The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-03-20
SPEECH OF Hon. II. EVERETT
In the Senate of Ohio, March 10, 1868.


In the Senate Of Ohio, March 10, 1868.
The Senate having declared the seat of
HOMER @. JONES vacant, The resolution de-
clsring HENY NJ. .0NDERDoyK entitled to the
seat came up for consideration.
MIR. EVERETT said:
Mr.. President, the vote Just taken indi-
Gates very clearly what the majority intend
to do with the resolution now before the
Senate. The report of the msiority of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections con-
cedes the fact that if the votes of forty per-
sons who have a preponderance of white
blood are allowed, then Mr.. Jones is entitled
to the contested seat on this floor. II they
are disregarded and thrown out of the calcu-
lation, then Henry NJ. OnderdoGk is elected.
1t is small matter whether Mr.. Jones or
Mr. Onderdonk shall have a seat in this
Senate, in comparison with the principle
involved in the decision Just made. Every
Senator here knows that persons of this class
have always had, and now have, guaranteed
10 them by the Constitution of our State the
right to vote at all elections. This right
has been contested in our courts with great
interest and earnestness, and the invariable
period of forty years, under the old as well
as the new Constitution, has, in every trial,
established this right. 1t is the supreme
law of the land and all the people and all
the courts of Ohio are bound by it. The
word 'swhite male citizen" in the old Con-
stitution, had received this construction, and
that construction had been adhered to for
more than twenty years before the new Con
stitution was formed, and when the same
terms were used in the formation of the new
one, every member of the convention knew,
expected and intended that men with mixed
blood, with preponderance of white, should
have conferred upon them the elective fran
chise. Every Senator here knows in his
heart that this was the meaning and intent
of the trainers, and knows too that by all the
rules of construction it is the true intent
and meaning of this supreme law.
Every Senator on this floor, with uplifted
hand, but a few days ago took solemn oath
to support the Constitution. The majority
have within this hour, it seems to me, will
fully ignored or forgotten this solemn obi
cation, and | would lay this foul wrong
upon the naked conscience OF such. and let
it blister there until their hearts should be
open to q better sense of duty.
But we are met here with the argument
that white means lohite, and that this Senate,
not being amenab,e to any court, being a
separate, equal, independent and CO. ordinate
branch of the gOvnrnment, has the power
and the right to construe the Constitution
for ITSELF 1t is true we have the p0trer,
but, sir, deny the right. The exercise of
unauthorized power might be winked at and
acquiesced in, if used to do great good, or
save the government from destruction. But
when it is used to injure others, to rob them
of rights guaranteed by the Constitution, it
becomes intolerable, and dangerous to the
State.
What has the majority Of this Senate done
to-day? Sir, it has annulled the votes of
forty men--free mera-citiseHs-proved to be
worthy citizens of Ohio, and declared a
principle bv which it would, if it could,
strike the ballot out of the hands of three
Constitutional rights. They have set at
Court, and, by word and example, taught
their partizans to disregard law aud order,
trrampled down the rights of men, and
placed two branches of the government in
hostility to each other. Who can tell or
foresee the consequences Of the confusion
which must follow What guide is left to
Judges of elections If they receive vote
it will be cast out as illegal by the Senate
If they reject it the courts must inflict the
penalty OF the law upon them. Some will
follow one guide and some will follow the
other, as prejudice or interest may dictate
and hence must follow an endless train of
conflicts and wrongs and contentious.
Go now and tell the people what you have
done Tell them you are above the law
and the Constitution that you have ignored
mercy, trampled on Justice, and struck one
more blow at the hopes and rights of an
outraged, abused and unfortunate class OF
your fellow men; and done it all to serve
your party, and in the name of Democracy.
| would have it remembered that the ma
iority report, on which the vote has inst
been taken, does not stop at rejecting the
votes of those who have African blood
mixed in their veins. 1t asserts the broad
principle that none but those of pure lohite
blood-none other-are entitled to the elec-
tive franchise. The result is that all other
races are excluded from the benefits of free
dom and the rights of men. Now the pure
white or Caucasian race is but fraction of
the great family and brotherhood of man.
The Asiatic, which is far more numerous,
the Mongolian. the Indian and African are
all denied the rights and privileges of men
by this Democratic doctrine. Not only so,
but one drop of the blood of any of them
destroys American citizenship. To what
base depths can the party calling itself De-
mocratic go! 1t assumes that liberty was
made for only small part Of mankind.
Where was such a doctrine ever before as
serted l am not particularly Lartial TO
the African race, although the sufferings
and wrongs SO long heaped upon that peo-
pie appeals powerfully to the heart of every
man who has proper regard for humanity.
In political action it always has been my
aim to do something for the extension of
the area of liberty aud the rights of man.
My wish and fondest dream has been to see
the blessings of liberty and civilization CO.
extensive with the boundaries of humanity,
and there has has been much of late TO cheer
me in the tide of progress. But am too
sad to be angry to-day to know that my own
native State, by the action of this Senate,
has done SO much to turn US back to barbar-
ism.
We are told, sir that no court can punish
this Senate for its action. This is true. But
there is another court, whose jurisdiction we
cannot escape, where the testimony will be
pure truth; where the judge never efrs !;
where there are no exceptions to be taken !;
no appeal; no reversal. To such court the
action of every Senator will hereafter be
submitted for judgment. | envy net the
Senator who goes 10 deyoiions this night
and seeks pardon, with the wrong of this
day resting on his conscience.
Friends Of liberty and humanity, let US
not be dishearteEed. l trust that an all
| wise Providence will overrule the event of
to-day, and turn it to the advancement of
the cause we love
Believing, Mr.. President, in my inmost
heart that Homer O. Jones is Constitution
ally and lawfully chosen Senator of the sth
District, l cannot corsent that any other
man shall occupy his seat in this hall, and
will therefore vote against this resolution.
ASpecimen Brick. This is a sample
Of the style used by theta Crosse Democrat
in speaking of Gen. Grant:
GtGropt ia O Mathodist nv trade n tvrapt