Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-07-02

are now ready to eo-Operate with the
national Government in bringing 1t
| again in relations to the Union as it
/ ought as soon as possible to give to all
| its people those equal rights under the
law which were asserted in the Declar-
/ alton of independence in the words of
/ one of the most illustrous of its sons. "
The message of the President was re-
/ ferred in the House of Representatives,
/ to the committee on Reconstruction.
That committee the next day reported
1 a bill for the reconstruction of Virgin
i ia and also of Mississippi and Texas.
/ The character of the bill sufficiently
/ appears by the first two sections rela-
/ ting to Virginia:
Be It eHdcted bly the Senate and House
/ Of Representatives. Of tie United States Of
/ -AmeTtcd i7l Congress assembled, That
/ the President of the United States, at
| such time as he may deem best for the
] public interest, may submit the con-
stitution which was framed by the
1 convention which met in Richmond,
/ Virginia, on Tuesday, the Sd day Of
| December, 1867, to the registered voters
/ of said State, for ratification or rejec-
/ ton; and may also submit to sepa-
/ rate vote such provisions of said con-
/ stitution as he may deem best
SEC. 2. AstCE be It further enacted, That
| at the same election the voters of said
| State may vote for and elect members
/ of the General Assembly of said State
/ ana all G40 OIlCeFS OF Sdlu oBdG6 pro-
/ Vided for by the said constitution, and
1 for members of Congress; and the Off
/ Ger commanding the district of Virgin
I ia shall cause the lists of registered
/ voters of the State to be revised and
: corrected prior to such election, and for
that purpose may appoint such reg
istrars as he may deem necessary. And
! said election shall be held and returns
] thereof made IN the manner provided
! by the election ordinance adopted by
EssaH.F 3
stitution."
1t will be seen that by this bill the
people of Virginia were to proceed in
| the work of reconstruction at such
4 time as the President may deem best,
/ and that such reconstruction in all its
parts was to be on the basis of equal
1 political rights. The Constitution to
- submitted was framed bya Conven-
| ton in the election of which cOlOred
| citizens participated, and of which
| colored men were members. The F'reg-
/ istered voters" who are to vote on its
ratification or rejection, and also for
members of the General AssmembIy,
| for State officers and members of Con-
/ gress, include the colOred men of Vir-
! ginia and ifthe Constitution is adopt
/ ed, it secures to them equal political
rights in that State. The remaining
/ sections of the bill provide for the re-
construction of Mississippi and Texas
on the same principles, and left the
time end manner to the discretion of
the President
This bill was reported to the House
of Representatives. and unanimously
agreed upon by a committee, of which
four members were Democrats. The
most distinguished Democratic Repre-
sentatives of the States of New York
and Pennsylvania advocated its pas
sage. Out of about seventy Democrat
ic members ofthe House, only twenty
= Il NwTN NNuv
ocratic members from Ohio who voted
on the passage of the bill, voted for it.
It thus appears that upon the recon-
mendation of General Grant even the
Democratic party of Ohio, by their rep
resentatives in Congress voted for
equal political rights in Virginia, Mis-
sissippi and Texas And to-day the
great body of the people ofthose States
Democrats and Conservatives as well
Republicans, have yielded assent to
facts I submit that I am fully warrants
ed in saying that Gen. Grant has begun
the work of reconstruction in a mas
terly way and with marked success.
Again thanking you for the honor
you have done me, I repeat, in cOnclu-
sion, what said two years ago. The
people represented in this Convention
mean that the State of Ohio in the great
progress SWhose leading object is TO
elevate the condition of men, to lift
artificial weights from all shoulders, to
clear the paths of laudable pursuits for
ali, and to afford all an unfettered start
and fair chance in the race of life,
shall tread no more steps backward.
1 shall enter upon my part of the Ia
bOrs of the canvass believing that the
Union Republican Party is Battling for
the right, and with undoubting con
fidence that the goodness of the cause
will supply the weakness of its adVO-
Gates, and command in the result that
triumphant success which it deserves.
At the conclusion of the Governors
addres, the resolutions were adopted
unanimously
| On motion, the Convention adjourn
| ed.