Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-08-30
Senator Sherman on the Constitu-
tional Amendment.

Senator Sherman spoke at Canton,
Stark county, on the evening of the 10th
instant. In opening, he gave his rea-
sons why the constitutional Amend
ment should be adopted. He said:
am requested, feIlOw-citfzeDs, by
the State Executive Committee of the
Union party, to speak to you in regard
to political topics. I never entered upon
a canvass of this kind without feeling
of dihidence and a sense of the res pom
sibility that rests upon all of us. Cur
General Government, unlike most gov
ernments, tests mainly upon popular
opinion. Although you can act upon
political questions only through repre-
sentatives, yet, directly or remotely,
every question depends upon the iUdg-
ment of the public. Every meeting OF
the people is a primary Congress there
fore, in speaking to you, I can only
claim the same interest in public affairs
that each citizen possesses.
Will state to you frankly my own
opinions upon some of the matters in
vOlved in the next election. 1t is for
you to say whether they are right or
wrong.
In addition to the usual election of
State officers in Ohio, we are required
to vote for or against an amendment O1
our State Constitution. 1t is submitted
to us by the Legislature, and if, in vO-
/ ting we do not vote for it, our vote is
counted against it.
4 The question is, who shall hereafter
/ vote in Ohio? The amendment pro-
yides that every male citizen of the
4 United States, of the age of q years,
4 who has the. proper residence, may vote
4 at all elections, unless be has borne
/ arms against the United States, or has
fed the draft, or has deserted his colOrs
/ in the Union army in time Of war.
In other words, it is universal man
/ hood suffrage, unless the right to vote
is forfeited by his crimes.
This is the same question that is now
| agitatng more countries than our own
No more important one can be submit
ted to you. 1t lies at the foundation oil
all government, where the people have
any part in their government, and is
preliminary to all Otner political ques
tiOns-
Who shall vote in OhiO2
Il The general answer should be that
every person should vote whose life Of
property is affected by the laws. Thi:
rule is founded upon general axiOml
that are the foundation Of cur system.
All just governments are based upO1
the consent of the governed.
Taxation without representation i
tyranny.
All persons are equal before the Law
, , and should have an equal voice in max
ing the laws. All these axioms Doin
to the broadest suffrage; but as by nat
ural law all persons cannot vote, excep
tiOns necessarily exist limiting univeT
raj suffrage. All exclusions from tn
right to vote should be founded upOl
the strongest reasons. Whenever tn
reason for exclusion is of doubtful fore
the right to vote ought to exist.
This amendment excludes all minor
under the age of tWenty-One years, TO
the obvious reason that until a certain
age persons are not capable to tax
charge even of their own property. VIC
men are excluded, because it is cOnCeiv
ed that family ties and duties are incOu
! sistent with the turbulence of politica
/ strife, and because they are suffi cienl
represented by their husbands and l1ir
? dred. I am not so sure about the e1
h cIusion of women, for the recent discoV
cries on this subject in England an
America have shown that the reason
for this exclusion are not so clear bU
we can leave this question stand for th
Z present. The ladies will make the
. voices heard in due time.
Others are excluded for idiocY, luna
e cy, and for crime. These are ObviOU
d reasons. But the material question il
y whether it is just for us TO exclude pei
- sons from the elective franchise merel
4 because they are wholly or in part
n African descent. Is such an exclusiO
r founded upon reason or justice -? ShOul
II they, without any other reason, be e2
z Cluded from all political rights, I'll
most EaCLGu UL WHICH Is 10 vote . i DC
have property to be taxed, and are sui
, ject to our laws. Every burden imPO
&c ed by the State upon other men the
= must bear. They are suhjectto nilitaT
D. duty, are punished for crimes and 0
fenses, and are amenable to all yOJ
.E state, county and municipal corpOri
lg tiOns.
L They have families to support, an
are governed by the same affection
| passions and necessities to which 70
are subject. They were born on OF
n soil, and have no other allegiance
: country than our own. They are edl
g. Gated at our schools, and can testify
our courts. They are few in numbe
and could not, il they would, combiI
Fl to ieopardize our institutions. The
i were allowed to vote in all the origins
States except South Carolina, and I
j evil ever resulted from it.
1t is q well known historical fact thj
some of the most eminent statesmen