Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-01-27
Co1uMpus, o., Jan. %, 1870

eral sentiments or progressive ideas.
"w."
Columns, o., Jan, %, 1870.
EDtroRs HERALD;
The event Of the week has been the
passage of the Resolution ratiiying the
Fifteenth Amendment. The Resolution
came into the House from tho Senate
(whore it had passed by vote Of 10 for
to l8 against it, on Tuesday, when the
skirmshing Immediately began. Tho
Democratic side insisted on referring it to
the COMMITTEES on Federal relations which
WAS controlled by Democrats, and the Re
publicans insisting on its reference to the
Committee of the whole House, with a
view TO its discussion and speedy disposi-
ton And it was by close (and
what was supposed to be test voto) re-
lerred to the Committee of the whole House
with instructions to report it back on
Thursday at 3 o'clock T. M. 1t was agreed
among the Republicans that the Democrat
10 members should have all the time i'll
they wanted it to discuss the question: -
Aud such discussion, ! venture to say
never was before heard in any similar
body. All the Democratic speeches of last
fall were repeated, including "bloatod
bondholders, /" taxing bonds, "ropudia.
tion," DC. One eloquent young apostle
Of Democracy emulated Billy Mungen by
rounding one of his periods with the fero-
cious utterance that he would welcome the
"sun of liquidation" whenever it should
appear in the political horizon, with the
exultant exclamation "Hail holy light, of
spring of Heavens first born" What lit
tie was said in opposition to the Amend.
ment was tame and strained. The old cry
was, you know, "save us from negro equal
ity," and their motto conspiouously para
ded at their public gatherings, "white bus
bands or none" But they determined upon
n change of base; "ohange has evident
ly come over the spirit Of their dreams"
Negro equality has lost it's ghastly horrors,
and the word "white," by kind of eom-
mon consent, has been stricken from their
favorite motto,
The argument that seemed to be agreed
upon by the opposition was the pretense
that the Amendment destroyed the indi
viduality of the States and created cen
tralized despotism in the general govern
mont; proposition so absurd that its
statement is its own refutatiou, for Ger.
tainly il would be difficult to demonstrate
that the guaranty ofcertain rights to por-
tion of the people and an Inhibition against
their deprivation could tend to the eentra-
lization of power anywhere except in the
hands Of the people But | did not and
do not intend to state or review tho argu-
inents pro aad con. believe the people
will be glad that this vexed question is ut
last setlled, and will eeasO to agitate the
no longer constitute dis
surbing element in politlcs or occupy val
liable time OF public servants that can
nuch more proftably be devoted to the
of the material and moneta-
~ interests of the people--the wants and
demands Of agriculture, commerce and
retrenchment OF public ex-
and the reduction Of the bur.
lens Of taxation. For, until this quesJion
was thus settled upon principles of jus
lice it would Of necessity bo continually
demanding public attention l defeated,
as experience has shown--lile every other
demand for equal and even handed justice
% all peops--it could not remain smoth
red, but like Benquo'a ghost, would rise
Up again aud again, confronting It's oppo-
ers aud demanding that right should be
lone
When the time for taking the VOC ar
lived, the Democracy began disgraoeful
course of ftillibustering and threatened vi
,leuco and queer things" generally. But
a spite oftheir noise and threats, the res.
Iutiou was quietly aud steadily preased
o vote about o'clock Thursday night
10 recess had taken place for supper. The
members were hungry and excited The
Hall was crowded TO It's utmost and both
galleries were packed Butall had become
quiet when the vote commenced
md continued 90 until the result was an
bounced, Naea cheers from one side and
groans FROM the other were largely INDUCED
ia inspile Of the oGlrts Of the Speaker to
preserve order, The vote stood 81 for and
IS against the Amendment, Every Re
publican member, including Bates, Hill,
Kline, Smith and Cunningham, Of the
Hamilton County delegation, voted for il,
and every Democratic member including
Hambletou OF Hamilton County, against .
it.
And a. au evidence that the African is
an sppreeiatiyo people, il is a part Of the
current ngws here that at the time Of The
passage Of the Amendment = revival was