The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-07-28
State Rights.

State Rights. -
The eighth resolution adopted by
the 7th of July Democratic Conven-
tion reads, as follows :
"Resolred, That it is the right;o OF
each State TO decide for itself who shall
possess the elective franchise within
it that by the attempt to regulate suf-
frage in Ohio, by the means of the So
called 18th constitutional amendment,
is subversiye of the principles of the
Federal Constitution"
The Republican leaders in this, and
other States, are engaged in a crusade
of self abasement and are making
frantic efforts to convince themselves,
and the people, that Ohio is a mere
appendage-a sort of school district,
in the great American domain of the
"Imperial Ulysses" They hold that
the logical result of the late unfrlend-
" contest between the North and
South, is the complete overthrow, Of
what they are pleased to call, estate
Sovereignty" and that the question
of estate Rights," is forever disposed
of; and that we now have n CONSOLE
dated national government.
1t will follow therefore, that ANY
rights which the State may hereafter
possess will be pure concessions on the
part of our "Imperial masters" who
reside in the Federal Capitol; We
conclude hence, that it is by the grace
of "Ulysses and his satraps," that
Ohio is permitted to have a Governor
a General Assembly, and other State
officers, whose duty it is, to make and
enforce our laws!
The leadisg Republican papers of
this State, congratulate their readers
on this happy condition of public at
fairs, and hope that the hydraheaded
monster estate Rights will eve be
tolerated again in this "imperial land'
of ours
A leading Republican journal in
this State takes it for granted, that,
since we HAYES United States Supreme
Court, holding jurisdiction over the
Revenue laws in the States-over
State intercourse and State reciprocity,
that it follows, that all State laws, as
such, are subordinate to the laws Of
the General Government, and hence,
that the States have ns rigftsA63ltsiae
of the Federal Courtsi This Is n SIN
gular construction of the Federal con-
stitutiop, and worthy those who are
lis advocates.
Upon this point, the ninth resolu
ton of our platform reads:
"ResoAed, That the policy and legis-
lation of the Radical party directly
tend to destroy all the reserved rights
of the States and convert the Republic
into a consolidated despotism. That, j
whether such despOtism be exercised
by an Emperor, n President, orr Con
gress, the result would be fatal toHb-
erty and good government. That con-
in this country means the
absolute dominion of monopoly andag-
gregate capital over the lives, the lib
and the property of the toiling
masses.
IF the late war was inaugurated to
wipe out the reserved rights of the
States, and nullify all laws not in VIC
lation of those reserved rights, then
the result of that war was pernicious
revolutionary and damnable +; AID it
Will be the duty of the "Imperial
Ulysses" to disband our State Courts,
dismiss our Governor, and force u
Assembly to cease to make
laws, that our people may enter the
new empire chained and hand foot
This will be the inevitable offspring of
that doctrine, and we are not sure,
but the military satraps and political
tools of the present administration are
intent upon bringing about this very
state of things. Who can doubt it
Calling hard names will accomplish
nothing. To talk about the r~esolu-
lions of 1898, as being infamous or
is no argument. The res
of '9S are the ''raw head and
bones" of the consolidationists,
with which they expect to brighten the
.imid and the loyal. These changes
have been rung until they have lost
heir appalling force, and are no long
er effective. The right of a State to
frame her own civil and criminal laws,
and to enforce them is not, and can
not be disputed by any honest and
thinking man.. The right to levy and
taxes is equally clear. The
of a State to regulate the election
laws, and to specify:who shall,exercise
the elective franchise, has never been