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

, like trained animals, and you obey
. lCheers.1 Can you say one day, d
, am opposed to negro suffrage" an,
the next day, aI am for it p, Their
is only one way IN which you can dis
enthraH yourselves from this dictatiol
at Washington, and that is by havin,
recourse to the ballot box s-'7t
There is another view of this ques
ton. / justify, with all my heart anc
mind, the action of the Democratic
members of the Legislature in resign
ing 70 prevent a; vote upon this ques
ton until the people could pass upor
it by new election 1t is certainly
right that the people should be heard
IN making or in changing their fun
damental law. Since the world began
fand governments were first organized
this doctrine has been the pulsatine
artery of the life: blood of liberty
against despotismH Jefferson said in
one of his immortal works that man
afraid to trust the people was tory
| by nature. I will not say these men
are tories by nature, but if Jefferson
were alive he would doubtless say that
they are by practice for they are afraid
to trust the people on this question.
The Irishman comes to this country
that he may have a voice in making
and changing the Constitution that
governs him. When he reaches this
boasted land of liberty, he finds him
self represented in the Legislature by
men who are unwilling to allow him
tovote upon such an important change
in the fundamental law as this.
The Democratic party say that this
is his right. The Radical party here
tonight deny him that right, and
propose to enforce over his reluctant
and protesting head this odious doc
trine of negro suffrage. 60
The German comes here from his
Fatherland, where he has been bowed
down under the yoke of oppression,
pining for the right to vote upon the
laws that govern him. When he ar
rives in this land of liberty and light,
he finds party that proposes asweep.
ing fundamental change in the laws
of the country, and dares not submit
the question to the people.
/ have told you why the Democrat
ic members of the Legislature resign
ed. l call upon the members from
this county also to resign and receive
instructions anew from the people at
the election that Governor Baker has
ordered upon the 23d of March. l
assert that if they do so they will not
receive six hundred votes in Vigo
County, upon such an issue as this,
and well they know it.
Ifell you, in my experience, and in
my reading of the history of political
parties, this is the blackest piece of
attempted fraud upon the people that
/ have ever known. Why do I say
so !? Let me 60 back little and ex
anime this question. This Republican
eWty out West here has gone along
with a limping, hating and reluctant
pace, in the rear of the Radicalism of
of the East, all the time protesting
that it was not for these N measures, but
still being dragged up to them. What
did you see last year3 / have here
the Republican platform, as laid down
upon the question of negro suffrage
at Indianapolis, and / now call upon
these men who propose to vote TO fast
en- it upon you without allowing you
to saw a.. word upon the subject, to
stand by it. (Mr. Voorhees, here
read the platform, declaring that suE
frage belonged to the people of the 10y
al States to decide. =
They said then they would leave it
to you, but now they say they will
not. The question is thrust upon you
by Federal dictation. When Con
gress promulgates its command, these
men at Indianapolis present such a
spectacle of servility as the sun has
never shone upon. 'r,sft Sc tsssz2N
This then was the voice of Republi-
csnism one year ago. One year ago
these men thought that the question
of negro suffrage in the loyal States
should be left to the people. I say SO
tonight. Where do you stand, my
Republican friens? You gave me
many of your votes last fall. I have
no idea you will ever vote with Rad
icalism again. I speak in all kind
ness to you tonight. Are you to be
driven in this way like cattle? Last
year your leaders were not in favor of
congressional interference with suf-
frage IN the States, but six months
have passed and they tell you they
will ratify negro suffrage without CIV
ing you any voice in the matter
What was the language of the Re
publican party at Chicago when they
met to nominate a candidate for the
Presidency. They said that the guar
antee of equal suffrage; to all loyal
men of the South was demanded by
every consideration of safety and graf
itude, and must be maintained. But
they did not indorse negro sugrage at
the North. They had not yet reach
ed that point. They said it was good
enough for the rebels, and TO make
their meaning plain they inserted the
following clause: "While the ques-
ton of suffrage in all the loyal States
properly belongs to the people of
those States" This was their plat
from last year, but now 1t is entirely
changed, and the Indiana Legislature,
not elected upon this issue, but upon
one entirely different, propose to force
this measure upon You without any
reference 10 your will at all.
ln We say again to the Representatives
Of Vige County, "oome home. You
were elscbed upon another platform
and you know il. Come home. !
should like to zee Yen at the ballot-hoxi
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