The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-01-24
Democratic Legislation.

The Democrats in the lower house
of the Ohio Legislature, On the 11tf
inst, by strict party vote, rescinded
the action of the Republican Legisla'
ture of 1867, ratifying the Constitu.
tionalAmendment. 1t is important the
public should note particularly the
meaning of this vote. 1t is worth a
thousand high sounding and gener-
ally meaningless party platforms
The Amendment is printed in full,
and it speaks for itself. Itprovides
l. That all persons born or natu-
rallied in the United States are citi-
zens of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside; are not to
be deprived of life, liberty or prop
erty, without due process of law, and
shall receive equal protection of the
laws. In voting against this simple,
reasonable and just principle, the
Democratic party indorse the Dred
Scott decision, which virtually declar-
ed that negro has no rights that a
white man is bound tc respect. Thus
the party goes back to where it left
off in 1860, when the Southern branch
organized conspiracy against the
Government, and the Northern
branch, which aided the rebels, was
kicked out of power.
>. The amendment provides that
classes excluded from the ballot on
account of race or color, shall not be
counted in the MISREPRESENTATION.
The Southern States contain four
million negroes. These were not
permitted to vote, but were represent
ed in Congress to the extent Of two
thirds. Thus one white man in South
Carolina counted as much in Con-
gress as three white men in Ohio
The Ohio Democracy declare in fa-
vor of putting the Southern negroes
ahead OF the white men of the State.
3. The amendment excluded from
office certain persons who, in taking
up arms against the Government, vi
olated the oath taken by them to sup
port the Constitution Of the United
States. The Ohio Democracy decide
that JEFF. Davis, Robert E. Lee, j. C.
Breckenridge, and the rest of the
leading traitors, shall be eligible to
an exact equality with the Generals
and soldiers who fought the battles
of the Union. This clause of the
amendment did not, it will be seen,
disfranchise the class referred to, but
merely stipulated they should not
hold office, and even this disability,
it provided, might be removed by q
two thirds vote OF Congress.
4. The amendment provides that
the debt contracted in carrying on
the war for the Union, and in provid.
ing for the pay and bounties for SOL
diers' widows and children, shall not
be questioned; and further that the
rebel debt shall not be paid. The
Democratic party decide that the Ma
tional debt may be repudiated, and
the rebel debt may be paid.
5. This section gives Congress the
power to enforce, by appropriate leg
islation, the provisions OF the amend
ment.
Now, mark, there is no negro suf-
frage in this amendment. The Dem
ocrats pretend there is, but this Is a
mere pretext to cover their vote in
favor of leading traitors holding of
fee; of virtually establishing sla-
very; of going back to the Dred
Scott decision: of repudiating the
National debt; or assuming the rebel
debt.
Mark, further, that Mr.. Scott, Re-
publican), moved a division of the
question, in order that Uote might
be taken separately on each section.-
The Democratic Speaker, contrary
to all precedeuts, ruled this out Of
order, and his decision was sustained
by strict party vote. The copper.
heads wanted to vote the whole rebel
doctrine at once, and then tell the
people that they only voted against
negro suffrage. If honest in this
profession, why refuse to vote on each
section separately {? They cannot es-
cape under any such cover. They
have made the rebel, pro-slavery, re-
pudiating record, so plain that it can
not be lodged. Upon this record
the challenge is accepted, and with it
we 60 to the people.
Following will be found the Amend
ment, as passed by the last Legisla-
ture, and the resentment Of it by the
present:
Whereas. On the 11tL day of JAN
uary, 1867, the following joint reso-
luton was adopted by the General
Assembly of the State of Ohio, to-
wit:
"Whereas, The General Assembly
has received official notification OF the
passage by both houses OF the Thirty
ninth Congress of the United States,
at its first session, Of the following
proposition to amend the Constitution
of the United Ststes, by q constitu
tional majority of tFo-thirds thereof
in the words following, to-wit;
"Joint resolution proposing 81
amendment to the Constitution Of thf