week, and had come to no conclusion.
1t had been repeatedly put off in the House
| tosiaeeommodate members who were not
ready; and this thing had gone on so long
that it was evident. that Union men who
were, not prepared now to vote for the res-
olution, would not vote for it at any time
| during the session. AS forthe Democratic
brethren, there was not the slightest hope
of gaining acces lions from that quarter.
| The venerable gentleman of that persuasion
from GoshoctofI county (Mr. Thornhill) had
assured the House that the Democracy
would unitedly vote 7tsnoe They had not
the nerve to do otherwise. y - l..-s
4 Here Mr.. Thornhill interrupted to say
thatptfle remark ofhis Republican friend
/ from Stark came with a bad grace from
i that source. The Republicans arein pow
er here, and ought to take the erespOnsibili-
i ty, but they dare not TO do it, - ~ TTeT
i = Z Mr.. Schneider replied that it was true
4 that his political friends had the power,
II and, for one, he was ready and anxious to
i take the responsibility. He accepted the
I.challenge of thegeRtleman from. .G9shoeton;
1 he was willing to take up the gauntlet; and
i now in view of the fact that there was not
Il enough Union members to submit this
II question, he dared the Democrats to help do
i it. and place this issue sqnarely before the
II peoplei Laughter from the Democrats ]
4 Mr.. Bloom Den1:) interrupted to say that
i while he admired the trankness of the gen.
tleman from Stark, he would ask how could
4 it be expected that the Democrats would
vote for saproposition to which they were
4 opposed? 20 ss<f.5.es. ,s.szsf--.5
Mr.. Schneider replied that he did not ex-
\ pect the Democracy to support impartial
suffrage, ,bu5 only to. give the people a
chance Gto pass Upon it. The Democrats
professed to recognize the principle OF
popular Sovereignty :" here was good
opportunity to show their sincerity. Demo-
cratic Conventions in Franklin county and
! elsewhere had resolved in favor of submis-
sion; Democratic presses had taken the
/ same ground !; and now if the members on
that side were so anxious for it, let them
| vote for it. ..5v, .ra -
4 Mr.. Schneider proceeded to .refute the
1 position of the gentleman from Fayette
| Mr.. Gar6Iner), who wanted to await the
action of Congress. That body had already
acted; its session would close in afew days,
AID no further measures relating to this
| question would be considered. Congress
| had adopted "a reconstruction measure
which recognized this peinciple, and which
| placed the Southern States upon the basis
of Impartial suffrage and justice to all men.
That was the beacon light we should di-
rect our course by, we should follow that
noble example. .o-Ir tsE asa r1asC&
5 AS for the charge that the friends of i'm
mediate action were cooperating with the
Democrats, he had only to say that he
would rather vote in that company on pre-
liminary motions, than to be found there
on the final vote on the resolution.
Gentlemen complained that they were
being forced to go on the record in this
measure. But there were others who did
not want to be forced to stifie a question
that they felt it "a duty to vote upon, and a
| weakness to postpone. For one, he de-
manded an opportunity to take away the
reproach that he was willing to adopt a
principle for the South that he was not
/ willing to apply to Ohio. For himsef, he
that he had not the moral courage to meet
this issue naufully before the people. Ht
j was against the motion to postpone, anC
wanted to vo te to-day. ~