The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-08-09
rnN covsrrrtrtcNAt ANrNpNrNr.

any rauohh OoJScuOn DC urged against IL
IT is NOT AN INNOVATION.
1t is conteuded that the extension Of i'm
partial suffrage to the black race will de
grade the elective franchise, and tend Il
bring popular government into contempt
But is tho objection founded in reason
1t ltinaugurates no new or revolutionary
principle. The authors of the first consti
tuition possibly intended to exclude the
African race, and it's descendants of every
shade. Bat the courts, actuated by eenli
ments of sincere regard for the principles
which rest at the foundation of popueT
government, gave to its terms more lib
eral construction, Under that construction
emanoting from Democratic Judges OF
the school of Jefferson, before Democracy
had lost lite Significance, persons of mixed
descent having a prepouderanos of Caucas
ian blood are entitled already TO the equal
privileges of full citizenship. The pending
amendment, therefore, does not propose 10
lnaugurate any new or startling principle
but only to enlarge an old aud long estab
ished Democratic principle, aud extend its
operation 10 the entire African race, large
portion Of which already enjoy it.
To this extension Of the principle, thus
giving to the whole race privilege which
part only now enjoy, il is difficult tosiAer,
ceve any rational, much less insupefADle
objection Under the constitution as il
now is, persons having 6fty one per cent
oil Caucasian blood are electors, while those
having forty'nine, being only two per cent
less, are dislranchSed. Can this insignif
cant difference in blood afford any Just
grounds for the invidious distinction madei
Or can the extension OF suffrage now en-
ioyed by the African of ffty.One per cent
to the African Of iorty-nine per cent, be re-
garded as revolutionary innovation
Surely not
OTHER DIRECTIONS CONSIDERED.
The principle Of African suffrage being
thus established by constitutional law aud
immemoral s,ge, its impartial extension tc
the whole race is, therefore, neither an in
novaton of principle, nor degradation o
practice. Does any other just reason exs
then why tho same enfranchisement con
ceded to, and enjoyed by, the Afrcun OF
half blood, under the existing constitution
shall not be conceded to, and enjoyed by
the African of whole blood, as proposed by
the amendment Two only are seriously
urged-the tendency OF impartial suffrage
t. miscegenation, and the mferiority of the
race.
.4 ., t INCARCERATION. .
The first is stale, fat, and Improbable
For half century it was employed by the
power of slavery, which was itself sys
tenn of universal concubinage, against the
interests and progress of freedom, as it is
now employed against the efforts for cx.
tending euiranchisement. 1t was the i'm.
pudent assumption of the DevF preaching
If I weie disposed to treat
the assumption with the dignity of respect
ful consideration, l can discover much
stronger motives for miscegenation under
the existing Democratic Constitution, which
cunfers distinctive lr vileges On those only
of mixed blood, than could possibly ex.
ist il these privileges were impartially
enjoyed by all But | have too exalted
ali opinion of my own race to believe
its taste can be corrupted, or its vrtuo
prosututed, by an act of justice to am un'
fortunate people and he who utters the
sentiment libels his mother aud Sian.
ders his kindred. May | never so far
forget my sense of dignity, and the feel.
ing OF respect due 10 my countrymen, as to
think it necessary to defend them against
SO disgusting an auimputation. Let him who
utters it believe it will not. The dOmes.
tic duty of the two races in Ohio, the judi.
cial statistics of the State, the candor Of
intelligent observation, aed truth, alike re-
tute the calumny.
SUPERIORITY OF RACES.
But the great argument against Impair
tial suffrage is inferiority of race. This is
The Alpha and Omega of the opposition.
In it all reasoning on the subject has its be-
ginning and its end. Physiology, ethnol.
ogy and theology are exhausted with
learned essays in it's demonstration,
But ooncedirg the infcriority of the Afri.
can to the Caucasian; what then IT, not
he have the rights of man to
protect, the obligations of the citizen to
perform, the burdens Of citizenship to bear
If, in point of manhood, Ire is not too in.
Geror to be the subject of government and
aw, as man. is not thevery fact of his
most powerful and convincing
-eason for armihg him with the ballot, that
10 may defend himself against unjust gov.
aud tyrannical lawsP What is the
purpose OF popular suffrage but that the
weak may protect themselves against the
trong, the feoble defend their rights and
PERSONS and liberties against the injustice
# the powerfuiI II this is not its purpose,
hen suffrage is an empty privilege, bur.
lensome rather than beneficial, aud tho
hcory Unpopular government cheat and
delusion. a"a
IT IS THE PLEA OF OPPRESSION.
For ages the plea of inferority held the
masses of mankind in the grasp of oppres.
ion, and subjected them TO the domina.
ion of superior caste and nobler blood.
and plebean, Bourbon and sans.
uotte, Cavalier and Roundhead, were the
nexorable distinctions maintained by the
rrOgance of nobility and the divine right
{ Kings.
HE THEORY or OUR GOVERNMENT DIFFERENT.
But the justice of Heaven did not sleep
lways. lmparting energy to the resolu'
ion Of despair, manhood burst its fetters,
I'D asserted the. immortal sentiment, that
. secure the equal and inalienabe tights
nth which all men by Lature are endowed
overnments are instituted among them,
eTiVirg their just powers from the con-
ent of the governed.
In defense OF this principle in which our
wn liberties are anchored, the sword OF
unker Hill was drawn, and the equal dig,
ity of manhood vndicated alike by the
lood of the Pilgrim and the,Hugenot. Nor
'as it sheathed until the recognition was
lrg from telucisnt and discounted tyr.
my, aud the doctrines of divine right and
ereditary superiority which had justified
le hoary oppression Of centuries, We're ut
ry exploded,
NOT INFERIOR IN RESPECT TO RIGHfs
Concede, then, that the African is the
,ebler race-aye, inferior if you please /; is
is interiority of such degree as TO place
i'm below the reach of this jnst principle
lus asserted by the authors Of the Revo'
tiOn, and subject him 10 the absolute dis
elton aud uncontrolled will OF his eau.
asian superior2 II he were so far infe.
or as to be without those attributes of
anhood, those rights of man, which are
le subjects Of government and law, this
light be so. But is it sol You concenO