Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-06-26
How the Infamous Admixture Law
was Enacted.-A Record to be
Remembered.
LFrom the saIem RepublIean.l ]

WAS 1ANEtgAa "A AsS1NAN w ~
Remembered.
From the Salem Republican,
Although the Visible Admixturs law
of the Democratic Legislature died an
early death, and by that means, entirely
disappointed the hopes of its friends,
vet it may not be amiss to give a brief
inside history of the manner the aboE-
tive iniquity was attempted to be forced
upon the people, by a party claiming
to be Democratic. In its enactment,
every principle of justice, law, constitu-
ton and true Democracy itself, was
most shamefully violated and q'epWdiU-
ted, and we propose quoting a few pages
Of the Senate and House Journals to
show that fact.
The measure itself, was a IN onstT osi-
tv to begin with, and in order to carry
it through, every step forward was Ike
that taken by an assassin VINO had
nothing else IN view bu6 the life of his
intended victim, let it cost IN con-
science, in right, in justice, what 1t
The object was to disfranchise a class
Of voters in our State, who had always,
under the constitution and laws, enjoy
ed that privilege. The purpose was
malicious party purpose, hoping there
bv to gain an advantage to themselves
at the coming fall elections.
To that end, early in the session,
bill was introduced by Mr.. HUTCHIN-
SON, of Franklin county. 1t was re-
markable, more for its apparent vim
dictiveness toward the cOlOred race,
than for anv literary or legal merit it
contained. Not single section, but
that was full of abOminatiOn, and there
fore Objectionable to every person, but
q Democrat, SO-cdtLed.
When first called up, therefore, Mr..
.COrJAryT. Senator from Portage county,
moved to strike out sections 3, 4, and 5,
that part requiring the person chal-
Ienged to produce two credible witness
ses who shall be compelled to answer
certain prescribed q questions under oath
or affirmation relative to the marriage
of challenged persons parents" &c
Also ffthaf no evidence. of reputation, as
to parentage shall be received unless
the parties, about whom such. rePuta-
ton, exists are first proved to nave
That motion, though clearly proper
aud lust, was lost by strict party vote.
Next. Mr., KEIFER, of Clark county,
moved to amend $50 as to make 1t a
penal offense to receive the vote OF
person not being WHITE male citizen
ofthe United States" instead of ''re-
c2iving, contrary to the proYlslSons oI
the bill. the vote of any person having
a distinct and visible adm1Xture OF
African blood"
That motion was also lost, though
strictly III accordance with Inc consu-
tuition, and designed to save it, by a
close party vote.
to amend by inserting after the provis-
ion making it the duty Of the judges to
challenge and reject the votes OF per-
sons having q distinct and visible ad-
mixture of African blood, the following
words: Cor any person who has borne
arms in support Of any insurrection or
rebellion against the government OF
the United States"
Mr.. HALL, of Lucas, further moved to
'texcept from the provisions Of the bill
such persons of q visible admlXture
who bore arms in defense of the gov
ernmenG of the United States IN the re-
cent rebellion
These propositions were also lost by
every Democrat voting No, thereby eX-
pressly declaring they. were willing
that REBELS, who fought against the
government in the late rebellion, should
0ote, whilst men who fought for the
government, should not vote. That &C
cords well with modern Democracy,
and let the people of Ohio remember 1t
received the endorsement of that party
bv its representatives in the General
Assembly. Patriotic Union men repu-
diate IL as unjust and deYlllsh.
Further, Mr.. GRIswOLD, of LOrain
county. moved the following amend
Lnent ssProvided that the provisions
this act shall not apply to persons hay-
/ ing a visible admixture of African
/ blood, who having been crippled, naim-
ed or wounded in fighting for the In
/ ion."
That proposition certainly seemed
/ lust and humane, but was fiendishly
/ voted down. Yeas-Repubhcan, 10 ;
1 Nays-DemOcrats 10.
MIR. BURROWS, Of Lake county, then
moved to amend, by Providing that
| citizens having a prepOnderanCe Of the
white race, shall be deemed white citi-
zens under the provisions Of this act"
/ Also lost by the same vote that were
the previous amendments.
These propositions and amendments
| were all ably discussed by the Repub-
/ Iican Senators and enforced with the
| power that Right and Justice give to a
/ GOOD cause The Democracy attempted
no justification of their villainy but
| declared they intended passing the bill
/ because they had the power and dispo-
/ sitiOn to do so.
Accordingly on motion of the previous
question, by Mr.. STANIBAUGH, of Tusca-
| rawas, the bill was passed IN the Senate,
Democratic Senators, except Mr.. BER-
RY, absent on account of ill-health, all
| voting yea; and all the Republican Sen
\ ators except two, Messrs. BIGGs and
! BROOKS, who were absent on leave, vot-
! When the bill came to the House, and
| was read the third time, Mr.. DICKSON,
| of Lorain county, moved to recommit it
to a select committee Of one, with in
structions to amend as follows:
/ "But if from the evidence adduced,
| the Judges of election, or a majority OF
/ them, shall be satisfied that the per-
son offering to vote is a male citizen OF
the United States, and has no other
! qualifications required by law, his bal
lot shall be received"
This amendment most certainly
embracing everything that any
reasonable person ought to ask,
was voted against by every Democrat
in the House. What objection could
they bring to it ? Nothing only that
their own party Supreme Courts OF
Ohio, had decided for more than thirty
years past, that a man having a pre-
ponderace of lUhite blood was a citizen
of the United States, and had the quail,
fcations of voter under the constitu-
ton of this State. Here, by a atndni,
nous vote, the Representatives of the
Democracy coolly and premeditatedly
trampled under foot the constitution
and laws of the commonwealth, to sub,
serve a selfish party purpose; nothing
. more.
, Mr.. RUKENBRoD, Of Colunbiana, then
moved to reeommit the bill, and amend
as follows (:
abe it further provided that the pen,
altiea and provisions of this act shall