Year: 1868

proDaDte tnat less than one-tenth o.
the voters of the State would ther
! have voted to strike the word ;swhite'
out of the constitution.


The last General Assembly sub.
mitted to the people proposition tc
amend the State Constitution SO as
to abolish distinctions in political
rights based upon color. The prop.
osition contained several clauses not
pertinent to Its main purpose, under
which, if adopted, it was believed by
many that the number of white citi
zens who would be dis:ranchised
would be much greater than the
number of colored citizens who would
he allowed the right of suffrage
Notwithstanding the proposition was
thus hampered, it received 216, 9S7
votes, or nearly forty-fve per cent.
of all the votes cast in the State
This result shows great progress in
public sentiment since the adoption
of the constitution of 1851, and in
spires the friends of equal political
rights with confident hope that in
1871, when the opportunity is given
to the people, by the provisions of
the Constitution, to call Constitu-
tional Convention, the organic law
of the State will be so amended as
TO secure In Ohio to all the gov
erned an equal voice in the govern
meat.


Bat whatever reasonable doubts
may be entertained as to the probs.
BILE action of the people of Ohio on
the question of an extension of the
right of suffrage, when new State
Constitution shall be framed, / sub
NIT with confidence that nothing has
occurred which warrants the opinion
that the ratification by the las. Cen
eral Assembly of the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States was not in accordance
with the deliberate and settled con-
viction of the people. That amend
ment was, after the amplest discus
sion, upon an issue distinctly present
ed, sanctioned by large majority
of the people. II any fact exists
which justifies the belief that they
now wish that the resolution should
be repealed, by which the assent of
Ohio was given to that important
amendment, 1t has not been brought
to the attention Of the public. Omit
ting all reference to other valuable
provisions, it may be safely said that
the section which secures among all
the States of the Union equal repre-
sentation in the House Of Represent
atives and Electoral College, in pro-
portion to the voting population, is
deemed of vital Importance by the
people of Ohio. Without now rails
ing the grave question as to the right
of the State to withdraw its assent,
which has been constitut'onally given
to n proposed amendment of the
Federal Constitution, l respectfully
suggest that the attempt which is
now making to withdraw the assent
of Ohio to the fourteenth amend
ment to the Federal Constitution, be
postponed until the people shall again
have an opportunity to give expires
sion to their will. In my judgment,
Ohio will never consent that the
whites of the south. large majority
of whom wero lately in rebellion,
shall exercise in the Government of
the nation. as much political power,
man for man, as the same number Of
white citizens of Ohio, and be allow
ed. in addition thereto, thirty men,
bers of Congress and of the Elec-
toral College for colored people,
deprived of every political privi-
lege.


In conclusion, l am happy to be
able to adopt as my own the senti-
ments SO fitly expressed by the Speak
er of the House of Representatives
of the present General Assembly
1 sincerely hope that the legislation
of the General Assembly, and the
administration of the State Govern
ment in all its branches, may be
characterized by economy, wisdom
and pfudence-~.hat craftsmanship,
patriotism and philanthropy may be
manifest in every act, and that all
may be done under the guidance of
that Providence which has hitherto
so signally preserved and blessed our
State and nation.