Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-01-23

and internal improvements, Tor many
years furnished the prominent topics Of
discussion and controversy in Ohio. In
the year 1S45 the State debt reached its
highest point. 1t amounted to $20, ,01S, ,515
81, and in the same year the total taxable
property of the State was $136, 142, &c.,
With q disordered currency, with busi-
ness prostrated, with labor often INSULT
ciently rewarded, the burden of this debt
was severely felt, and questions I'm regard
to it naturally entered into the partisan
struggles of the time. Now the State
debt Is $11 ,031 ,941 56; the taxable prop
erty of the State amounts to 81, 1888, 754,-
779; and there is no substantial differ
ence of opinion among the people as to
the proper mode OF dealing with this sub
ject.
State taxation was formerly the occa-
sion of violent party contests. Now men
of all parties concur in the opinion that
as general rule every citizen ought to
be taxed In proportion to the actual value
of his property, without regard to the
form in which he prefers to invest it; and
differences as to the measures by which
the principle is practically applied, rarely
enter into political struggles In Ohio.
Party conflicts and debates ms to State
laws in relation to banking and the cur
rency, constitute a large part of the po-
events of the last few years have con-
vinced those who are in favor of a paper
currency, that in the present condition
of the country II can best he furnished
by the National Government, either by
means of National banks or in the form
of legal tender treasury notes. State
Legislatures are therefore relieved from
the consideration of this difficult and
perplexing subject.
Internal improvements made by State
authority, SO essential to growth and
prosperity in the early history of the
State, no longer require much cOnsidera-
ton by the General Assembly. Works
of a magnitude too great to be undertake
Ell by individual enterprise, will here
after be, for the most part, accomplished
by the Government of the Nation.
The part which patriotism required
Ohio to take in the war to suppress the
Rebellion, demanded important and fire.
ouent acts OF legislation. Fortunately
the transactions of the State growing out
of the war have been, or probably can
be, closed under existing laws, with very
little, if any, additional legislation.
Ifnot mistaken as TO the result of this
brief reference to few of the principal
subjects of the legislation of the past, the
present General Assembly has probably
better opportunity than any of its pre-
decessors to avoid the evil of too much
legislation. Excessive legislation has
become a great evil, and | submit to the
Judgment of the General Assembly the
wisdom of avoiding it.
One important question of principle, as
old as our State Government still re-
mains unsettled. All are familiar with
the conflicts to which the policy of max
ing distinctions between citizens in civil
"a .>oI;tiool ri ta |, N q ui van ri in Obin
The first effort Of those who opposed this
policy was to secure to all citizens equal
ity of civil rights The result of the
struggle that ensued is thus given, by an
eminent and honored citizen of our
State
"The laws which created disabilities
on the part of negroes in respect of civil
rights, were repealed in the year lS49,
after All obstinate contest quite memora-
BILE in the history of the State. Their re-
peal was looked upon with great disfavor
by large portion of the people, as a
dangerous innovation upon Just and
well-settled policy. and vote in that
direction consigned many members Of
the Legislature to the repose OF private
life. Bui | am not aware that any evil
results justified these apprehensions, or
that any effort was ever made to impose
the disabilities. On the contrary, the
new policy, If may call 1t so, has been
found so consistent with justice to the
negroes and the interests of the whites,
that no Oone--eertainly no party--in Ohio,
would be willing to abandon it,"
An effort to secure to all citizens equal
political rights, was made In the State
Constitutional Convention of 1851. Only
thirteen, out of one hundred and eight
members in that body, voted I'm its favor
and it is probable that less than one-tenth
of the voters Of the State would then
have voted to strike the word "white"
out of the Constitution.
The last General Assembly submitted
to the people proposition to amend the
State Constitution so as to abolish dis
tinctions In political rights based upon
color. The proposition contained several
clauses not pertinent to its main purpose,
under which, if adopted, 1t was believed
by many that the number of white citi-
zens who would be disfranchised would
be much greater than the number of col
ored citizens who would be allowed the
right of suffrage. Notwithstanding the
proposition was much hampered, 1t re-
csived 2l6,0S7 votes, or nearly forty-five
per cent. of all the votes cast in the State.
This result shows great progress in public
sentiment since the adoption of the Con-
stituuon of 1851, and inspires the
ihiOhtS VI O'luoi PohtiSoi "ith
confident hope that in 1871, when the
opportunity Is given to the people, by
the provisions of the Constitution, to call
a Constitutional Convention, the organ
ic law of the State will be so amended as
to secure in Ohio to all the governed an
equal voice in the government.
But whatever reasonable doubts may
be entertained as TO the probable action
of the people of Ohio on the question of
an extension of the right of suffrage
when new State Constitution shall be
formed, / submit with confidence that
nothing has occurred which warrants
the opinion that the ratification by the
last General Assembly Of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was not In accordance
with the deliberate and settled convic-
tions of the people. That amendment
was, after the amplest discussion, >upon
an issue distinctly presented sanctioned'
by o large majority ofthe people. Ifany
fact exists which justifies the belief that
they now wish that the resolution should
be repealed, by which the assent of Ohio
was given to that important amendment,
IL has not been brought to the attention
of the public. Omitting all reference to
other provisions, 1t may be safely said
that the section which secures among all
the States of the Union equal represen-
tatlon in the House of Representatives
and In the Electoral Colleges In proport
tion to the population Is deemed Of vital