The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-04-04

vote on the adoption Of the pro-
posed suffrage amendment TO the
State Consultation, which we sub.
ljoin, as follows -
special to the Cincinnati Commercial:
| COLUMBUS. ONO, March q.
SENATE.
THE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.
The special order, Mr.. Kel.
logg' resolution'to amend the Con.
stltution by striking the word
white from the suffrage clause was
taken up.
Mr.. Hayden, in advocati ng the
resolution, said the voice Of the
people demanded that the spirit of
slavery must die; that spirit after
conceiving most inexcusable re.
bellion now manifested itself in de-
nying them the right to voice in
the Government they fought 70
maintain. The Democratic oppo.
sition to the resolution was trace.
able to their hope of making po.
litical capital; they were acting on
the instinct of solf f-preservation.
Mr.. Mcfarland followed in one
of the most effective speeches Of
the session. He replied TO Messrs.
Hurd and Dowdney who had in the
previous discussion opposed the
resolution. This speech was vim.
dication Of the doctrine that nei-
thcr intelligence, patriotism nor
ability, civil or military, was the
exclusive property of any race,
color or nationality.
General Warner replied to the
threats of Democrats that they
would defeat the Union party at
the polls. These threats were not
new. We lad met the Democrats
and defeated them in 1866; had
met them since under Lee and
Johnson, jeff. Davis and Hood,
and defeated them in detail and in
the final result we had met and de.
feated them on the Emancipation
Proclamation. We should contin-
ue to meet and defeat them, for the
intelligence, patriotism and virtue
of the people of this country were
against them. He did not expect
the Union party would get lhe en-.
tire colored vote, but that 1t would
be with that class as with others.
The Democratic party would get
the vice, the ignorance and the i'm
mortality.
These discussions were witnessed
by an audience seldom equalled in
the Senate Chamber. Governor
Cox and other State officers, ladies
and citizens, with a large number
of members of the House, were
present, and many stood for two or
three hours.
AS the discussion progressed it
was whispered about that enough
votes had been secured to adopt the
resolution, and some impatience
was felt among the spectators to
have the vote reached, bu. n recess
was taken until evening to give
further opportunity for speech
making.
At the night session the Senate
Chamber was again thronged. Mr..
Dowdney reiterated his former
speech against extending the elec-
tive franchise. He assured his
opponents that the existing dis
tinctions were of divine origin,
and that in fighting the Democrat
ic party they were fighting God
Almighty.
Mr.. Cole urged that it was a
simple question for the General AS
sembly to decide whether it was
proper to submit the question to q
vote of the people. He argued
that the amount of influence brought
to bear in favor of submission in.
dicated that, beyond a doubt, the
people demand it. The majority
Of the paBty in power, as repre-.
sented by editors Of newspapers,
by their representatives in both
houses, and by leading men of To-
cal influence. He claimed that the
question of policy involved was
one in which o minority of the
Union party had no right to de.
termine against the wishes Of the
majority. At the conclusion Of
his speech a strong desire was man
ifested to proceed to vote.
Mr.. Bateman said that he desired
to explain his position, but would
waive his right to do so in order
that an immediate vote might be
had.
Mr.. Justice, (Dem } opposed the
resolution as premature.
Mr.. Kellogg moved call of the
Senate, when thirty four answered
to their names. Messrs. Golden
and Hurd only were absent, both
democrats. The utmost stiffness
prevailed as the Clerk proceeded
to call the roll on the adoption of
the resolution. AS the vote pro-
ceeded it became certain that it
was to be exactly defined by party
lines. When tho. name of Mr..
Walker was called, he obtained
leave to explain his vote, and an
nounced that in Difference to the
almost unanimous wish of the par
ty he represented in the Senate,
though opposed to his individual
views of present policy, be would
vote aye. The progress of the age
was most evidently toward univer-
sal suffrage.
, The announcemen was received
with hearty applause. The vote
resulted in yeas 2S, nays II, as fol-
lows