Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-24

| .
i "..- .n u9WStateS' '.tor au., o..
Mr.. SPEAKER .AUnprepared to meet this
question so early in the session, | had not
Intended to participate in the debate; but
when | notice the contempt with which
weighty arguments against ratification are
received by our opponents who favor the
same, | cannot remain silent, but must add
such as suggest themselves to me as pass
along in discussing their merits. feel it
my duty to protest against their adoption
in the name of the people whom in part
represent.
Twice in series of years only, have the
people Of the States been called upon to
ratiiy amendments proposed to the Federal
Constitution, and upon each occasion did 1t
become my duty to cast vote in Repre-
sentative capacity upon the question of
their ratification. Upon no other
occasions have felt the same weight of
responsibility resting upon me as upon
those occasions. 1t is perhaps the highest
duty we can perform, and fraught with the
greatest consequences for good or bad re-
suits. 1t seems to me we could not permit
party prejudice, or party ties to influence
| our actions, and if know my own heart |
an free from all such now. Wishing to
discharge this duty as becomes an Ameri-
can citizeT desire only the welfare pros
perity and glory of my country. 1t is the
consciousness that some gentlemen upon
this floor agree with me upon this question,
who have predetermined to vote in oppo-
sition to me, that may make me less earnest,
than If had hope that anything could
say might tend TO the defeat of this meas
ure. Notwithstanding my conviction that
nothing which can say will change the
vote of any gentleman here, yet Ifeel it my
duty to- offer some reasons against their
| adoption. '.'" .' .''. ..
Mr.. Speaker, Constitutions should never
be made, or amended, for mere party pur-
poses or amid great public or political ex-
citements They are liable to be too deep
| ly tlnged with party hatred, to serve with
good, the public welfare. One serious OBJ
lection against the adoption of this amend
| ment is, that it has been thrust upon the
country through such influences. That a
party composing the minority of Ameri-
can people should dictate, because of being
| in temporary power, to the majority,
| principles to be engrafted into the funda-
mental law of the land, against their
own interests. 1t can only be urged by its
supporters for the purpose OF retaining
themselves In power, under the assumption
that in them only abides the salvation of
that 1t had its origin in party caucus; ;
that it passed through what at most was
only de .fdcto Congress, under theEwhip
and spur of party leader, for party pur-
poses alone. That it has been made party
| platform, and lastly that its ratification
| will tend to keep this minority sectional
l'parby in power, in spite of the verdict. of
the country at large against it. No good
results can come from this. l object to the
| spirit of these proposed amendments. j
object to the manner in which they were
Originallypassed in Congress. object to
/ them on account of their tendency and
| purpose, and object to them as a whole or
each taken separately. .L %,
/ Twill first proceed to briefly examine
them by sections The first reads as fol-
blows: aT .Ha ruH.'.s.ri.H at. rl-. .e
| "SEcTIoN, /. All persons born or natur-
allied in the United States, and subject to
| the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the
| United States and of the State wherein they
| reside. NoState shall make or enforce any
/ lawwhich shall abridge the privileges or
| immunities of citizens of the United States,
nor shall any State deprive any person of
| life, liberty, or property, without due pro-
cess of law, nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection Of the
laws" =. I.r ..s ,..
| This section proposes radical change in
our system of Government. 1t Is but an
other step, If not cOnsmmation, of the
| lodgment of all important powers hitherto
| reserved to the people of the States, in the
| Federal Government. The theory upon
| which our fathers framed the Constitution
| of the United States, was that of specifical-
| ly granted powers to the Federal Govern
mtnt. This provision of the proposed
| amendment Is precisely the reverse. 1t is
that of expressly limiting the power Of
| States hitherto conceded TO be reserved to
themselves. THUS under the present Con-
stitution an individual becomes citizen of
| the United States, by virtue of being the
citizen of q State. Adopt this clause and
the whole system is changed, and persons
become the citizens of State by virtue of
being a citizen of the United States. 1t
takes away the important power from the
| States of deciding for themselves who shall
or who shall not participate in their gov
ernmental affairs. 1t does still more than
that. The second section, to which Ishall
hereafter call your attention, creates q
| penalty upon those States who do not see
| fit for certain State andnational purposes,
to grant the elective franchise to certain of
| their Inhabitants, Instead, therefore, of
| granting power as heretofore, ii operates
| as limiting power over the action of
| States. 1t holds out inducements to ac-
cumulato power for themselves in the
Federal councils extending the
elective franchise to those unfit to exercise
| it, as well as threatening penalty for the
nom granting Of this privilege. Gchanges,
/ repeat, the whole systematic whole
| theory of those who framed our present
admirable form OF government This first
section furthermore declares that no State
| shall make or enforce any law which shall
| abridget the privileges or immunities or
citizens of the United States. IOne of these
privileges must be to exercise the elective
| franchise, the imhunities, to hold office;
| but adopt this amendment aud no State
| shall in the least dbridge this right Alne-
| Gro being by the terms of the amendment,
made a citizen of the United States, isthere-
| fore entitled to vote and hold Office. Ohio,
| As we'll as every other State, shall not lin
| any manner abridge this right of the negro
Or deprive him Of thee immnnities dof
| holding office. It's thenno longer aprivi-
| ieScF "a grant the elective franchise to the
| ne9rd, but The comes here clothed Withheld
| eral authority demanding his rights yof
equality with the whites. 1t thus destroys
every rightwe have had to manage and
control these domestic affairs IN our own
| way. 1t deprlves us of regulating citizen
ship in Ohio, and lcompels nsn that isl the
word, o6n,pels usto admit the negro to per-
feet equality in all cases uhdef the law! eN'
! 1t GOES Oh to declare that no State shall
4 dehfiV6 any person OtOlifesl liberty or props