Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-09-06
1E0OneRUous 1EeIsEArEoN.

The Constitution of Ohio cOmmen-
ees with the following language:
All men are by nature free and
independent, and have certain inalien-
able rights, among which are those of
enjoying and defending life and liber-
ty, acquiring, possessing and protect
ing property, and seeking and obtain
ing happiness and safety"
Now if these things are SO. the ques-
ton arises, bg lohat BseaHs are :he diff
ferent classes of men to accomplish
these results? "AUnten, we are told,
have the inalienable right not only of
enjoying but of defending life and lib
erty not only of acquiring but of pro-
tectiag property; and not only of OBJ
tanning happiness but safety? Now
by what means are men to defend their
life and liberty, protect their property
and secure their safety? Jefferson
has told rs In his immortal Declara-
ton. After declaring the SELF -eUideI1t
truth that HI ateit are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights that
among these are life, liberty, aud the
pursuit of happiness" " he proceeds to
say That to secure these rights, govern
ments are instituted among men, dertU-
mo their Just l1oaoera tTont the consent
Of the goUer4ed." That is, these in
alienable rights are secured by the bal-
lot and. in the language of our consti
tuition, all men are entitled to this
means of defending their life and lib
erty, protecting their property, and in
suriug their safety And yet the stu
pid Democratic blunderheads who
framed our Constitution have in the
face of these declarations proceeded
in another place to make this instru-
ment declare that black men are not
entitled to and shall not have this
means Of self-protectIOn That is,
rhis Democfatically buhgled eOnstitu-
ton of ours deolases first that all men
are entitled to the ballot but black
men are not entitled to it! Such is
Democratic wisdom Such is Demo-
cratic law making It is a shame and
disgrace to our State and stigmatizes
our good sense and love of Justice
| 1t was enacted In the interest of South
ern Slaveholding and should have gone
out of existence with that barbarous
practice.
But even this is not all. Our con-
stitution proceeds further to say that
''AIl political power is inherent in The
people. Government is instituted for
their equal protection and benefit -
And yet this same instrument tells US
in another place that loyal black peo-
| pie are not entitled to political power
or to the equal protection and benefit
of the government In one breath We
declare that political power belongs
not exclusively to white or any other
class of people, but to THE PEOPLE
and that laws shall be made to apply
equally to ALL PEOPLE and in the mex
We proceed to outlaw a certain class
of people whom God in his infinite
wisdom did not see fit to create with ;
complexion to suit usi Such Legislation
is mockery, a monstrosity. 1t il
woEthy of Democratic brains and con
sciences and Justice. 1t is time that i
were stricken from our statute books
and the Union party, to its everlasting
honor be it said, has presented to th'
/ people an amendment striking it out
Let the people ratify this amendmen
and make our constitution at iessI
consistent with itself.