Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-10-01
The Flrtcccnth Amendment.


Aswr meaested last week, the resolution |
of both wings Of the Democratic party ~
the North to resist the Fifteenth Amend
ment gives peculiar and unexpected im.
portapce TO the political situation. Ihat
amendment provides that no state shall
disfranohise a citizen by reason OF color,
and Il is opposed upon two grounds; first,
that the subject should not be regulated
by the National Government; and, sec
ond, that colored citizens ought not TO be
allowed to vote upon equal terms win
others
The tone adopted in pressing the hrst
objection, as if there were some outrage ~
submitting proper question TO the coun
try in the constituuonalman lsnieI,syi l,.yi1
ridiculous Even NJ II were undesliaple
that the conditions of suffrage should be
determined by the National Government,
Il is certainly not improper that the peo-
ple should bo asked TO decide the question
In the manner that they have themselves
provided. Consequently the assertion OF
the Ohio Democratic platform that the
attempt TO regulate suffrage In Ohio by
means of the a0-oaled, Fifteenth Con.
stitutional Amendment Is suhversive OF
the principles Of the Federal Con
stitution" Is transparent folly Inc
Federal Constitution is the oouy ol
fundamental laws TO which addltlons sre
made as experience and reflection suggest
The principle Of the Constitutoni SO 10
sneak. is that IL shall be supreme all over
tho States In every particular that shall
seem expedent for welfare. Thus, the
Thirteeth Amendment forbids any State to
tolerate slavery the Fourteenth secures
the equal civil rights of every citizen oil
the United States; and the Fifteenth pro-
poses to prohibit unreasonable dlslran'
chisenent
Is it desirable, then, that the States
should be allowed to prescribe qualihca-
tion for the suffrage founded upon colorY
Unquestionably not, because nothing Is
gained by it but the qualification of n
prejudice. Color does not determine in
telligence nor political capacity. The color
of the skin is q disqualification as unrca-
sonable as that of the hair or eyes. More.
over, IL is disability which, by perpetual
ing distinction OF caste among the citi-
zens, forever renews the freshness OF the
feelings FROM which the war arose. The
Ponnsylvania Democratic platform de-
clares that the party in that State Is op-
posed to comforting upon the negro the
right to vote 1t gives no reason, and
how could it,, How could party which
courts ignorance, and which does not con
slider habitual drunkenness TO be n valid
bar TO the suffrage, offer any plausible
reason for excluding honest, Intelligent
sober colored men from the pollsY 1t Is
opposed to the voting OF the colorcd citi
zens because it knows that the votes OF 0
class whicifthe Democratic party has done
its best to degrade will naturally be cas
against it.. II the eolored vote OF Penn
sylvania and Ohio were sure for that party
does any observer suppose the party
Al .Tt ,nu
If the same vote were not sure TO be-
thrown against the party in New York, Il
it supposable that the Democrats would
insist upon the present inequality of the
suffrage in this Stat69 The Democratic
party endeavors by every kind of fraud
as at the last election in New York, tt
secure the voting of the most ignoran
Foreigners. who, have, aud can have, M
possible knowledge OF the merits ol
tendency of the issues; is il conceivable
that sucli party opposes the equal voting
of Intelligent native citizens because they
are coloredYsg =
Until This question is settled there car
be no escape from the old issues; and tho
question may be postponed, but it can bC
settled inl one way only. No man in his
senses can imagine that this State, or this
country, will finally rest in policy o
discrimination among citizens SO baseles'
and infamous as this. A qualification o
residence, of education, of familiarity will
the language, is reasonable and intclligi
BILE, but one of color is contemplate anC
exasperating. Apparently the Democrat,
Convention in this State will declar
against tho Fifteenth Amendment, AM
against the provision Of the new Stat
Constitution that cqualiZcs the suffrag,
1t win then be for the orderly and intell
gent citizens TO determine how the publ
welfare is to be promoted by the succe
of party pledged to perpeuate upo
such grounds the difference that has
long and so cruelty veXed us
Or are there other considerations
favor of its success that make this objc
ton insignihcantY Ohio WILL undoub
edly, reject Mr. Pondleton; but shal
New York virtually declare In favor
him and Of his ropudiationg If there
general fdiscontent with the character
the Legislature, let the vcter reflect whctl
cr it is likely to be improved by bein
composed entirely or in majority of sue
members as the city of New York no
sends. The Republican party is the trier
of the Fifteenth Amendmcnb ol the II
tional fahh, of equ0l ulrage in this Stat
of strict registry, and of theuttnost pr
lection of the ballot.boX against fraud
every kind II is certainly not less hone
and economical than its adversary, Wht
IL is added that it is In FAVOR OF scttlir
the long disturbing difficulty of our po
tics in tho most Just, reasonable, Amer
can, and inevitable manner, can any ms
who has hitherto sustained il doubt as
his lutN IIlsYAeifs lVeslIn