The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-01-16

ests Of the whites, that no one
certainly. party@in Ohio would
be willing 10 abandon it."
An effort to secure to all citizens
equal political rights, was made in
the State Gonstitutional eonyen.
don of 1851. Only thirteen, oGl
Of one hundred and eight Members
in that body, voted in its favor;
and it is probable that less than
one-tenth of the voters of the State
would then have voted 10 strike
the word awhile" out Of the con.
stitution.
The last General Assembly sub,
mitted 10 the peoplesa proposition
10 amend the State Constitution so
as TO abolish distinctions in political
righ's based upon color. The pro-
position contained several clauses
not pertinent to it's main purpose,
under which, if ifadopted, it was be-
licvcd by many that the number
OF, white citizens WHO would be
disfranchised would be much great
CIR than the number of colored cit
liens who would DO allowed the
right OF suffrage. Notwithstand.
ing the proposition was thus ham.
percd, it received 216,987 votes, or
nearly forty.fve per cent Of all the
votes cast in tho State. This result
shows great progress in public
sentiment since tho adoption
of the constitution of 1851, and
inspires the friends of equal
political rights with q eonfi, /,
dent hope that in 1871, when the
opportunity is given 10 the people,
by the provisions of tho Constitu-
tion, 10 call Constitutional Con.
vcntion, the organic law of the
State will be so amended as TO So
curo in Ohio 10 all the governed
an equal voice in tho government.
But whatever reasonable doubts
may be entertained as to tho prob
able action Of tho people of Ohio on
the question of an extension of the
right of suffrage, when a new State
Constitution shall be formed, sub.
mil with confidence that nothing
has occurred which warrants the
opinion that tho ratification by the
last General Assembly OF the forr-
leenth amendment 10 the Constitu.
ton oftho United States was not in
accordance with tho deliberate and
settled convictions Of tho people,
That amendment was, after the am.
pIcst discussion, upon an issue lis.
Linctly presented, sanctioned by
large majority OF the people. II
any fact exists which justifics the
belief that they now wish that the
resolution should DC repealed, by
which the assent Of Ohio was given
to that important amendment, it
has not been brought TO tho atten.
tlon of the public. Omitting all ref.
crence tc other Important pro.
visions, it may be safely said that
the section which secures among all
the States OF the Union equal rep.
rescnlation in the House OF Repre-
sentalivcs and Electoral College,
in proportion to the voting popu.
IaLion, is deemed of vital impor.
lance by tho peopleof Ohio With!
out now raising the grayo'questiop
as 10 the right Of the State 10 with
draw its assent, which has been
constitutionally given TO a proposed
OF tho Federal Constiy
tuition, | respectfully suggest that
the attempt which is now making
b Withdraw tho assent of Ohio 10
tho fourteenth amendment TO the
Federal Constitution, be postponed
until the people shal! again have
an opportunity to give expression
10 their will. In my judgment
Ohio will never consent that the
whites OF the South, large majori.
~ OF whom were lately in rebellion,
shall exercise in the Government
't the nation as much political pow.
~, man for man, as the same nun.
Der Of white citizens Of Ohio, and be
allowed in addition thereto, thirty
members of Congress and OF the Il
cctoral College for colored people,
deprived Of every political privi.
cge. .HHu.t el "t'e
In conclusion, l am happy to be
lble TO adopt as my own the senti.
nents SO titly expressed by the
speaker of the House Of Represeu.
ativcs of the present General AS.
embly, | sincerely hopo that the
of the General Assem-.
,ly, and the Administration of tho
State Government in all it's branch.
IS, may bo characterized by econo.
ny, wisdom ard prudence-.that
tatesmanship, patriotism and phi.
anthrophy may be manifest in
very act, and that all may be
lone under the guidance Of that
Providence which has hitherto SO
ignaIly preserved and blessed our
State and nation.