The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-02-01
COLUMBUS CORRESPOND ENCE

COLUMBUS, OHIo. January 1e.
The Fifteenth Amendment..Lcg.
islatiye PrOgress-.The Reform
Farm, sc.
EDITORS SPIRIT:
Thursday, the 10th instant, was the
day set apart in the Senate for fina
action on the Fifteenth Amendment, ano
most of the day was devoted to its dis
cussion. The lobby was crowded will
the "visible admixtures" of both sexes
and as the arguments proceeded they
exhibited the most intense anxiety. l
was found that vote could not bt
reached at the time fixed upon, and the
time was extended until IL o'clock A
NJ, Friday, for the final vote. In The
evening number of Republicans made
speeches in which the old war issues wers
fought over and over again. Mr.. WADE
of Ashtabula, was particularly bitter
saying, among other things, that nc
Democrat went into the service of hi:
country He was followed by DR.. JEN
NEE, who completely used him up on his
"war horse"
When the COMMITTEES of the Whole
arose and reported, motion was made
to substitute, by submitting to the peo
pie, which was voted down-every Dem
ocrat voting to submit, and every Re
publican voting against it. A motion to
postpone to January, 1871, shared the
same fate. The Amendment then passed
the Senate-nineteen Republicans voting
in favor of it, and eighteen Democrats
against it. AS soon as the result was
announced the negroes in the lobby gave
vent to their feelings by general applause
throughout the lobby.
Should this Amendment become part
of our Constitution it will not only con-
fer the right to vote and to hold office
on the negro-a reason sufficient to make
it obnoxious, and which has perhaps
caused more opposition among the mas
ses than any other objection-but it vir-
tually annuls that section of the Consti
tuition which declares: "'Fhe power not
delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
States, are reserved to the States respec-
lively, or to the people" 1t takes away
our rights. 1t says Congress shall en-
force it by appropriate legislation. 1t
gives to Congress power to pass regis
tration laws for the States, and to appoint
commissioners of registration in each
State, county and township or ward. 1t
takes from the States and confers
on Congress the control of the State and
municipal elections. 1t confers on Con-
gress the power to appoint judges and
clerks of elections 1t confers on Con
gress the power to impose whatever
qualifications it sees fit on the enjoyment
of suffrage, except that of race or color.
1t confers on Congress power to prohibit
any person from voting on account OF
political opinion or religious creed. 1t
is the grand entering wedge to destroy
State lines and ccntralize the National
Government, and in the adoption of it
we lose more than has been gained by
any other protecting section of the Con-
stitution, even if we altogether leave out
the negro suffrage part of it. | am sorry
have not time to give you synopsis
of the speeches that were made.
The same day that it passed the Sen
ate the law known as the ''visible admix-
ture" act was repealed by strict party
vote, except Mr. HUNT who voted with
the Radicals. The House adjourned
over until Monday. In the Senate on
Saturday a large amount of work was
disposed Of
In the afternoon the writer in compa-
nv with number of the members OF
both branches went to visit the Reform
Farm near Lancaster, Ohio. We tray
eled by the Hooking Valley Road and
reached Lancaster about o'clock P. NJ.
1t is an old, wealthy, and euterprising
town. From Lancaster we started in
wagons provided for us by the Superin-
tendent, and travelled over hilly, rough
road, through the rain, six miles to the
Reform Farm. 1t was dark when we
arrived, and after taking supper, and q
rest, we visited most of the families Of
boys before retiring that night.
Perhaps before going further should
give you short history of the lnstitu-
ton. 1t was established in 1858, with q
view to save boys who were criminals
and try to reform them before they got
old in crime No boy is admitted oyel
sixteen years OF age, and no boy is dis
charged until he is believed to be reform.
ed and if he has no home until good
home is found for him. At the time il
was established, twas an experiment; il
has now proved success. Over 1.2QC
bows have been in this institution since
it was established, and there are now 335
bows in it. I wish that every parent in
the State could visit it, and especially
those who suffer their boys to rove
about the streets at night The farm
occupies over 1000 acres of land, is
billy and poor, indeed one-half of it is
rocky and barren. 1t is healthy stu.
alton, only five deaths having occurred
since it was established, and during the
last year a physician has been called
only three times. There is an orchard
of l6O acres on the farm, mostof which
is planted with peach trees that do well
25 acres are planted in grapes, and IL
fruit and garden vegetables. 1t is self
sustaining, and large amounts of peaches
and grapes are shipped to the nearest
cities.
The Institution is in charge of a Su
perintendent and Matron, { Mr. HowI
and lady.) The boys are divided into
families Of fifty each, under the charge
of a teacher, who is called an eide,
brother; and eaca family has separate
buildinp which consists of basement