Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-07-04
The Visible Admixture Inifuitg.
Record TO be Remembered

Although the Visible AdmiXture law OF the
Democratic Legislature died an early death,
and by that means entirely disappoint7
ed the hopes of its friends, yet it NAV not be a.
miss to give brief inside history of the man
ner the abortive iniquity was attempted to be
forced upon the people, by party claiming
to be Democratic. In its enactment every
principle of justice, law, constitution ana 'ruc
Democracy itself, was most shamefully VIOLA
ted and yepudiated, and we propose quoting
few pages of the Senate and House Journals
to show that fact.
The measure itself, was a monstroslty
m beoin with. and in order to carry it
tbronoh every step forward was like
that taken by an assassin who had moth
ino else in view but the lite of his intend
ed victim, let it cost in conscience, in
RIGHT, in justice, what it would.
THE object was 10 disfranchise class
of voters in our state, who he'd always,
under the Constitution and laws enjoyed
that privilege. The purpose was a ma
licious, party purpose, hoping thereby to
gain all advantage to themselves at the
coming fall elections.
To that end, early in the session, bill
was introduced by Mr.. Hutchinson, of
Franklin county. 1t was remarkable,
more for its apparent vindictiveness to-
ward the colored race, than for any liter
ary or legal merit it contained. Not
single section but that was full of abom-
ination, and therefore unobjectionable to
every democrat, so called.
When first called up, therefore, Mr..
Conant, Senator from Portage county,
moved to strike out of sections 8, and
5, that part requiring the person chal-
lenged to produce two creditable wit
nesses who shall be compelled to answer
certain prescribed questions under oath
or affirmation relative to the marriage of
challenged persons parents" &c. Also
"that no evidence of reputation, as to
parentagc, shall be received, unless the
parties about whom such reputation eX-
lists are first proved to have been mar
ried." That motion, though clearly pro-
per and just, was lost by strict party
vote.
Next, Mr.. Keifer, of Clark county,
moved to amend $50 as to make it PEN
al offense to received the vote of a per-
son not being a ,chite male citizen of the
United States" instead of s'receiving
contrary to the provisions of the bill, the
vote OF any person having distinct and
visible admixture of African blood"
That motion was also lost, though
strictly in accordance with the constitu-
ton, and designed to save it by close
party vote.
MIR. Potts, of Carroll county, moved
to amend by inserting after the provision
making it the duty of the judges to chal-
lenge and reject the votes of persons
having distinct and visible admixture
of African blood, the following words
"anY person who has borne arms in sup
port Of any insurrection or rebellion a.
gainst the Government of the U. States"
Mr.. Hall, of Lucas, further moved to
"except from the provisions of the bill
such persons of visible admixture who
bore arms in defense of the government
of the United States in the recent re-
bellion."
These propositions were also lost by
every democrat voting No, thereby ex-
pressly declaring they were willirg that
rebels, who fought against the govern
ment in the late rebellion, should cote,
whilst men who fought for the govern
ment should not vote. That accords
well with modern democracy, and let the
people of Ohio remember it received the
Endorsement of that party by its repre-
sentatlves in the General Assembly
Patriotic Union men repudiate it as un-
just and devlish.
EurtLor M Cr;sr,oIJ o4 r oro;o oo,,,
ty, moved the following amendment
provided that the provisions OF this
act shall not apply to persons having a
visible admixture of African blood, who
have been crippled, manned or wounded
in fighting for the Union"
That proposition seemed just and hui
name but it was fiendishly voted down.
Yeas-Republicans, 15.; Nays, Demo
Gratis, 10.
Mr.. Burrows, of Lake county, then
moved to amend, by "Providing that
citizens having a preponderance of the
blood of the white race, shall be deemed
white citizens under the provisions of
this act" Also lost by the same vote as
were the previous amendments.
These propositions and amendments
were all ably discussed by the Republi-
can Senators and enforced with the pow
er that Right and Justice gave to good
cause. The democracy attempted no
justification of their villainy but de-
clared they intended passing the bill be-
cause they had the disposition and pow
er to do so
Accordingly, on motion of the previous
question by Mr.. Stambaugh, Of Tusca-
rawas, the bill was passed in the Senate
except MIR. Berry, absent on account of
i'll health, all voting yea and all the
republican senators except Messrs Biggs
and Brooks, who were absent on leave.
When the bill came to the House, and
was read the third time, Mr.. Dickson,
of Lorain county, moved to recommit it
to select committee of one, with in
structions to amend as follows
"But if, from the evidence adduced, the judg-
es of election, or a majority of them, shall be
satisfied that the person offering to vote as a
male citizen of the United States, and has the
other qualifications required by law, his ballot
shall be received"
This amendment, most certainly en-
bracing everything that any reasonable