Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-01-24
Resembling the Fourteenth Amend
ment.

The Cincinnati Commercial has the
following able editorial in reference to
this revolutionary action by our Demo-
cratic Legislature
Under appTehensions of a declaration
by Congress of the adoption of the
Fourteenth Amendment to the COnsti-
tuition of the United States, the State
Senate, on Monday, hurried through
the Joint resolution resembling the res
olutiOn adopted by both branches Of
the Legislature year ago, rat1fylng
the amendment. So great was the
haste to undo the work of the former
Legislature, that the usual COurtesies
were deDied to the minOrity-the pre-
viOus question enforced, debate cut
off, and the resolutions carried through
by a strictly party vote. The assent Of
Ohio to the Fourteenth Amendment
stands Withdrawn.
BY Withdrawing the assent Of Ohio to
1t, the Democracy have FeOpened the
very issues upon which they went into
the canvass of 1866, only to come out
with disastrous defeat. The President
dissenting from the action of Congress
in passing the proposed amendment,
took an appeal to the people, and uni
ted with the Democrats in an effort 20
carry the appeal in his favor. He gave
it his executive and personal influence,
and, like the Democrats, carried into
the controversy such precision of argu-
ment and motive as left nobody, not
even the most ignorant voters, in doubt
as to the intent of the issues 70 be deci-
ded at the ballot-boX. It is very rare,
indeed, that a political contest takes
place in which the points in issue are so
clearly and sharply defined as they
were in the campaign of 1866, for the
Republicans were no more disposed to
eyade them than the President or
the Democracy. The result we all know.
Nearly every member of Congress who
voted for the Fourteenth Amendment
returned, and State officers and Legisla-
lures were elected whose members were
instructed, as clearly as the popular viii
can be expressed by the ballot, to ratify
that amendment. In every instance
the Democrats lost any vantage ground
they had gained in previous years by
their opposition to it. And the reason
for this was that the people, having fairly
considered the character and scope Of
the amendment, were more than usually
unanimous in the opinion that its terms
were liberal, equable, and no more e11-
acting than the circumstances regarded,
should be required of those who had
wautOnly undertaken the destruction of
the Government of the United States.
Governor Hayes very pertinently re-
marks, in his inaugural address, that
''if any fact exists which justities the
belief that the people Of Ohio now wish
shat the resolution should be repealed,
by which the assent of Ohio was given
to that important amendment, it has
not been brought 10 the attention of the
people" il was not even side issue
in the campaign of 1867. The assertion
made in the preamble, to the resembling
the res olutjOn, that ratification twas a
misrep presentation of the public senh-
mrnl of the people OF OhiO,' is as abso-
urea lalsehOnd as was ever incOrpOra-
ted into preliminary statement.
The people of Ohio do not object to
making all persons, born or naturaliZ-
ed in the United States, citizens thereof,
as well as citizens of the States where
they reside.
They do not object to representative
appOrtiOumeLt according to the mum Der
of male citizens in each State entitled to
vote for Federal and State officers.
They do not object to denying the
right to hold offices of public trust and
responsibility to any man who deIber-
ately perjured himself while in such
office, that he might engage in war
upon a government thathe was solemn
~ sworn to support and defend.
They do not object to the honest pay
ment Ofail debts incurred oy the Govern
meut in the suppression of the rebellion
but they do object to the assumption Of
any debts incurred in aid of that rebel
lion, AS well as to the payment of all
losses incurred by the emancipation Of
slaves.
We repeat, the people of Ohio do not
object to these propositions, singly or
collectively, and they cover every item
contained in the amendment which the
Legislature ratided one year ago.
BY voting for the repeal of that nc
ton, the Democratic members of the
Legislature commit their party iB Ohio
to the converse of these propositions,
and will be held 10 10, it it approves the
course of its State Representatives.
1t viii be understood that tho Demo-
cratic party of Ohio favors distinction
DENYING citizenship to a large class of
people born in the United States.
That it favors the ahridgemeut of the
privileges and immuuities which attach
10, and are inseparable from citizenship.
That it favors the denial of the equal
protection of the laws to this prescribed
class, and, as a consequence, the creation
Of castles, aristo 1racies, mOuopOltes of
political aud civil rights.
That &c favors unequal nppOrtlOnmeut
of representation, giving to citizens in
States where citizenship is denied to one
half its male adult population, twice
the representative power given 90 the
same class Of citizens in another State.
That it favors the estoration TO offices
Of trust and responsibility, as we'll Fed
eral as Sttte, all those who, holding such
offices, viOlnted their plighted faith 70
the Constit lion and Government, TO
make war upon aud destroy them,
That It favOrs the degradation of the
public credit, by repudiation of the
debts incurred in the suppression Of
the rebellion; and does not object TO