The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-08-12
WHAT DEMOCRATS VOTED
FOR AND AGAINST.
REBEL SOLDIERS ALL OWED TO VOTE

REBEL SOL OIERS ALL OWED TO VOTE /!
Union Soldiers, Manned and
Wounded, Shall Not Vote.
TAXATION WITHOUT REPRE-
SENTATION INDORSED.
WHITE MALE CITIZENS DISFRANCHISED
Damaging and Damning Record.
We propose briefly as we can, to lay
before the people few pages of the
Journal of the Democratic Legislature
of 1868 and 1869. In order to fully
understand the reckIessness and want
of principle that actuated that body in
the passage of so many vindictive, ar
bitrary and unconstitutional laws, their
acts must be viewed as emanating from
a selfish, unconscionable partisan spirit,
instead of from an impartial, honorable,
high-minded, statesman like effort to
legislate for the public good, in which
the civil and political rights of citizens
should be defended and maintained.
From the opening of the session, the
"main question" among the Democratic
majority in either branch Of the General
Assembly was not, "How shall we be
of most service to the people of the
State, and the more nobly sustain the
Government and dignity of the Com
monwealth ?" but, allow shall we ad-
vance the interests of our party and
secure its continuance in power 2" TIC
that end, everything-Justice, Honor,
Principle, Precedent, Law, Constitu-
tion had to yield, and uneeremoniously,
when party interest required, be tram
pied under foot.
Such a record was commenced on
the first day of the first session by an
attempt to rescind the ratification Of the
"Fourteenth Amendment" by the pre-.
vious Legislature, and on the fifth day,
by the introduction of the infamous
"Visible Admixture Bill" with the
villainous provisions of which, oul
readers are we'll acquainted.
We referred to the manner in which
this law was passed, at some length, {
year ago. We now presume to do 81
again, not that the enactment itself il
Of any account-(no fault of the Demo
cratic party, hOwever)-but to show
how openly that same party, which il
again asking to be reinstated to power
violated every long-cherished doctrin,
of their political faith-laws, Constitu
tion and most sacred obligations, in thei
efforts to disfranchise citizens and sol
dierS, simply because they voted tn
Republican ticket and were loyal.
To accomplish this, the famous, o
rather infamous "Visible Admixtur
Bill" was introduced by Senator Hutch
eson, of Franklin county. 1t was re
markable, more for its vindictivenes
toward the colored race, than for an
literary or legal merit it possessed. No
a single section, but that was full @
abomination, and, therefore objectiona
BILE to every person, except to tho Dem
ocrats who voted for it.
When first called up, therefore, Mr.
Conant, Senator from Portage county
moved to strike out of section 3, an
5, that part ''requiring the person chal
lenged to produce two credible wit
nesses who shall be compelled to an
swer certain prescribed questions unde
oath or affirmation relative to the mar
riage Of challenged PERSONS parents" 81
Also "that no evidence of reputation, g
J to parentage shall be received, unless th
parties about whom such reputation e1
lists are first proved to have been mai
ried."
The absurdity of endeayorng [
compel men to swear they were pei
sonally cOgnizant of their parents maj
riags-that is, lin effect) that they wer
individually present at the wedding
may be good Democracy, but very Su'
piciOus and queStional morality. How
ever Judge Conant's motion though 8
clearly Just and proper, was lost by
strict party vote.
Next Mr.. Keifer, of Clarke count.
moved to amend $50 as to make it
penal offense to receive the vote of
person not being white male citizen
the United States" instead of ''recei'
ing," contrary to the provisions of Il
bill, "the vote of any person having
distinct and visible admixture of Afr
can blood"
That motion was also lost, thoug
strictly in accordance with the const
tuition, and designed to save it. Ever
Democrat in the Senate recorded b
y vote against, not negroeS-not foreigI
in ers voting, but '',chite male citizens
70 the United States" The same m'
swore to Support the Constitution
S. the United States and the State
Ohio" when they took their seats
Senators. Both of those instrumen
guarantee the very right to that class
citizens which the Democrats sought
y annul.
) Mr. Potts, of Carroll county, tn,
moved to amend by inserting after Il
provision making it the duty of 4
Judges to challenge and reject t
votes of persons having distinct al
visible admixture of African blood, I
/. following words: "or any person W
, has borne arms in support of any inst
rection or rebellion against the COVER
ment of the United States"