Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-05-27
OHIO LEGISLATURE IN CONGRESS,
REMARKS OF
HON. JAMES A. GARFIELD.
During A Debate in the House of
Representatives, May ii, 1868.

Mr.. Garfield. Mr.. Speake, do not
rise to dicuss the main topic now under
consideration, but to notice reference
to Ohio made by the gentleman who
has Just taken his seat, Mr.. Beck. :
He claims that it is obligatory on the
Ohio delegation in this House to take
his view Of this bill, because our Ohio
Legislature has lately sent resolutions
here instructing or at least requesting
all the Ohio members of this House TO
vote against all the reconstruction bills.
Now, admit we ought to pay great
Difference to the expressions Of opinion
of our State Legislatures, provided
those Legislatures are by their conduct
entitled to our respect: While | repu-
diate the doctrine that State Legisls-
ture has right to give any bindingin-
structions to the members of this House
1 still admit that we ought to listen
with sespect to all respectable Legisla-
lures. But in answering the gentle
mans argument, l raise the question
whether the present Democratic Legis-
lature of Ohio is entitled by its chsrac-
ter and conduct to instruct any Repre-
sentative in Congress. In order to set
tie that question, beg leave briefly TO
cite few of the leading acts of that
body. We will then be able to see
whether they are entitled to the conf
dence or contempt Of this body and OF
the country.
BY some strange inscrutable dispen-
sation of Proyidence-perhaps to make
the victory of the party OF freedom
more certain at the next election-for
the first time in ten years the State of
Ohio has been cursed by the Demo
cratic Legislature, and it became Demo
cratic by very small majority. Al
though the Republicans carried the
Governor and State officers, yet, by the
arrangement of representation proyi-
ded for in the State constitution made
by the Democratic party when they
were in power, it so happens that they
were enabled to get majority in the
Legislature this year. That Legisla-
ture assembled, and one OF Its first
acts was to take from the Lieutenant
Governor the power which that officer
has exercised for many years. Of ap-
pointing committees in the State Sem
ate and put the appointment of all the
committees into the hands OF the Sem
ate itself, thus making all the commit
tees very strongly Democratic. Of
course, they also made all the commit
tees in the House strongly Democratic,
so that every committee in the General
Assembly now speaks only the voice OF
the Democracy Of the State.
The first legislation OF any impor-
tance was an act pretending and at
tempting to withdraw the consent of
the State of Ohio to the fourteenth ar
ticle of amendment to the Constitu-
tion which, among other things, pro
hibits forever the assumption of any
part of the rebel debt, and the repudia-
ton of any part of the Federal debt.
OF course, the act is q nullity, but 1t
nevertheless exhibits the temper, spirit,
and character of that Democratic Legis-
lature.
The next thing of any considerable
Importance that they did was to re-
model the municipal laws of the lead
ing Republican cities of the State so
as to force upon them Democratic
police. For instance, the city of Cleve-
land, with an overwhelming Republi-
can majority, has been compelled by
that Legislature to receive police
system not of its own choosing, but in
the highest degree offensive to its citi-
zens.
Mr.. Morgan. rise to point Of Or
der. The gentlemsn's remarks, not
being pertinent to the question before
the House, are not in order. The
Legislature of Ohio represent the peo-
pie of that State.
Mr.. Upson. call the gentleman to
order. A point of order is not debata-
BILE.
The Speaker pro tsmpOre, (Mr. Boyer
in the chair. The Chair sustains the
point of order.
Mr.. Garfield. This subject was really
the wire on which the gentleman from
Kentucky, Mr.. Beck lstrung his speech
| l am, therefore, directly responding to
the gentleman's argument. After
foisting upon these Republican cities
an unWelcome and partisan police the
Legislature proceeded to act upon this
very subject of colored suffrage, which
is now under discussion.
Mr.. Morgan. 1 insist that the gen.
tleman shall confne himself to the SUBJ
ject-matter before the House;
The Speaker pro tsmpOrs. The Chair
sustains the point Of order. The gen.
tieman should confne his remarks to
the subject before the House.
Mr.. Garfield. will undertake to do
that. The chief point that has been
discussed by the gentleman from Ken
lucky [Mr. Beck, is the question of
negro suffrage in the southern States,
and he has illustrated his argument by
reference to the action Of the Legisla-