Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-11-24
o1.NT AND SUFFRAGE.

--eat difficulty that will confront
on assuming the Presidential chair Is
oa ling epgendered in the bosom of the
I IT that elected him. The Yates, Summers
and Towards, in the Senate, aided by kindred
spirits in tho Rump3H House, have concocted
scheme to introduce a bill declaring universal
suffrage throughout all the States, thus NULL
fying an express constitutional reservation
and overthrowing the Constitutions OF great
majority of the States. The. Jabobin leaders,
says the Columbus (Ohio) Crisis think they
are justified in proceeding to this extremity
by the result of the elections in Minnesota
and Iowa-States that do not contain hve
hundred negroes-that have adopted con-
stitutional amendment allowing negroes the
right of suffrage. The fanatics who have
this villainous usurpation in charge will make
bold fight for their hobby, and If Grant
ventures to break with them on this subject
at the outstart, they will torture him through
his administration, if they do not propose to
hurl him from his seat. Grant has repeatedly
and emphatically expressed opposition to negro
suffrage anywhere; and if he is a reasonable
man, he must be opposed TO- its enforcement
upon an unwilling people by sweeping
measure of a-Rump Congress. If he should
submit to, or approve of, such measure, all
his military renown and all his Presidential
power will not save him from the eternal
excavation of the people. On the other hand,
he may be tempted by the, bauble of an inn
perial crown and a perpetual lease of power,
to favor the proposition of universal suffrage,
with view to completely break down and
disgrace the ballot box and popular elections,
disgust all right thinking men with its farcical
character, and thus pave the way for the
monarchy and the "strong one man govern
ment" for which the Federalists and their
natural successors, the Abolitionists, have al
ways longed and prayed. In either case, the
scheme will place him in a dilemma at the
outset of his, administration, the solution of
which may compel him to show his hand, or
divulge his policy, if he has any, much sooner
than he anticipates
The State of Ohio has refused to extend
the right of suffrage to negroes within her
borders, by an overwhelming majority of her
citizens. Her protest, must be heard. The
assumption by caucus of the Rump Con-
gress of the power never granted to that or
any other Federal party, to annul this judg-
ment, to overthrow the State Constitution and
trample upon the clearly expressed will of her
electors, should be resisted with all the means
in the possession of her people. This hide
GUS usurpation has long been predicted by
the Democracy one OF the ultimate objects
of the desperate band of reckless usurpers
who lead the Abolition party but the people
could scarcely be made to credit such an
emo nifty. 1t will doubtless confront them
in all its shameful reality within the ensuing
year, and they will be literally driven to the
adoption Of the only remedy left to- freemen
to redress intolerable wrongs. Universal suf
frage-the promiscuous voting of every body
without qualification and without challenge
is but preliminary step towards the total
overthrow of the elective franchise, and the
establishment of hereditary monarchy,
moneyed aristocracy, or an absolute one man
despotism.