Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-09-02
NOL.zXXXV. .R9l7 aTgT

7 81 -
grant violation of the Constitution. ten
States, four of them of the original thir-
teen, are disfranchised; and as II in
very mockery OF the immortal dead; as If
TO Show our scorn for the deeds of WASH
ington and Jefferson, of Franklin and
| Adams,s a Congressional committee has
been authorized to enquire whether Mary
| land and Delaware, two more of the orig
ihalc cthirteen,- land Kentucky, eighty thou
sand of whose brave sons battled for the
IUnion-whether these three States have re-
publican forms OF government Or, have
we come together to give expression to-
our Joy. by bon fires and illuminations. at
the extinguishment of the public debt, and
the release of our lands from the fearful
mortgage of more than two thousand mill
lion dollars? Alas, my countrymen, no.
in every nine years we will pay as interest
an amount equal to the, principal. OF the
debt, and the large bond-holders desire that
1.-The debt shall endure forever-that their
mortgage on our homes shall be perpetual !
/ IT we we have not come together for the
purpose of joy and graduation; is it, that
we have assembled to enter our solemn,
protest against the enslavement of the
white race, and the establishment of me-
gro despotisms over ten States of the
Union? No, 0hioans! more selfish mo-
tiSyeIself-protection, has brought us here
It is true, indeed, that, as Senator Sher-
man has declared. the citizens of the Uni.
ded States are more heavily taxed than are
the serfs of Russia or Austria, or the down
trodden subjects Of France or Great Brit
ain.
1t Is true indeed, that iii open defiance of
the Constitution, military despotisms have
been established over ten States of 7theI
American Union. yi'ag1.l aAS
Itis true indeed, that Radical leaders
seek'to consign the white people of ten
States to Negro domination. But, my
coEntFymerl, while our own homes are ON
fire, we cannot stop to rescue those of our
neighbors, which are being consumed by
the flames. 1t Is OF Ohio, that propose to
speak; it is to the reason and patriotism of
Ohioans, that appeal. a.1ja a5:.i g. rtau,a o g.
PROPOSITION TO PLACE WHITE MEN UPON AN
EQUALITY WITH NEGROES. au
Shall cur government be changed Shall
men? Shall the Constitution be so amend
ed as to makea white-negro-a mulatto
governmentP These are the questions,
citizens, you are called upon to answer.
This is the issue you must decide, on the
I'd Tuesday of October. The issue is grave.
Thei7result may BE doubtful. Order is
breaking intoq chaos. Wrong is trium-
phant. Corruption sits enthrOned in
power; and more dangerous, than all, tho
people evince fearful indifference as to
the disorders which threaten them. Every
evil can be guarded against; every crime
can be punished, except that of suicide;
for ii the people desire to destroy them
selves, they have the power to do so, and
there is neither preventative, nor, cure.
This, men of Ohio!a is the issue you are
called upon to decide. II crushed, it will
be the work of your own hands; andsi if
impoverished, it will be by your own
votes, For if bent upon your own degree
dation,l no. powet can save you. If une-
quail to being free, you wish to surrender
your, manhood; if unworthy of being
white, you wish to adulterate your race,
you have the power to do SO. --
SUFFRAGE POLITICAL AND NOT A NArUR-
800 s7ai VOL s-r AL RIGHT. f'eos -.t- ..iss
20 Have the Indian, she Negro, the 7Esoui-
maux and the Chinaman, natural right
to vote in Ohio or any other State of the
Union? No; suffrage is right determin-
ed by law. A white man cannot vote in
Ohio unless he is citizen of the United
States, has resided in the State one year,
and is at least 81 years of age, all condi-
tions made by law; while, if suffrage were
a natural right, it would neither be limited
by a term of years as to age nor as to res
idence, and. the foreigner who landed on
our shores to-day would have the right to
vote tomorrow, and the boy of Is would
vote equally with the young man of 21.-
Neither idiots nor lunatics have natural
nor a legal right to votei Why? Because
children allowed to vote? Because they
are not competent a7S1 59t
Is THE NEGRO CAPABLE OF sELF-GovERN-
@ Nfs MENT. p -
3 If the negro is capable of selt-govern-
ment; If the white and black races can
live together on terms of equality, then,
but not otherwise, Is he entitled to all the
rights of citizen. Now, my countrymen,
let US consider this subject with the sole
desire OF attaining the truth, so that we
may act upon it with the good sense which
should characterize people who believe
themselves to be capable of self-govern-
ment.
This question is severely practical. In
our townships are we willing to have ne
gro Justices of the peace? In our courts
do we desire negro jurors and negro
judges? And shall we follow the example
of Massachusetts, and send negroes to the
State Legislature? and shall Ohio achieve
for herself the distinction of being the first
State represented by a negro U. 5. Senator?
D.. not laugh my friends but rather listen
while read the avowal made by Mr.. Sum-
ner. the Radical leader in the Senate OF the
United States on the 11th day of July last.
In the course of debate Mr.. Sumner said:
There is no doubt that under the existing
laws, there can be no exclusion on account
of color; nobody is for that reason disquali-
fed from the exercise of any function.
What is there to prevent a colored person
from being Senator of the United Srates;
and who can doubt that within very few
months it will be our business to welcome
a cofored Senator on this floor ?" II can
not. doubt'it." rEstz r .EGsF z-7ff
Now, if it be true that the negro is the
equal of the white man, you are bound in
common honesty to go still further. Not
content with negro voters, jurors, justices
OF the peace and negro Senators. as prom
ised by Midsummer, and negro Vice Pres
dent as promised by Mr.. Wendell Phillips:
you must invite the negro to your table, re-
ceive him as the suitor OF your daughter,
and after awhile fondlY caress your charm
ing little mulatto grand children. Why
not? Is not your equal entitled to be
guest at your table? Is not the equal OF
the father worthy of being the suitor for
the daughters hand !? Think of this, my
friends, and when you GO to your homes,
chat che matter over with your wives and
daughters.
Again ask you, my countrymen, do
you believe that the negro is capable
of self government? Let US test this
question. Can you give the name of
one tuli-blooded negro author OF merit,
in prose, or poetry, in history or philoso-
ply, in the sciences or the arts? wait for
a reply. What name? None. There is
not one name to give. Tell me the name of
one full-blooded negro orator whose
speeches outlived his generation? What
name? None. There is not one name to
give. Did you ever hear of full blooded
| negro who was noted for his skill as
an artist, or mechanic? Did you ever
hear, or read of negro inventor? What
invention Give the name. Look over
| the long list of national patents for in
ventions and improvements in machinery
and find the name of one negro? None
not one. Having gazed on that picture, let
us look upon this. Who invented the priut-
ing press? A white man. Who invented
the steam engine? A white man. Who
first conquered the lightning, and subjected