The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-01-24

and taxation can not be had. Such amend.
small naierities.. different result might,
perhaps, fOllew the submission of this propo-
stion by the present general assembly 10 the
alternative amendment submitted in 1888
which would have given power to license,
rect prohibition, or prohibition by arbitrary
law and excessive taxation, and therefore lost
the favorof many. t5r-
knowing, from the labors of tine supreme
as the Scott law, is not in conflict with the
inhibition against the passage of laws to
not in the legal or technical sense, Establish est
license system, 1t has some of its advanta-
ges, produces some of its effects, and in
se Whs e Sf does as nos S
direct terms protect the dealer against inter
PEELED to pay tax, it indirectly insures his
protection in the undisturbed continuance of
his traffic, by the contributions 1t exacts to-
ward the diminution Of general taxation, and
the interest it thus creates against prohibi-
tion or the destruction of the trade. A com
munity to whose expenses this traffic largely
contributes and whose taxes 1t diminishes viii
not be inimical to its continuance upon econo-
mic or financial grounds at least; do not be.
lieve this law ought to be repealed, but that
the graduation of its taxation and the with
drawal of the, power of municipal
and efficient a license law as is consistent with
the constitutional inhibition, without at all
withdrawing the force of any of tho reason
ing upon which the majority of the Supreme
Court sustained its constitutionaity.
Nineteen years have elapsed since the close
of the civil war dismissed from arms and rel
than million combatants. Time has effaced
most of the visible rayages of war, and nearly,
the conflict survive, If at all, mere political
agencies, mischievous as far as they are active.
but constantly losing force Even the vast
debt will probably be paid during this gener-
alton, and with its payment the burthens Of
federal taxatien may be SO diminished as to
anord an an 10 aor t nta bs
enjoyed since the administration of Andrew
Jackson. 80
The great monument of victory, the endur-
ing assurance that the blood was not spilled,
the treasure not spent in vain is the restora-
ton of the union upon the basis of the
Of f the slave. w Color has taken its place, in
law and with reference to legal rights under
the American system, by the side OF inherited
wealth, place Of birth, and other fortuitous
circumstances of life, as having no effect in
determining condition. That is left to CON
and black are both insured equal rights
and equal opportunity in the presence of the
law. The habits and usages and prejudices of
slavery will doubtless long survive, but the
day will surely come-God grant it may be
soon-when, even without legal intervention,
ferfor or denied the full equal rights accorded
to others merely because he chanced to in
herit a black skin. z. iis ycst,.5
L
North as the South, may hereafter give rise Il
do not think they have done so yeti to the ne
@ State: No % iegisiaeioS is Needed "s to establish
the principle of the absolute equality of rights !
between black and white, or to furnish civil
actions for redress of invasions. These are
accomplished by the Federal Constitution and
the common law as it prevails in Ohio. But a
portion of the civil rights Legislation of Con-
gress has been recently declared unconstitu-
tional by the Supreme Court Of the United
States, and inasmuch as the duty of protection
count of color is thus devolved upon the
States, it may become necessary for Ohio to
or onpression' It merely w transfers M e The
theater of redress from the Federal to the
more numerous and accessible State Legisla- /
to vanquish the armed assertion of superior
sovereignty of the states, made in defiance of
the express provision that :" the constitution
pursuance thereof shall be the supreme law
of the land, anything In the constitution or
standing" But the habftlal use Of and sub
mission to war powers have left the minds of
many good citizens in apt condition to forget
even until now that the constitution likewise
reserves all non-delegated powers "to the
states respectively, or to the people," Under
these circumstances the. civil rights act was
passed, which undertook not merely to pro-
hibt legislation and judicial action discrimi-
mating against the unequal rights of men Of
within the states for the preservation Of
equal rights Since the adoption of the
fourteenth amendment white and black have
dwelt together in harmony in Ohio, and pros
ecutions under the civil rights act have been
rare, so that few cases have as yet occurred,
suggesting the necessity of an amendment
of our criminal laws SO as to furnish sub 4
stitute 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 to feel, an
ear open to hear, and an eye quick
to see the invasions of the rights of
others. especially of this race, long bound in
the chains of slavery and deprived of legal
personality. 1t is for you therefore, to con-
slider whether there is danger in this direction
to any citizen of or sojurner In Ohio, and IL
there be, to provide by apt legislation in ad-
vance, for prompt and severe punishment,
not discriminating, however, between white
and black but furnishing the same relief
against the same wrong to both.
The condition of the State has been SO fully
represented in the recent message Of my hon.
ored predecessor that nothing further is left
for me say. / invoke the aid of all good
citizens. without distinction of party, for the
General Assembly and officers of the State. Ne
are entitled to it, for the State government, as
the servants of the people, always has just
claim to direction from its master. Without
such aid you and may easily go astray. With
it, we shall be reinforced in our labors, as well
as fortified in the hope that Ohio, during our
brief term may be preserved from the disas-
ter of unwise legislation and inefficient admin
istration. -tt