Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-10-04
The Badge of Slavery.


E. D. Mansfield, one of the ablest pol
itical writer's in the Union, contributes
the following concerning the ridiculous
and absurd restrictions Of caste in our
Constitution to the Cincinnati Gazette.
The early Constitutions of half the
Slave States (as we proved in a former
articIe) permitted free colOTed men to
vote. Hence if we had the common
sense in Ohio which characterized the
South, we should never put the word
Ftwhise' in any law or Constitution
whatever. Just so long as we keep it
there we shall wear the badge of sla-
very. WHY do we not put the word
g American in our Constitution Be
cause the usage of tbree-querters of
century-notwithsta the preju-
dices of many people, has done away
with prejudice, and we see that on
Democratic principles it would be un-
reasonable if not unjust. But we are
wearing the badge of slavery now by
keeping the word sCbite; and every man
who votes to keep il will vote not only
against Democratic principles, but in
/ profound obedience to the ghost of sla-
very! we are unconscious (deadened
! by the daily sight Of allowed. fOstered,
/ prospered and triumphant slavery 0
/ VOW much our intellects have been en-
| feebled, our souls are degraded and our
1 morals corrupted bV the vile, corrupt
/ and inhuman practices of that institU-
| tioni We cannot look back upon the
/ state Of our country a few years since
/ without a sensation of horror! Men de-
GRADED The Church corrupted So
/ ciety bOWing down before a heatben
! Dagon! The State on the verge of los
ng all that the Constitution mad con
/ ferred Of freedom, dignity or thought
] upon the American citizen Ten years
more of such rule, and freedom would
/ have been extingu shed, and this beRuti-
| nj land would have bt en- completely
| covered with slavery as Egypt was wit J.
lice, frogs and vPTmin, by the wrath OF
] God. But thanks to this blessed Provi-
/ deuce. we have bruised and mashed the
/ monster till he is at our feet. But he is
not wholly killed. There are men who
I want to resuscitate slavery. and there
are great mum beTs who honor the ghost
of slavery by trying to keep the negro
/ in the gutter. OF what use Are we
afraid of him2 Are you, my brave An
glo-Saxnn, really afraid that this poor
| black man can stand in the way of your
1 business prosperity, and happiness 2
The truth is, that we are just now ap-
/ pearing in most ridiculous attitude
IN Ohio; and if we continue so, we
shall be laughed at by the world, II il
fhfs- We admit that il lis the law that 6
uuadroon (qUarter blood shall vote
i because he is a whole man; but W.
| wOn't let a three-quarer blood vote, be
cause be is not a whole man. Row
{ why don't we let the three-quartel
I blood voter Because he has got negr'
blood in his veins. But, has not tn
quarter-blood got negro blood in hi
z veins2 Where, then, is the principle
We admit 45 per cent. negro blooJ
{ to vote, and we reject SO per cent.
. Nothing can be more absurd. But Whl
8 do we reject negro blood politically a
r all? No man can give any other rea
son than that negroes were slaves, Rni
e therefore degraded and inferior. ]
8 comes, then, simply to this: that "
/, are continuing the worship of SLAYER
: in another form. Thus, then, we stan,
in Ohio-bowing down to the ghost Q
Q slavery, and dividing the negro Int
], parts, solem1y declaring that fOrty-nin
t parts shall vote, and fifty one part
It shall not vote. This attitude IS su
9 premely ridiculous. We say nothin
= of universal suffrage. 1t is not on
= principle. Tt is the principle of tn
Q Democratic party; and il there was th
o least consistency or sense Of shame lei
y In It, the Democratic party would sur
9 port universal suffrage, In the days {