The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-02-10


EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH DELIVERED IN
THE OHIO SENATE BY DIR H. c. LEWIS,
SENATOR FROM THE TUSCARA WAS DIS
TRICT ON THEREPEAL OF THE GEGHAN
Law JANUARY 2s, 1876,
Mr., PREsIDRNT:--I have failed as yet
TO hear reason given why this law
should be repealed. was a member OF
the House of Representative at the time
this bill became law and was also a
member of the committee to whom 1t
was referred. Having been behind the
scenes it may not be improper for me to
give little of the silent history of this
now famous bill. When the bill came up
before the Senate eleven Republican
members voted for il. Among them WIS
William Ramsey, Methodist minister,
and one who opened the sessions with
prayer invoking the Divine blessing to
rest upon the members, and to direct
their steps arighJ-to make them pure
and upright legislators. Who would say
that he was not honest in his petitions
to Almighty God, and honest in his con-
victions of right when he cast his vote
for this bill, the gist of which is to allow
man to worship God according to the die
tates of his own colscienceP
But let us see whether the party lash
is not stronger power than the innate
desire to perform that which some men
know to be right. The night after the
bill passed a caucus of the Republicans
was held and the members of that party
were whipped in. And upon reconsid-
Grafton the following day the Republi-
cans all voted against the bill.
The original Gegnan bill was never re-
ported back to the House; but inits stead
was framed substitute, compiled from
the laws of Massachusetts and Illinois
and the constitution of the State ofOhio,
Indeed, the obnoxious bill was almost a
verbatin, copy of the 9TH section of the
constitution of Ohio Now; Mr.. Presi-
dent, what is there in the bill that is
wrong2 If it is right, then why should
it be repealed?
The Republicans told the people dur
ing the campaign that the object of the
bill was to divide the school fund. Any
one who has ever read the bill knows
that it contains no illusions of that kind,
and no Senator upon the floor makes
statement so absurd. AS for me, sir, !
would suffer my right hand to be sever
ed from my body before | would consent
to vote for a division of the school fund,
But the idea that this bill forbodes any
thing of the kind is nreposterous.
The whole thing in nut shell is this,
Mr.. President: The Republicans were
shaking and guaking under the corrup-
tion in high places in that party, and
some bold stroke must be made in order
to arouse the prejudices of the people
and thus divert the public mind from the
stealing and rascality that was being un-
earthed. This then, was their resort, in
famous though it was; and false as all
these statements were they succeeded in
accomplishing their ends.
Now, when we ask them for some ar
gument in behalf of the repeal of this
law, they answer us not word. At their
caucus last night silence was agreed up
on Indeed they are significantly silent,
and that, too, against the honest convic-
tions of their hearts. 1t is merely party
measure that forces them to tear FROM
the statute book the only law that Sc
cures to unfortunate men the right to
worship their Maker as their conscience
tells them is right.
If they will show me one sentence or
one clause in the liberty of conscience
bill that is not just, or word that is not
properly in accord with the great and
fundamental principles of our state, |
will vote for its repeal. Until they do, |
deem it my duty, not to the Catholics Of
my district, but my duty to all my con-
stituents, and my duty to myself and my
God to vote against its repeal, and to
grant the right to every man to worship
the Creator after the dictates of his own
conscience.