The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-10-07

three other states nave very fecenIl!
voted down the proposition.
Now, my fellow citizens, it is fun
damental principle of republican gov
ernment that the representative, in all
his representative acts, must have
reference to the viii of his constitu-
ents when he knows what that will is.
If you do not stand up for that prin-
ciple the whole idea of democracy is
goHe-it is the completest shadow on
earth. Now, how could a representa-
tive from this State, having reference
to that great republican principle, af-
ter the people of the State of Ohio
have voted down by a majority Of fifty
MISUNDERSTANDING that they would
not lrave negro suffrage for that
amendment? How could a member
from tile State of Michigan vote to
impose on the whole country an
amendment to the Constitution of the
State of Michigan said they would
not have it-said it, too, after their
representatives had been elected to
office, and before an opportunity for
a new expression could be afforded?
My fellow-citizens, 1 don't know
what you think of such conduct as
that on the part of a representative. l
say to you, it undermines at once every
idea on which a Democratic Govern
ment is based, and, therefore, it is,
say, that the members of that Con-
gress committed fraud upon every
constituent, and every man of the
country, in voting to impose negro
suffrage upon those States in the face
and eyes of the direct vote of those
States against having negro suffrage.
[Applause.l But what next, my fel-
low-citizens? When that resoluti on
was pending in Congress it was moved
there to refer it to conventions in the
States for ratification, according to
one Of the modes of ratification pro-
vided in the Constitution of the Unit
ed States. What did this Congress
do? Voted it down at once; giving
itno opportunity to come before the
people directly. What next? 1t must
be sent Immediately to the different
States for ratification. The Legisla-
lures elected without reference to any
such question as that, who were known
to be generally of the dominant party.
were asked to vote upon it, without
any reference to the wishes of their
constituents whether it should be or
not. In this, say, nothing but the
most outrageous disregard was had
for the will of the people of the Unit
ed States in reference to direct vote
upon this question. Therefore, 1 say
i it was It fraud upon tl1epeople of these
United States by their representatives
and fraud was committed by every
Legislature that went to work and
acted upon it.
But, my fellow citizens, in and O
itself, what is it? Why, naked and
undisguised, it ties your hands in the
State of Ohio, and tells you you must
swallow negro suffrage, no matter how
adverse to it the people of Ohio may
be. Her Representatives in Congress
have undertaken to tie her hand an6
foot, and her Representative in the
Legislature have undertaken to tie hel
hand and foot, and impose this amend
ment upon her.
My fellow-citizens, I say to you
without going into the general ques
ton of negro suffrage, that this is al
effort to enforce an amendment to tn,
Constitution of the United States
changing the fundamental law of ou
government by force and fraud, wheI
all such amendments should be tht
) free and unrestrained conviction of tn,
American people.
What next? They have provided
in another act that Virginia and Texas
and Mississippi shall not come into
the Union at all until they adopt thi.
amendment to the Constitution of tn,
United States. Virginia, the OLE
mother of Presidents, is told that sh
must either stay out of the Union o
our fathers or vote negro suffrage up
, on the people. That is one way t,
adopt an amendment. What next, IN,
friends? And worse than all in IN,
opinion? 1t is the second section
which provides that Congress may, b,
suitable legislation, carry this provi
sion into effect. Heretofore our elec
, tions have been under the control o
States, and under the authority o
townships and wards. Upon TIL
slightest pretext that any State vii
neglect to enforce it, Congress has tn
f power to carry this provision into ef
f feet, and, instead of townships, trust
f iees and ward officers, who are elected
responsible to the people directly
: Congressswould bring round the poll
: in the State of Ohio or any othe
: State that sees fit to interfere, it ma
bring your Federal army and at tn
t point of the bayonet control you
: elections, under the pretence of carry
/ ing into effect this amendment, givin
t Negroes, Pig-Tails and Indians til
t. ballot [applause,] because it is no
o confined to negroes-oh, no! it is
every citizen of the United States.-
: Of conrse every negro born here
S within the category.
: They are talking great deal abou
o cheap labor Cheap labor, they sa.
Il is what is wanted. China can los
0 100,000,000 and hardly know that any
Il body is gone. A man can bring thel
S over for about two dollars head, an
o he can hire them out at four dollars
h month; and it is said they max
il skilled laborers and docile laborert
:, Well now, my fellow-citizens, VIII,
1t do you think of this, of the idea ,
l. bringing these docile pig-tails frol