The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-03-30
Raronet EIecrion Law.

Mr.. PARR presented the petition of VIII
LIAM BELL, Jr., and other citizens of
Licking county, IN the House of Repre-
sentahves last week, asking the General
Assembly to adopt some measure TO pro-
tect the citizens Of the State from the inter
ference of Federal officials IN the elections.
under the recent white fugitive slave law
of Congress-. 1t was referred to the Com
mittee on Federal Relations, aud yester-
day, at meeting of the Committee, Col
BABER presented the resolutions published
below, as an expression OF the sentiment
ofthe people of Ohio on the subject. At
the request Of the Republican minority OF
the COMMITTEES, who wanted time to ex-
anime the act Of Congress, the considera-
ton of the resolutions was postponed un-
I'll Wednesday, March %. We hope the
COMMITTEES will report and the house adopt
these resolutions, and the people every
where inaugurate an agitation against this
infamous law, which seeks TO take posses
sion Of the ballot-box, and TO manipulate
it at the dietation of GRANTS administra-
ton. Nothing rash Is proposed in the
resolutions a demand IS made for the
repeal of the law, and in the meantime our
citizens are advised TO invoke the protec-
ton of the great writ of ha6eGs corpus and
fight the usurpation through thejudiciary.
The thinking men of the Republican
party viii pause before they put them
selves on the record in favor Of this in
famous measure of a partisan majority to
wipe out every Vestge OF local self-gove
ment, and turn the people over. bound
hand and foot, tosthe mercy of a military
dictator. The preamble and resolutions
referred to are annexed: , -yl
Joint Resolution. respecting the interference Of
the Federal Government in the elections
WHEREAs, The Congress Of the United
States has recently passed an act entitled
Gan act to amend an act to enforce the
rights Of citizens Of the United States to
vote in the several States of the Union, /"
&C., destructive of civil liberty. and the
consummatien of settled scheme of cen
tralization which seeks, under false pre-
lenses. to perpetuate partisan power by
destroying all local self-goYernment, and
establishing in Its stead a consolidated
despotism to rule over the people by force
and fraud and 81
WHEREAS, Said usuTpation, by the
General Government, Of the powers that
have, from the adoption of the Constitu-
tion of the United, States, been exercised
solely by the States, is calculated to pro-
duce conflicts of authority between the
officials of the Federal and State Govern
ments, and tends to engender lealousies,
riots and bloodshed at our elections and
WHEREAS, The act aforesaid imposes
odlous duties upon private citizens, and
afizes oppressive penalties for their non
performance, especially in subjecting by
ISLANDERS to arrest without process, and
imprisonment for a term of years for neg
Letting or refusing to aid the officials of
the Federal Government in making arrests
under SAID act and -1
WHEREAS, The writ Of ha6eas corpus, in
the hands. of an impartial and fearless
Judiciary, furnishes the citizen the great
remedy against the expressions Of illegally
exercised power; therefore,
Resolved, etc, That the act of Congress
of the United States, entitled "An act to
amend an act to enforcesthe rights of the
citizens of the United States to vote in the
several States of this Union. and for other
purposes" is a direct attack upon the re-
served rights of the Stale of Ohio, violates
the bill Of nights in her Constitution, is
destructive. of the fundamental principles
Of civil liberty, is odious, unnecessary and
Oppressive, and that our Senators and
Representatives in Congress are hereby
requested to introduce and vote fer q bill
forthwith repeating the same. Szs'
ResoLVed, That the people Of the State
Of Ohio are hereby advised to resist the
execution of this act by every lawful
means, and apply to the judges OF the
courts to issue the writ of hG6eGs corpus
in all cases where arrests are made under
this act, m order that its constitutionaity
may be speedily and thoroughly tested
ResoLUed, That the Governor be request
ed Immediately TO forward copy OF the
foregoing preamble and resolutions to each
of our Senators and Representatives in
congress.-Ohio Stase8zta1s, March 22gtd