The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-03-04

suffrage, ia all the loyal States, properly
belongs to the people Of those States"
The Democracy, in National Conven
ton at New York, upon the same subjec
the following:
amnesty for all past political offences
and the regulation Of the elective Jlaachis
an the States by their citizens"
So there was no issue as to right O
suffrage in so-called loyal States-thi
among the number. Republican speak
ers and papers, throughout the whole o
the last canvass, pointed the people t,
these parts of their platform as the full
expression of the views OF that part,
upon that subject.
The people confided in these Republi
can representations, and that party tri
umphed upon them.
Thus matters stood at the opening o
the present session of Congress; not only
had Congressman been elected, but Gov
ernors and State Legislators had beer
placed in power upon these doctrines ant
under these representations.
Therefore, the manufacturing ant
bonded interest of the east, seeing power
slipping from their grasp-that is, seeing
by the result of the late elections, that
although for the time being they were
successful, vet that White men were los
ing confidence in them and their schemes
that araite men were becoming FESTIVE un.
der the enormous burdens of taxation
now heaped upon them; they have in.
vented this new scheme of placing in the
hands of those whom they hope to con-
trojan ignorant, irresponsible and de-
PRAYED race-this glorious right to found
uphold and direct the government. And
they desire to do so by this amendment
to the Constitutions:
"Article 10. The right of citizens OF the
United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States, or by
any State, on account of race, color or pre-
vious condition of servitude."
"Section 2. Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate leg
islation."
If before the last election they intended
to fasten negro suffrage and negro equal
ity upon the people, and thus concealed
their intention, they were guilty of fraud
upon and treachery towards the people.
If they had no such intention, then it
is question which neither they nor the
Democracy had in view when voting
and being a matter of such vast import
ance, no less than permitting some six
hundred thousand persons to vote who
have not heretofore exercised that right,
it seems to us to be right and proper that
the voice of the people should be taken
upon the question. Even in England,
lately, when the question of the extern
sion of suffrage to persons not before eX-
ercising it, was agitated, the Queen pro-
rogued Parliament, and sent the men,
bers to the people to take their voice in
the matter by way of new election.
This was the action of a monarchical
should the same principle prevail i'll a
country in which it is said the voice OF
the people is as the voice of God. Then
let us consult that voice.
That consultation, SO far as it has been
made, is assuredly adverse to the position
now taken by those in authority. The
question of negro suffrage has, within the
last few years, been submitted TO the
people of Connecticut. Ohio, of Michigan,
of Wisconsin, and of Kansas, and in each
instance has been voted down. When
this proposed amendment was before
Congress, the other day, an effort, upon
the part of Democrats, to again submit it
to the people, through delegated conven-
tions, chosen for that purpose, was voted
down by that body, and an effort, also
made. TO postpone action by Legislatures
until such Legislatures shall have been
elected in view of this question, was also
voted down by that body. In other words,
thew refused in any way to consult the
people on the subject. Leading Republi-
cans from Indiana, in caucus there, as
sured the friends of negro suffrage that
if it was ever adopted by Indiana, 1T
must be done without consulting the
people, and by Legislature elected with
out reference TO that question. More
than this, leading Republicans III this
State admit that great majority of the
people OF the State-the achite people-ara
against extending suffrage TO negroes,
as an original proposition; but they
argue among themselves that if it is now
adopted, by the expiration OF near TWO
nl Loot 1Ara
their senses will have become blnnied to
its enormity, Or at least that many Re
publicans who are opposed TO negro
voting Will then submit and connive to
act with their party rather than again
omen up the issue. And To effect this OBJ
iect they had forced through the House,
and was then pending III the Senate, an
act postponing all elections until October,
1870, at which time, if this negro suffrage
also have a voice. In other words, the
leaders desire to forestall the action of
the people and force them to their views.
We desire to consult the people, and not
only so, but obey their wishes when ex
pl essed fully and fairly. AS we by our
action have compelled the Republicans to
come out on this subject. the Indianapo-
lis Journal, the leading Republican paper
at Indianapolis, of the 5th inst, in Ia
nations and Of the question of suffrage,
contains this paragraph as the issue /:
democrats may defeat all business, at a
cost of $4,000, and keep defeating at
that price to the end of time, rather than
dIiolo qespectaJle negroes the same right
that as giOen TO ignorant, 6Ithy arhite men,
or uncOiOred beasts. rather"
This is in exact accord with the sem
timent avOwed by Ben. Wade, late acting
Vice President, and near kinsman Ofthe
present Vice President, delivered last
year in Cincinnati, in which he avowed
that negroes were better qualified and
entitled to vote than ignorant and besot-
ted foreigners, as termed by him.
We accept the issue in its full meaning,
and neither the journal or the other lead
ers of the Republican party, should be
permitted to dodge that issue, by talking
about respectable" negro voting or al
ignorant white, man voting. The effort
is by this Constitutional amendment, tC
place all upon an equality, that is, tt
give the ColOred man precisely the same
rights the whi.e man, whether re
spectacle or ignorant.
Nor should they be permitted to escape
this issue by any talk about an extri
session of the Legislature, having beer
made necessary by the failure, to pass th'
appropriation bills.
LET THE FACTS BE KNOWN.
The Committee of Ways and Means
Republican, failed to introduce these
! bills in the House-whether purpOsely o.
not " an not state-until a late day o
the r, -~'on. And upon appeals made b.
! leadi }emocratic members in open SEES
/ sion OF the House, and privately amon
members, they utterly and positively re
fused to pledge themselves to postpon
, the consideration of said negro votin
proposition even for two days, to enabl
the House to dispose OF necessary legisla
| ton
In proof of. this, see debate, as publish
ed in the indianapolis Journal Of Mare
| It'll, 1869, as follows:
"Also, message from the Governor
transmitting joint resolution of Coz
gress, with proposed Constitutions
amendment submitted by Congress To til
States, relative to universal suffrage.
Mr.. Coffroth moved to adjourn, and d'
manded the yeas and nays, which WI
taken, resulting ayes 80, nays 81.
Mr.. Buskirk moved to make the pr
posed constitutional amendment the sp
cial order for tomorrow at % ciOck r.
Mr.. Williams, of Knox, said that
hoped the motion would not prevail; tn
10, , GOOD 1aal of IauisIatinn Not m