Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-09-14
ADDRESS
To the Republican Voters of Ohio
Comfy,


Senate. The time for selecting your candi-
dates for these positions is drawing near, and
this fact is the only apology we deem it me-
cessary to offer for yenturing, at this time, to
call your attention to some considerations con-
nected with the canvass that we regard OF
more than ordinary Importance.
You have all so far observed the signs of
the times to be well aware that decided
change has been, aud is now, going on in
public opinion all over the country, in respect
to the permanent disfranchisemento of the great
mass of those who stand implicated in the re-
bellion. You have seen the Government has
granted them general amnesty add, following
its example, that such States as Missouri and
Tennessee, which were not long ago more
extreme than our own, have greatly relaxed
the rigor OF their test oaths and materially
enlarged the scope of their elective franchise.
1t is we'll understood that the administers
ton at Washington and the leading minds
generally of the Republican party in all the
departments of the Government, favor and
seek to promote this liberalized policy on the
part of the States 1t is also as near certain
as anything in the future can be, that the day
I of complete enfrsnchisement for all men,
white and black is close at hand. This is the
manifest tendency of the times and very soon
we must all accept the fact, willingly or other
wise.
The next session of Congress will most
| likely see all the States once more restored to
their places in the Union, with representatives
| in both branches, and there is scarcely doubt
of the ratification of the 18th amendment to
the Federal Constitution, which amendment
forbids all political Determinations in any of
the States on account of race or color.
This being the situation throughout the
| country does it not become us in Justice to
our own ideas and sympathies, to adopt party
! policy in harmony with this prevailing ten
! dency of the times, if we desire and expect
to maintain the ascendancy of the political
organization to which we belong2
We believe that the test oaths that were
adopted in this State during, and at the close
of the war, were, in the main. necessary, if
not absolutely indispensable. They protected
the weak and exposed counties against the
prescription and aggression that must have
| followed return of the disloyal element to
| power and influence And, in addition, they
have served we'll throughout the whole State,
as part of the great moral lesson taught by
the war But, while all this, and more. is
true, yet it is also true that under the protec
ton thus afforded to loyalty, abuses of power,
to some extent, have grown up But this is
not the place, nor time, to particularize
| instances, even were it certainly known to
what extent power has really been abused in
some of the counties in the matter of regis
tration. The abuse of power is as old as the
human race and is generally to be expected
under favoring circumstances. And while we
do not forget the responsibility of the rebellion
| itself for these abuses, both in the way Of
precept and example, nor ignore the provo
cations that have tended to excite passionate
executions of the law, yet VIC cannot on that
account lose sight of the great truth that the
just province of all law is the protection of
| society and not the punishment of the offender
| And, therefore, no rigor, or sembance of per-
secution, is excusable after the public safety
is reasonably assured. And as regards the
safety of our loyal people at this time, even
in the most exposed counties, our information
impresses us with belief that we can afford to
inaugurate the necessary steps for discontinue
ing everything known as war legislation.
On this point we wish to be distinctly under
stood, as follows We do not advocate an
instant abrogation of the DISTINGUISHING clause
in our Constitution, for that is impossible. but
We do favor prompt steps by our next Legis-
laturo towards putting it in process of repeal
"a process, by the way, that will consume
upwards of two years from next winter
And, in tho meantime, we shall hope to see
the next Legislature take early opportunity
upon Lawyers, Suitors, and School Teachers.
These oaths have had their day, and, what
ever their service in the past, their future
advantage to the State may well be doubted.
And as for the voters oatii, we presume by
the time it can be legally dispensed with under
the repeal process alluded to, there will be few
disinterested citizens in our midst, however
bitter their remembrances OF the war, who
will really regret its dscontinuance. And
finally, as regards the present registry law.
while expressing our earnest attachment to
the plan of guarding the purity of the ballot
box by n registration of all the qualified voters
of the State, still we shall receive with salts
faction at the hands of the Legislature such
a modification of existing features will,
among other things, provide for the election
of the officers of registration by the people,
instead of their appointment by the State
Executive, and in such manner, also, as will
secure the minority one representative in
every county Board. believing that these
changes will secure the best guaranty for an
impartial execution of the law.
We believe that gradually liberalized pol
icy like this is not only just and right of itself,
but in keeping with the grand record of pa
triotism and craftsmanship made by the Re-
publican party throughout contest unparal-
leled for its extent and bitterness. History
relates no more enviable achievements than
those of this great party which, coming into
life to prevent the republic from being con-
verted into slave empire, has come out of
long and successful war true to its first inspi
rations in favor of justice and humanity to-
wards all classes of men. We believe that in
consistency with this record of our party at
large throughout the country, and as a matter
of expediency among ourselves, that we cannot
afford to keep large body of our fellow citi-
perPetualIy disfranehised, and thereby
rarDa.u,IIv dis n fFected OStrociSTn within the