The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-09-28

tanned when we know that the Supreme
Court is only waiting an opportunity to
declare the reconstruction acts unconsti-
tutional
can not say that the harmony of oul
Federal system is maintained when Fed
eral power is brought to bear, with al
its force Of law and of arms; to compe
the States to change their constitution;
and the Constitution Of the Federal Gov
ernment.
l can not say that the people are no
burdened, when debt of $780, ,0O0,0 ,0O(
| is piled upon their shoulders and thi:
immense amount is increased six hun
dred millions by resolution Of Con
gress "to improve the public credit"
/ can not say their burdens are light
when S43O,0O0,00O are annually draw
from the products Of active labor, ant
nothing from deac capital.
can not say that taxation is equa
when bonds are exempted and labor il
crushed beneath its exactions. cal
not say that economy and honesty mari
the disbursement of the revenue, wtel
the Secretary f-the Treasury pays ont
hundred and twenty dollars for bono
which he may redeem for one hundred
dollars, and when the Commissioner %
Internal Revenue wishes, above al
things, that he may send Supervisor tt
the Penitentiary.
can not say that all is prosperous
when agricultural products are so low
and employment so scarce, and wages 81
reduced, and interest on money so high
and good, honest, honorable men in ev
cry branch of commercial, and mercan
tile and mechanical industry are on the
very verge of hopeless bankruptcy. An(
because can not say all these things,
cannot turn from them with such entir'
complacency to consider whether th'
last Legislature sat a few days too long
or did right to create the offices whicl
Gov. Hayes recommended, or to ALLOW
counties, and cities, and towns to ia,
themselves.
If it be true that the session Of thi
Legislature cost more than the last, i
was because the last Republican Legisla
ture increased the per diem of the mem
5ers. And if the Legislature unwisel.
created some offices which the Governo
recommended, it is also true that the,
refused to pass an expensive and odiou
registry law, which he twice urged upol
their favorable attention.
The scheme of reconstruction of thi
administration, its action toward Viz
ginia, its administration Of foreign at
fairs, its neglect of American citizen
who have been imprisoned in Ireland o
Cuba, its utter shamelessness in sellin!
high offices, its utter want of apprecia
tion of its grave duties and responsible
ties, all these are tempting subjects o
discussion, but | refrain at this time.
| will discuss Federal politics 80 ia
only as they directly affect the people o
our own State.
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
l Ioppose the adoption of the Fifteent
Constitutional Amendment because it
material radical change in our syster
of government; because it destroys tn
relation of the States to the Federal Un
ion, which the Constitution established
and degrades them; because it take
away from the States without their con
sent that essential attribute of self-gov
erning community: the right to deter
mine who shall exercise the right of sui
frage. object to its adoption becaus
it was intended to, and it will, introduc
negro suffrage in Ohio against the vii
of her people. Two years ago, the pee
pie of Ohio, without distinction of party
by an immense majority, refused t.
amend the State Constitution. The
did this after full argument-after fu
consideration of negro suffrage. Sc
no reason to believe they have change
their opinion. Yet, now the attempt
to be made to force them to submit t
the system, which they so emphaticall
and deliberately rejected. The Conver
ton which nominated Gen. Grant dt
clared. as part of its creed: "The ques
ton of suffrage in all the loyal State
properly belongs to the people of thos
States" And yet in one short year th
test of 10y yalty and patriotism, by thi
same party, is to deny to the States th
regulation of the suffrage. l object t
its adoption, because by the stronge:
implication it confers upon Congress,an
reserves to the States the right to e,
clude from the ballot persons of our ow
whita race because OF their nativity c
their creed, or their want Of education
or their poverty, ,and prohibits the exclr
sion only of another race. And thus,
the Interpretation of Senator Morto
and Senator Howard be correct, unde
this amendment Of Congress, the State
NAV exclude an Irishman, or 4 German
or a Catholic, or q Protestant, or poe
man, from the enjoyment of the suffrag
but may not exclude the Negro or tt
Mongolian.
CHINESE IMPORTATION.
l object to its adoption, because it
part and parcel of scheme to flood tt
country with forced Importation of a
/ immense number of Chinese-of cooli'
, and thus for second time bring ini
cur midst an alien race, and to repeat
a more difficult form the social and go
r ernmental questions which have so III
happily divided our people.
The opening of the Pacific Railroa
t the demand for labor at the South, tt
2 desire for nimbler hands and less vor
cious appetites in the factories, hay
= turned the attention of spectators
the teeming populations Of the East
They find these warm and fertile cou
| tries densely crowded with patient, d
: GRADED and heather race,
; There skilled laborers get three (
; four dollars per month, and with tn
e they seem content. They work fro
/ daylight to sunset, and have but sing
: holiday in the year. Their food consis
s of rice, salt, few vegetables and som
t times fish" The plan proposed is
bring immense numbers of these poop
r here to supply the demand for labor
e the fields and the factories and the shop
if We in Ohio have not appreciated I'll
e Importance of this movement.
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