Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-03-26
The 0nderdonk Iniquity.

1ne cincinnati Chrontcte, the ney
evening paper recently started il
Cincinnati, enters the following in
dignant protest against this peculiar
ly democratic wickedness:-
Democratic devotion to the Con
stitutien and the laws has had fresl
illustration in the Ohio Senate. Mr.
Jones has been excluded from tha
body, and Mr.. Onderdonk, the Dem
ocratie contestant, has been substi
tuted in his stead by the Democratic
majority, in bold, direct and shame.
less defiance of the Constitution and
the law.
1t was a case admitting of nc
plausible pretext, in any form--no
doubt or vagueness from which to
extract any soothing balm for the
conscience of the partisan who thus
palpably violated his official oath
Every Democratic Senator voting
this ostracism of Mr.. Jones obeyed
the party mandate, in willfui and
perverse disregard of his known OBJ
legations to the Constitution and the
laws OF his State. To assume any
thing less, to admit any palliation of
the offense, would be an insult to the
intelligence of every participant in
this enormity.
The imbecile excuse set up nv tho
managers of this business amounts.
In itself, to confession of the con-
scleusness of fraudulent intent
Among the voters for Mr.. Jones were
persons who, it is alleged, had 'sa
visible admiXture of African blood"
Neither the Constitution nor the laws
OF the State exclude such a class of
yeters, or recognize such a disquali-
ilcation for exercising the right of
suffrage. On the contrary, it has
been definitely, repeatedly, consist
emily, held by the Supreme Court of
Ohio, by Democratic judges, rs well
as by Republican judges, that no
such disqualification exists. The
persons whose votes are now thrown
ont by tae Senate, had as clear and
andoubted right to vote--a right
well understood for years-as the
palest or most intelligent citizen of
the State. The question was long
ago settled--settled finally and for
ever, while the Constitution remains
as it is. The Senate, acting alone,
has no power to modify any law as
finally construed by the Supreme
Court. Nor could the Senate and
House together constitutionally en-
act law disfranchislng any person
who has preponderance of white
blood. This the senatorial law
breakers well know.
The offense of these voters, and
the sole ground for rejecting their
votes, is that they cast their ballots
for Mr.. Jones, q Republican, and !
not for Mr.. Onderdonk, a Democrat
Had their suffrage been given for the
latter, there would have been no
thought of objecting to their votes.
viz OpLHIOI vi IuC bbIuDcrdLlC
long as 1t serves W uvh1n5.e-- f~an sn |
ocratic party.
We shall be glad to take note of
any Democratic dissent from this &C
tien of the Democratic majority in,
the Senate; some decent attempt of
its press, or its leaders, outside of
the Legislature, or in the other
branch of the Legislature, to rid it
self of the responsibility for this vi
olation of the highest law, or even
some manifestation of a lingering
regard for its old professed doctrines
as to the supremacy of the Courts Of
last resort and the inviolability of
The Constitutions; but we fear that |
enough of virtue no longer remains
IN the Democratic party to warrant
The hope of even a single vigorous
Democratic protest against the On
aerdonk iniquity.