Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-03-19
THE OHIO 0LEGIsLATURE ABoLIsuEs
.---L THE RUPREME COURT.


The Copperheads--an by their con-
duct they are determined to act up to
their name-have talked great deal
about the sacred character of the Consti-
tuition and the Supreme Court, and yet
theypermit no opportunity topass, where
regard for them would effect the inter
est of their party, without thoroughly
disregarding both.
For twenty-five years the Status Of
electorssunder the Constitution of Ohio,
has been well defined by the repeated
decisions of the Supreme Court. Demo
cratic Legislatures have attempted to
change. this Status by the passage OF
laws in conflict with these uniform de-
cississons of the Court, but have as fire.
quently failed. Now they have by brute
force, by partisan majority of one in
the State Senate, set aside both the Con-
stitution and the Supreme Court, for the
purpose, merely, of adding one vote to
their meager majority of one, obtained
by accident and fraud. This same Leg
islature has so far recognized the well
settled, rule upon this subject, as to con-
slider a resolution, now pending, propos-
ing an amendment 10 the Constitution
excluding personsf from the enjoyment
Of the privileges of electors who have
any visible admixture of African OF
Indian blood" But what docs Democ-
racy care for law, Constitution, Supreme
Court, or Consistency, when the interest
OF the party is involved.
Upon this question we append the fol-
lowing from the State Journal, Of last
Thursday:
SUPREME COURT ARC cItsHED.
The Ohio Senate, yesterday afternoon,
by strict party vote, passed the resolu-
ton that Henry &. Jones Is not entitled
To seat IA Senator from the Eighth Sen
atorial District, in the face of the fact
admitted by the entire Senate, that Mr..
Jones received IL majority ofall the votes
which were legal votes at the time the
election was held. This decision OF the
Democracy is, to say the least, most ex-
traordinary.
Men having prepondennce Of white
blood have had the right, and have ex.
ercised the right to vote under the old
Constitution and the new for almost hal
a century. Can those who, under the
Constitution and the laws, were legal
voters In October, be made Illegal voters
at that time, In consequence Of a resolu'
ton OF the Ohio Senate, passed five
months after such election was held!
Was IL the duty OF judges of elections In
the Eighth District to reject the votes OF
all voters having the least admlxture ol
African blood? Would they not have
been liable 10 prosecutions and penalties
for so doing? Were not all judges sworn
to obey the Constitution and the laws
Were they, or were they not, bound to
regard the Interpretation given 10 the
Constitution by the highest judicial tri'
bunal? by doing what was their unde-
nlable constitutional duty, they were
admitting, according to Democratic log
ic, Illegal votes! They discharged their
duties according to law, but not accord
Ing to what ought to have been Inv.
Therefore they were wrong. Wrong ac-
cording to an er post Jdcto resolution ol
the Senate passed almost six months af-
ter the then legal votes were received.
But tits useless to argue this quest oil
now. II was useless 10 argue 1t before
the vote was taken, else the unanswera'
BILE argument of Mr.. West would have
made some slight impression. When
the interests OF the party are ut stake
Democratic ears are deaf ears. A ma
jorlty of two Ii much more convenient
than u majority of one. The Supreme
Court may Interpret the Constitution foi
ordinary mortais, hut II can deliver ne
decision which a Democratic Senator IL
bound 10 respect.