Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-05-22
Tie DisfFanohising Acts.


4he following are comments by E, D.
NAt'ns1eid, the able contributor Of the
Cincinnati GGzette, on the acts of the
LEGISLATURE disfranohising students, ad-
miKlpres and soldiers, are forcible and
truthfuE
/ are these men bereft Of all common
sense az To suppose judges Of elections
4 -'tS W!iMng TO be mulcted IN heavy dam-
1 49, lh oTaer 70 carry out their uuCOn-
4 Stitutinnal actB2 The courts have ale
ffa4F given damages against Judges Of
\ e4ect40ha lot attempting 10 enfUrse their
IDEAS aud no sensible man among
them ~ hkely to try that ewDeriueuf
Agetns READ That section Of the Con-
I slltuuons aud you will see that the only
hing the legislature has anv poweF
whttBVer, over, is In the time ia which
the voter shall have resided in a county.
township, or ward and that time can
not be made Otgr one year, because the
constitution has fixed that as the time
tn which a resident acquires a vote. A
student Of college, therefore, has an
tbsoluta right 70 vote where he is either
born a citizen, or Resident a year. All
who have been year in any collegiate
residence, have an absolute right to vote
without any rewarG to the nc 8 OF the
Legislature and those who, being oitf-
zena Of the State, aud not a year Ia cul-
irge, can return 10 their residence 10
vote. The act of the LegisIature reia-
ing 20 atudents' voting, is, therefore,
pRlpabiR means senaeless and worthless.
In regard 90 "ighlGe" DgFaOua. there IN
no need Of visiting for the decision u
any court for the Supreme Court of Ohio
mas Gee d1d hat uian having less iham
MALT negro blood, Cd a white man, aud
IL bio bH a white man, &c iB the COnstiiu-
ion which gives him a right 20 vote,
aud thar right the Legialature of Ohio
nrnHH IA vi
ready declared unconsiitutiOnuL In
regard 10 the disabled soldiers in thB
Asy um Ht Dayton, the Legislature has
nothing to do with thpIf voting what
ever. When any sbldier lu the Asylum
mas been there one year, h8 ia entitled
70 a vote by the COnsntudon for, 10 ig
tll the residence he has, and perhaps
all be ever may have. The praclioail el-
feet Of these attempts 10 make restric-
ions on suffrage, which ihe ConsIitu-
tiou has NOT made, is simply 90 bring
every judge oI nn election, who shall
he foolish enough to act upon them, i'm
% danger OF summary damages; and
we hope that every person, whose vote
g rti-cted for grounds not mentioned iu
3 he Constitution, will bring an action Of
damages against the judges OF election.
We are astonished, we confess 10, a.
the manner in which the Democratic
Legislature has chosen To display les
vengeance. Poor octOrOOnE, hardly
disCinguishablef from SaXons students
At colleges, engaged in the study of let
ters; wounded soldiers, disabled IN their
defense-these are the objects
on which Democratic Legislature has
chosen TO pour it's malice and its con-
Jemptl War-WOru veterans, whose
blood has been offered for their country
make 10 exceptions students, labor
ing 20 dt themselves Tor noble employ
ments unfortunate men, whose skin
8 a little yellowrr than their neighbOra
all are mingled in one common fats.
Such Is Democratic policy, and Demo-
cratic ideas. People Of OHIO, let us say
10 you, in all trankness, such leEisla-
ion Is disgracr1ui TO the State and TO
the aEe in which you live.
We do not complain of the partisan
legislation. We hold that parties, 30
long as they keep within bounds of the
Constitution, of popular opinion, and of
Christian civilization, have a right to
avail themselves of their political pow
sr. 1.-THE people do not Ike Il they can
mend it. But 10 attempt to limit Buf-
fi age, in open contempt Of the spirit Of
.he Constitution, and to devise peiEifog-
ying tricks against small classes Of peo-
Pile, 10 shameful 10 an intelligent body
jf American legislators.