The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-03-10

which there is no appeal: that the
Constitution and the laws made in
pursuance thereof shall continue to be
the supreme law Of the land, binding
alike on the States and the people.
This decree does not disturb the au-
tonomy of the States, nor interfere
with any Of their necessary rules Of
local self-government, but it does fix
and establish the permanent suprem-
acy of the Union.
The will Of the Nation, speaking
with the voice OF battle and through
the amended Constitution, has fulfilled
the great promise of 1776 by pro-
claiming Liberty throughout the land
to all the inhabitants thereof"
The elevation of the negro race
from slavery to full rights of citizen
ship is TIE most important political
change we have known since the adop-
ton of tie Constitution Of 1776.
No thoughtful man can fail to ap-
preciate its benefcent effect upon our
people. It has freed US from the per-
petual danger of war and dissolution;
It has added immensely to the moral
and industrial forces Of our people; 1t
has liberated the master as well as the
slave from relation which wronged
and enfeebled both.
It has surrendered to their own
guardianship the manhood OF more
than five millions of people, and has
opened to each one of them career
of freedom and usefulness. 1t has
given new inspiration to the power OF
self-help in both races by making
| labor more honorable to one and more
necessary to the other.
The influence of this force will grow
greater and bear richer fruit with COM
ing years. No doubt the great change
has caused serious disturbance to our
Southern community-this is to be de-
plored, though it was unavoidable
but those who resisted the change
should remember that in our institu-
tions there was no middle ground for
the negro race between slavery and
equal citizenship. There can be no
permanent disfranchised peasantry in
the United States. Freedom can never
Weld it's fulness Of blessings as long as
law or it's administration places the
smallest obstacle in the pathway of
any virtuous citizenship.
The emancipated race has already
made remarkable progress. With un-
questionable devotion to the Union,
with a patience and gentleness not
born of fear, "they have followed TIE
light as God gave them to see the
light"
They are rapidly laying the material
foundation for self-support, widening
their circle of intelligence, and begin
ming to enjoy the blessings that gather
around the homes Of the industrious
poor. They deserve the generous en-
couragement Of all good men.
So far as my authority can lawfully
extend they shall enjoy full and equal
protection of the Constitution and
laws. The free enjoyment of equal
suffrage is still in question, and frank
statement Of the issue may aid its So
luton.
It is alleged that in many commu-
mites negro citizens are practically
denied freedom Of the ballot. In Sc
far as the truth Of this allegation is
admitted it is answered that in many
places honest local government is i'm
possible if the mass Of uneducated ne
groes are allowed to vote. These are
grave allegations.
, So far as the latter is true, it is nc
palliation that can be offered for op-
posing the freedom of the ballot. Bad
local government is certainly great
evil which ought to be prevented, but
to violate the freedom and sanctity of
suffrage is more than an evil-it is a
crime, which, If persisted in, will de-
stroy the Government. Suicide is not
remedy.
If in other lands it be high treason
to compass the death Of a King, it
should be counted no less crime here
to strangle our sovereign power and
stife its voice 1t has been said that
unsettled questions have no pity for
the repose of nations. 1t should be
said, with the utmost emphasis, that
this question Of suffrage will never
give repose or safety to the States or
to the Nation, until each, within its
own jurisdiction, makes and keeps the
ballot free and pure by strong sane
tions of law.
But the danger which arises from
ignorance in voters can not be denied.
It covers a field far wider than that Of
negro suffrage and the present condi-
ton of that race. It is danger that
turks and hides in the sources and
fountains Of power in every State.
We have no standard by which to
measure the disaster that may be
brought upon us by ignorance and vice
in citizens when joined to corruption
and fraud in suffrage The voters of
the Union, who make and unmake
constitutions, and upon whose will
hangs the destiny of our government
can transmit their supreme authority
to no successor save the coming gener-
alton Of voters, who are the sole heirs
OF sovereign power. Ii that genera
ton comes to its inheritance blinded
by ignorance and corrupted by vice,
the fall of the Republic will be certain
and remediless. The census has al
ready sounded the alarm in appalling
figures, which mark how dangerously
high the tide of illiteracy has arisen
among our voters and their children.
To the South the question is Of su-
preme Importance, but the response
bllity Tor its existence and for slavery
does not rest upon the South alone.
The Nation itself is responsible for
the extension Of suffrage, and is under
special obligations to aid in removing
the illiteracy which it has added to the
voting population. For North and
South alike there is but one remedy:
All the constitutional power of the
Nation and of the States, and all the
volunteer forces of the people should
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