The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-03-04

Tested at tie polls.
But now we have General Grant FOL
President. 1t is claimed that General
Grant is in favor of negro suffrage. L ad
NIT it. Here wish to be distinctly I'M
derstood. And will read from Genera
c rants inaugural address. And quote
him as my authority for my action, anC
{ the position that / take.
1.-The question of negro suffrage is one
that is likely TO agitate the public SO Ions
as a portion of the citizens of the Nation
are excluded from its privileges in any
STATE. 1t seems TO me very desirable that
this question should be settled now.
entertain, the hope, and express the de-
sire, that it may be by the ratification OF
the Fifteenth Article of Amendment to
the Constitution"
General Grant has expressed desire
In other words, he has indicated a policy
that is all proper and right. Let me read
again from the inaugural: 81 shall, on
all subjects, have policy to recommend,
but none to enforce against the rU of the
people," [Cheers.1 l take General Grant
as my leader. He is in favor of negro
suffrage, but am opposed 10 ii. But he
saws he will ALWAYS be ready to recon-
mend a policy, but never advocate or en-
force it against the WW of the people.
Now let us look at this matter little.
L occupy peculiar position. Mine is a
peculiar situation. | have been two
months in this Radical Legislature, but
have found none but Democrats willing
to lock arms with me in support of the
rights of the people.
Why are the Radicals proposing to pass
this Constitutional Amendment now?
have heard number of them say-and
can point out some of them in this house
tO-night-whO have said that if it is not
passed now it never can be passed i'll In
diana. This is the reason, then, why they
s,l.~ i -
pass it and go back to the people, and
then with their twenty thousand negroes
added to their voting strength, they hope
to be able to maintain themselves and be
sustained in their act.
Now Mr.. President, / shall not de-
tain You much longer (cries of ''gO on
| "gO On") / know that L occupy a singular
position. l do not know that am stand
ing with any political party. But do
know that / am child of the people, and
if they do not see proper to take n up
and sustain me, God knows that / can
stand it. [Applause.l Sir, 1 have come
here with honesty of purpose.
/ know that there are other men here
who want to speak tonight. And SO far
as the people of Indiana have any stock
in me, will say to the country here that
they know where l stand.
L would not have you think, my DEM
ocratic friends, that L have fOrsaken my
lOng-loved Republican principles. l am
| no Radical, and i say to you, members of
the House who have resigned, that L
hope and trust you will all be returned /;
and that together, we may be able to put
off this thing to the next general cleo
ton, and then / will march with you to
the field, and we will do all we can to de-
feat it. [Cheers,l
Hon. S. III. Buskirk, on behalf the
Committee on Resolutions, then made
the following report:
| WHEREAS, the right of the States,
each for itself to regulate the elective
! franchise, is one of the reserved rights
under the Federal Constitution, and is
one of the fundamental principles upon
which our Federal Union was formed !;
| and
WHEREAS, the people of Indiana with
out distinction of party, have regarded
this sacred right as essential to our Sc
curity against usurpations OF power on
the part of the Federal Government; ;
and
WHEREAS, it is now proposed by the
adoption of the Fifteenth propOsedamend
ment to the constitution to surrender
that power to the Federal Government
without consulting the people upon the
subject and without having the question
passed upon in any popular election;
| therefore
| ResOlUed, That the action of the Demo-
cratic Senators and Representatives of
the present General Assembly, in de-
Ginning to act upon the ratification OF said
amendment until the popular voice Ofthe
State could be heard upon the question,
meets with our hearty appreciation.
| ResOtoed, That by resigning their seats
and taking their appeal to the people
from the hasty action Ofan INSCRIPTIONS
majority, who hold their seats by having
studiously ignored question they are
now trying TO force upon the people of
the State, they have shown themselves
faithful servants and honest representa-
tives of the popular will, and are entitled
to the hearty support and confidence of
| their constituencies.
ResOlUed, That the bold and wicked at
| tempt of the (RadicaD Republican MEM
| bers of the General Assembly of Indiana
to ratify the Fifteenth amendment of the
| Constitution of the United States, con-
| farring the right of suffrage upon the ne
gro without first submitting the question
to vote of the electors of the State, is
| only egualled in perfidy by the stupen-
dOus fraud the leaders of that party per-
petrated upon the people during the cam
paign of 1868, by not only ignoring the
issue of negro suffrage altogether. but by
solemn asseverations of opposition to the
measure.
ResOIped, That this frequent ignoring
of unpopular political measures during
the canvass and before the people, and af-
| ter the election making Them leading
questions in the halls of Congress and in
| State Legislatures are among the many
! fraudulent and dishOnOrable means large
| ly practiced by the INSCRIPTIONS leaders
of the Republican party to obtain and
perpetuate their power in the State and
national government.
ResolUed, That we are now as ever, OPP
posed to all attempts to establish in Indi-
ana the political and social equality of
+, the negro with the white race, and we
believe the introduction of the negro ele-
ment into our political system would re-
suit in discOrd, anarchy, and war of
races, and that our only true line of pol
icy as a measure of safety to both races, is
to retain the political power solely i'll the
hands of the white race.
RESOLVED, That it has never been our
policy, as a State, to encourage the intro
duction and settlement of negroes within
our borders, and that we deem their eX-
clusiOn-sO far as the State has power TO
80 exclude them-as essential to the well
fare of our white labOrerS, with whom
they must necessarily come in cOmpeti-
ton.
Ifesolved, That we call upon the people
in every county in the State to cail pub
lie meetings and express their views and
opinions upon tho great issue of negro
suffrage, and thereby aid and assist in
electing their Senators and Representa-
tives who have resigned and appealed to
the people; and we especially urge the
people in the Senatorial and Representa-
tive Districts in which special elections
are soon to take place, to rally around
those who have appealed to them, and
re-elect them with increased majOrities
Resolped, That we cordially and earn
estly invoke the aid and assistance of the
, people of Indiana, without distinction OF
party, upon this great issue, and assist
us in preserving the supremacy of the
white race and the purity of the ballot
box.
On motion, the resolutions were unani
mously adopted with great enthusiasm.
Hon. Jno. II. Cof'roth, III obedience t.
} the call Of the meeting, came forward anc
said:
FELLOW CITIZENS: | did not come on
f to address you tonight, but simply Il
announpe that the distinguished Senato
4 ! from Observation-Disclosures.