The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-09-23


orable men in every branch of COM
mercial and mercantile and mechani-
cal industry are on the very verge of
hopeless bankruptcy. And because
can not say all these things, can not
turn from them with such entire COM
placency to consider whether the last
Legislature sat a few days two long.
or did right TO create the offices which
Governor Hayes recommended, or to
allow counties and cities and towns to
tax themselves
If it be true that the session Of this
Legislature cost more than the last, it
was because the last Republican Leg
islature increased the per diem of the
members. And if the Legislature un-
wisely created some offices which the
Governor recommended, tits also true
that they refused to pass an expensive
and odious registry law, which he
twice urged upon their favorable at
tention.
The scheme of reconstruction of this
Administration, its action toward Vir-
ginia, its administration of foreign
affairs, its neglect of American citi-
zens who have been imprisoned or
murdered in Ireland or Cuba, its utter
shamelessness in selling high Offices,
its utter want of appreciation of its
grave duties and responsibilities, all
these are tempting subjects of discus
sion, but l refrain at this time.
will discuss Federal politics SO far
only as they directly affect the people
of our own state.
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
oppose the adoption of the Fif-
teenth Constitutional Amendment, be-
cause it is a material radical change
in our system of government; 4; because
it destroys the relation of the states to
the Federal Union, which the Consti-
tuition established, and degrades them ;
because it takes away from the states
without their consent that essential at
tribute of a self-governing commu-
nifty; the right to determine who shall
exercise the right Of suffrage.
1 object to its adoption, because it
was intended to, and it will, introduce
negro suffrage in Ohio against the
will of her people. Two years ago
the people of Ohio, without distinc-
ton of party, by al immense majori-
ty, refused to amend the state consti-
tuition. They did this after full argu-
ment-after full consideration of ne
gro suffrage. l see no reason to be-
lieve they have changed their opinion.
Yet now the attempt is to be made to
force them to submit to the system
which they SO emphatically and delib-
erately rejected. The Convention
which nominated General Grant de-
clared, as part of its creed: "The
question of suffrage in all the loyal
states properly belongs to the people OF
those states" And yet in one short
year the test of loyalty and patriot
ism, by this same party, is to deny to
the states the regulation of the suf-
frage.
L object to its adoption, because by
the strongest implication it confers
upon Congress, and reserves to the
states the right to exclude from the
ballot persons of our own white race
because Of their nativity or theil
creed, or their want of education, OIL
their poverty, and prohibits the ex-
clusion only of another race. And
thus, if the Interpretation of Senator
Morton and Senator Howard be cor.
rect, under this amendment Of Con,
gress the states may exclude an Irish
man, or German, or Catholic, or 6
Protestant, or poor man, from the
enjoyment of the suffrage, but may
not exclude the Negro or the Mongo,
lian.