The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-01-22

tages, produces some of It's effects, and
in practice largely parlakes Of the nature
OF q license law. While it does not in
direct terms protect the dealer against
Interference during The year, for which
he is compelled to pay tax, i indirectly
insures his protection in the undissurbed
continuance Of his traffic, by the contri.
buttons it exacts towsrd the oimunition
OF general taXation, and by the general
interest it thus creates against prohibit
ton or the destruction of the trade. A
commus hyto whose expenses ,hisafaf-'
1ic largely Contributes and whose taxes
it diminishes will not he ipimical to i's
continuance upon economic or Ansncial
grounds at least. do not believe this
law ought to he repealed, hut, that the
graduation o. It's taxation and the with
drawal cf the power Of municipal pro.
Ihibition, would canvert into as jus' and
efficient license law as, is consistent
with the Consutu'ional Inhibition, with
out at all Withdrawing the force of any
o. the reasoning mon which the majority
of the Supreme Court sustained its con.
stitutionalry.
NDetecnyear have elapsed since The
close OF the civil war, dismissed from,
arms and relegated to the ways end
works of peace more than mil IN com
hatanta. Time has effsced most of the
visible ravayes of war, and nearly, it
not qaie, all the animosiies engendered
by the conflict survive. il at all, as me re
political agencies, miscbevous as far as
hey are active, but constantly losir q
force. Even the vast debt. will probably
he paid during this generation, and with
its payment the bulthens OF Federal tax
alton may be so diminished as to afford
an opportunity for commercial freedom
an Opportunity such as the country has
not enj ,yed since the administration OF
Andrew Jackson. -,a ...4.r...- inca
Tue great monument of victory, the
enduring assurance that the blood VA.
not spilled, the treasure not spent in
| vain, 10 the restoration Of the Uaion
up"n the basis OF the abolition OF Ella.
very anasths enfranchisemei.t Of the
slave. Color has taken is place, in law
and with reference to legal rights under
the American system, by the side OF IL
herited vesl'h.. .piace Of birth and other
foriuitous circumstances Of life, as hav.
ing an effect 10 determining condition.
That Is left to conduct, the result OF
character, and.white and black and both
ensured equal rights and equal opportu.
nifty in toe presence of the law The
habits and usage and pr. jpdices of sla-
very will doubtless lorg survive, but the
day will surely come, God grant it may
be soon, when, even without legal in
vention. no citizen in any State will be
treated as an inferior, or de iedsthe full
eqlal measure oteaual rights accorded
to others, merely because be chanced to
inherit black skio.
There prejuaices, which exist as fully
at the North as the South, may hereafter
give rise { do not think they have done
so yet, to the necessity to amend the
criminal laws OF our State. No legisla.
tion is needed to establish the principle
of the absolute equality. Of rights be
tween white and black, or to furnish
civil action for redress of inyasions
These are accomplished by the Federal
constitution and the common law as, i,
prevails in Oaio. But a portion of The
civil rights legislation OF Congress ha-
recently been declared unconstita ional
by the Supreme Court Of the United
! Safes, and inasmuch as the duty Of pro-
lection against int quality and discriml-
nation on account of color is thus de.
volved upon the States, i. may bec2me
necessary for Oaio TO act. This, deci :
ion license no act Of wrong or oppres-
sion. 1t merely transfers the theater OF
repress from the Federal to the more
Numerous and accessible State legisla-
lures and courts. The war was lightly
waged to wang ish the armed assertion
of superior sovereignty of the States
made in defiance OF the express provis.
| ion that ttbe Constitution and the laws
of the! United States made in pursuance
thereof shall be the supreme law of the
land, apy thing in the Constitution OF
laws OF any State to the contrary, not
withs'anding." Bot the hsbitual use ol
and Submission to war powers has letl
the minds Of many good g e'ii2ans in APT
condition to. forget even until, now thai
| the Constitution likewise all nodele-
gated powers ITO the States respectively
or to the people !" Under these ci cum
! stances the civil rights act was. passed,
which undertook. not merely to prohib.
it legislation and judicial action discrim
mating against the unequal rights o.
man Of color, hut adopted for the Fed.
erai Government the power OF, police
within the States for the preservation ol
human equality, and the enforcement Of
equal rights, Since, the adoption OF the
Fourteenth, amendment, white aud black
have dwelt together in harmony in Ohio
and prosecutions under the Civil Rights
Act have been rare. SO that few cases
have as yet occurred, suggesting the
recessitv OF an amendment of our. Grim
inal laws so as to furnish substitute for
the portion of the Civil Rights Act thus
condemned by The Supreme Court But
every just man. jealous of his own rights.
should have . heart open {, feel, an ear
open to hear, anil an eye quick to see
the invasions OF the rights of Others, es-
pecially in this race, long bound in the
chains of slavery. and deprived Of legal
personality. Itis for you, therefore, to
consider whether there is danger in this
direction to any citizen Of or sejourner
in o 10, and II there be, 10 proviie by
apt legislation, in advance, for prompt
4 and severe punishmeat. not discriminat-
ling, however, between white and black.
bat furnishing the same relief against
1.-the same wrong 10 both. a4, .e4sl
The condition OF the State has been
so fully presented IN the recent Message
of my honored predecessor, that noth-
ing further is left for me TO say.w in
woke the aid Of all good citizen without
distinction of rafty, for the General As
semhly and officers of the State. Z We
are entitled to IL, for tue Government,
- = r L.