The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-02-01
Negro Suffrage in Ohio.

Negro Suffrage in Ohio.
Onrs Republican neighbors over the
river are getting somewhat impatient
of restraint on the manhood suffrage"
srbiect. As is well known, the Radicals
in the Legislature of that State have
h.en considering the propriety of hav-
ing a popular vote on the question OF
renewing political disabilities ON ac-
count of race OF color. The impression
prevails with some of the members that
the people are educated quite up to
the point, while others doubt and hesi-
tate and tremble. The latter class have
,o far succeeded in preventing any ac-
lion in the matter, and for SO doing are
.oundly berated by their State papers.
The subjoined extract from the San
dusky Register, with comments thereon
lax the Cincinnati Commercial, would in
Jicats that the timidity of their repre-
ssntatiyes at Columbus is not very high
~ appreciated by the Radical press.
From the Saudusky Register, Jan. %,
"Bnh,o
1--WE are ashamed of the Republican
marty in the Ohio Legislature. They
5rcline TO permit the people to decide
whether they want impartial suffrage
OF not. for fear that Nallandigham Will
,,n 10 the Senate in place OF Wade!
Fheu, Is it to this that the Republi-
can party of Ohio has come thus
early lid our legislators learn moth
mo bv the late elections' Why, the
nro,,lr of Ohio are quarter of CEN
tnry ahead of the Central and Southern
ohio Solons. Vallandigham Senator
Yes. certainly, we hadn't thought OF
that. -
Ifthc Register is correct, it is con-
,,,utious regard for bread and butter
that influences the managers OF the Re-
nnblican party in the Ohio Legislature
10 attempt the further postpOnement of
tb4 rugged issue regarding negro suf-
frarc. We think it is due the enfran-
chiscd people of Ohio that they should
have the question squarely put to them
whether they propose any longer to reg
nlate the right of suffrage by the color
of the skin. Republicans are at any
rate constantly accused of fayOring ne
gro suffrage, and certainly the logic OF
their position demands it. Congress
has enfranchised the blacks in the Dis
lrict of Columbia, and has done right (;
and is insisting upon negro suffrage in
th@ South and in the Territories, which
j, not SO clearly right. Now, if the Re
pnLlican party is responsible for Con-
rrrss. it is committed by the acts OF
that body to support negro suffrage.
Why then should the question be at
tempted TO be evaded in Ohio' Certain
~ we are not disposed to cram down the
throats of Others the medicine that we
ourselves refuse. The conservative
cantiousness of our friends ut Column
bus is inopportune. They seem to favor
everything radical abroad. Why should
they become so singularly reserved ut
home Gin. Com.
We commend the Commercials views
In the careful consideration of the Rad-
ical members of the Legislature now in
session in this city. If negro suffrage is
right for the District of Columbia, yon
ought not to shrink from its advocacy in
West Virginia. As leading dogma of
your party. il is embodied in the legis-
lation of Congress, and applied where.
ever that body can, by any stretch of au-
thority, determine what shall be the
qualifications of voter. To be con-
sistent, the Radical party OF West
Virginia cannot much longer avoid
action in the matter. Already
some of their organs are becoming
camsrous for an amendment to the
Constitution, striking out the word
white" from the qualifications of the
voter. We understand that paper,
styled, we believe, the Tedette, and pub
lished in one of the interior counties, is
quite seriously exercised upon the sub
jcct, and that it comes, out squarely in
favor of such an amendment as we have
named. We hear that it is already
marslalling the forces for the great
struggle and that it has assigned
10 Mr.. HARRIS, a member of the Legis-
lature from Ritchie, the dignified posi-
ton Of leader in the contest. Having
been thus gravely se' apart and conse-
Grated for the service, we shall expect
Mr.. HARRIS to commence operations
right speedily. We are satisfied that II
he is the same man who "wrote . piece
for the Richie Press, advocating the
enfranchisemen Of the blacks as an of.
set to the vote of the Catholic Irish, II
win be no light reason which shall re
strain his energies.