The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-03-24

occupy tonight, in regard to therigHt
of the people to vote upon this ques
ton. I thought then that the issu'
i would come, but I did not think /
would come so soon. i - ''.-.-
If there is any Republican within
reach of my voice. who win say tina
by his vote he was instructing his can
didates to ratify Constitutions
Amendment imposing negro suffrage
upon US, / would thank him to speal
out and say so. Was there such 6
vote cast IN Indiana? On the con
trary, your platform bound you tc
submit this question to the people.
Let me tell you this, that as long
at the men live who are endeavorine
to do this thing they viii be pointed
as as persons who were elected upon g
platform proposing to submit the
question of negro suffrage to a pop.
ular vote, and then cheated the people
of their right by a fraudulent pretense,
and in opposition to their we'll known
wishes. t~ sfa g.
These are the men who pretend they
do not know how this question stands
who pretend that they are represen-
ting the people of Vigo County; who
pretend that they are not violating
their faith, or misrepresenting the
people. Why do they not resign and
come before their constituents and
have their conduct justified. What is
SO fair, what is altogether so lovely in
politics as fearless politician, who
comes face to face with the people,
and says i am here to resign, if you
desire It. I am here to give you my
arguments, and submit to your Judge
ment"
Our fathers, in the midst of the
flames of the Revolution, when the
roar of the cannon came in revcrber-
ating thunder, said that all just pow
ers of the Government were derived
from the consent of the governed.
Your Government and your liberty
are bound UP in that immortal max
i'm. When a. government exercises
powers not derived from the people it
becomes despntism. So our fathers
thought when they revolted from King
George. In the Declaration of-In-
he was indicted, among
other things, for making and enforc-
ing laws against the will of his peo-
pie.
The same indictment lies against
Congress and the Legislature of India
ma, in behalf of this people. These
men shrink back abashed before this
test of Democracy and free govern
ment. 1t is true, a question may
sometimes arise in the course of bus;-
ness to which the attention of the peo.
pie has never been directly called.
But what / am speaking of tonight is
a change in the fundamental law
which is to be permanent. Ordinary
acts of legislation, if they contain er-
rors, can be corrected after a brief
period, but once engrafta doctrine up
on Constitution, and there it stands
The are questions beyond the power
of the people, and in many, cases be-
yond the power of revolution itself.
When the fundamental law of the
State is sought to be radically changed
from the time-honored policy of your
fathers, CT anged from the Constitution
of 1851. and the change is not to be
ratified by the people, it is time for
the people to make their voice heard,
and heard in thunder tones.
When this menstrous proposition
was introduced into Congress, Gov
ernor Boutwell,, now the high tariff
Secretary of the Treasury, and one Of
the appointees of General Grant, then
the Chairman of the Committee upon
Reconstruction, introduced the reso-
luton on the floor of the House, and
audaciously declared it must be pass
ed through Congress. so as to submit
it to the Legislatures already elected.
Oliver P. Morton, to whose abilities /
do full Justice, and who is very able,
if not the ablest man upon the Repub-
lican side in the Senate, said, in bis
place, that the measure must be hur-
ried up and got before the present
of Indiana, for fear of as
cidents hereafter. Both Of these men
fear the people, and both of them
come under Jeferson's definition of a
tory.
But it is said an unnecessary expense
is incurred by this extra election.
Why did not Governor Baker set the
time for it upon the first Monday in
April, when there is general cleo
tions It was because he knew the
question would produce universal ag-
itation. It will not be in your power
upon the 2sth of March to say to your
Senator and Representatives that you
wish them to resign Nor can you do
this in April, for there will be no
question of the kind before you. You
are then efectually .disfranchised, SO,
far as this matter is concerned The.
little expense to be incurred in this
case is but a slight thing in the minds
ofrthe. people compared with the right
Of self government. ssis 9aG gaE1a5
J sI'hase not been aarguing the alb
stract prineiplesof negro suffrage. Up.
on that your minds and my own are
already made up. The Republican
platforms themselves affirm the right
Of the people to vote upon that funda-
mental question. This is the glorious
declaration ofthose Democrats who re-
signed their seats with selfsacrifcing
patriotism to give their constituents
An opportunity to express their feel
ngs upon subject of such geperalin-
terest-
. But let us show how comprehensive
The amendment Is, which these men
propose TO engraft upon the Constitu.
ion without consulting you. It is this:
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