The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-06-24
to the confidence or contempt OF this
body and of the country.

to the confidence or contempt OF this
body and of the country.
By some strange ipscrutable dispen.
tation of Providence-perhaps to make
she victory of the party CT freedom
mere certain at the next election-for
the first time in ten years the State of
Ohio has been cursed by a Democratic
Legislature, and it became Democratic
by a very small majority. Although
the Republicans carried the Governor
and State officers, yet, by the arfsage-
ment Of representation provided for in
the State Constitution made by the
Democratic party when they were in
power, itso happens that they we're en-
abled toiget~ asIDs}ority in the Legisla-
ture this year. That Legislature as
sembled, and one of its 6rst acts was to
take from the Lieutenant Governor the
power which that officer has exercised
for many years, of appointing commit
tees in the State Senate, and put the
appointment of all the committees into
the hands of the Senate itself, thus
making all the committees very strong
Iy Democratic. OF course, they also
made all the committees in the House
strongly Democratic, so that every com.
mittee in the General Assembly now
speaks only the voice of the Democra-
cy of the State.
The first legislation Of any import
nee was an act pretending and at
ten pting 10 withdraw the consent of
the State of Ohio 10 the fourteenth ar
ticle Of am ,ndment to the Constitution,
which, among other things, prohibits
forever the assumption of any part Of
the rebel debt, and the Reputation of
any Part of the Federal debt. OF
course, the act is a nullity, but it never
theless exhibits the temper, spirit and
Of that Democratic Legisla-
ture.
The next thing of any considerable
Importance that they did was to remod
Ell the municipal laws of the leading
Republican cities of the State so as to
force upon them a Democratic police.
For-instance, the city Of Cleveland,
with an overwhelming Republican ma
jority, has been compelled by that Leg
.islature to receive a police system not
of its own choosing, but in the highest
degree offensive to its citizens.
Nh. MORGAN-I rise to a point of
The gentlemen's remarks; not
being pertinent to the question before
the House, are not in order. The Leg
islature of Ohio represents the peopls Of
state.
Mr.. UPSON-I call the gentl emen
to order. A point of order is not de-
5atable
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr.
in the chair The Chair snstains
the point of order.
Mr.. GARFIELD-This subject was
really the wire on which the gentleman
from Kentucky EMF. Beck strung his
I am, therefore, directly re-
spending to the gentleman's argument
After foisting upon these Republican
cities an unwelcome and partisan police
the Legislature proceeded to act upon
very subject of colored suffrage,
is now under discussion
Mr.. MORGAN-I insist that the
gentleman shall c%onfine himself TO the
subject matter before the House
The SPEAKER pro tempore-The
Chair sustains the point of order. The
should c%onfine his remarks
to the subject before the House.
:. Mr., GARFIELD will undertake
do that. The chief point tibet has
been discussed by the gentleman from
.entuckyGMr. Beckl is the question
afnoGro suffrage in the Southern States,
and he has illustrated his argument by
reference to the action of the Legisla-
tire of Ohio. on that subject. Now, /
want to say what that Legislative action
has been on the question: of voting and
negro voting, too, and that certainly
cannot be out of order. The Lesisla-
lure of my S ate has SEMI instructions to
me and to my colleagues in regard to
The subject of negro suffrage. Now,
hat Legislature has passed a law on the
of negro voting, which shows
the temper, spirit, and meaning ofour
Instructors. To discuss that law, l hold,
strictly in order.
Mr.. MORGAN-I call tie gentle
man to order. 1 shall be happy at the
proper time to discuss the action of the
ohio Legislature with my friend, but
this is not the proper time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore-The
chair thinks the point of order is not
we'll taken, inasmuch as the gentleman
rom Kentucky (Mr. Beck) made allu
,ions in the course of his speech which
Justify the remarks of the gentleman
rom Ohio.
Mr.. GARFIELD-Iam much oblig-
ID tc the chair. 1t has long been the
1ndisputed decision of the Supreme
Court of Ohio that any person who has
more white blood in his veins than
lack blood is entitled to vote under
'ur Constitution, in which tie word
occurs as limiting the suffrage.
That decision was made in the better
of. the Democracy by q Democrat.
9 bench, and has been, 1 believe, un-
disturbed and unquestioned for thirty
ears.
Now, the present Legislature passed
law known as "The visible adnixture
which provides that any man hav-
ng q visible admixture of African
tlood in his veins shall not be permit
ed to vote /; and in order to test who it
that has a visible admixture of Afri-
an blood in his veins, that not being a
let which always appears on the sur
ice and to the naked eye-since COM
lexions differ SO much-that law pro-
-s.That it shall be the duty of the
adges of election to challenge any per
,p. offering To vote at auy election held |