Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-15
The Convention.


On Monday, January Sd, Mr.. DUss's
amendment of the Suffrage article came up,
which provides that foreigners, to vote, must
be naturalized. Mr.. RIcHaRDsoY, of Grant,
made sensible speech in favor Of the amend
ment. MIR. BEALL, spoke in reply, against
the amendment. Mr.. Fox took the same
side of the question. Mr.. LAxIS, of Grant,
supported the amendment la a short and
spirited speech, which we hope to lay before
our readers hereafter, as well as the speech
of Mr.. RIcaARDsoS. In the afternoon, the
debate was continued by Mr.. DORIAN, who
spoke against the amendment; also by MIR.
GALE.
Messrs. JACKsoS and ScHoEFFLER spoke
briefly in opposition to the amendment.
A cali of the Convention was ordered and
the absentees sent for.
The question being put on the adoption of
Mr.. DUEN's amendment, il was decided in
the negative, as follows:-
Ayes,-Messrs. Biggs, Castleman, o. Cole,
Cotton, Dunn, Fenton, Holenbeck, Lakin,
M'Dowell, O'Conuor, Ramsay, Reed, Rich
ardson, Root, Rountree aud Steadman-l6.
Noes,-Messrs. BeaIl, bishop, BrownelI,
Carter, Case, Chase, A.. G.. Cole, Cooley,
Crandall, Davenport, Doran, Estabrook,
Pagan, Featherstonhaugl, Fitzgerald, Foltz,
Foote, Fox, Gale, Clifford, Harrington, Har-
vey, Jackson, Jones, Judd, Kennedy, Kill
bnun, King, Kline, Larkin, Larrabee, ka-
than, Lewis, Lowell, Lyman, M'Clelland,
milford, Nichols, Pentony, Prentiss, Mr..
President Reymert, Sanders, Scagel, SchHf-
fer, Sccor, Turner, Vanderpool, Ward,
Wheeler, Warden and Wbiton-53.
MIR. EsTABnooK moved to amend the a
mendment, by adding the following proviso,
viz: Provided, however, That the Legisla-
ture shall at any time have the power to adj
nit coIored persons to the right of suffrage
on such terms and under such restrictions as
may be determined by law.
This amendment was carried in the affirm
alive. On motion TO reconsider, Mr.. RoUS-
TREE said, he had not expected to see the
incipient steps of abolitonism Introduced
into this Convention. There had so re-
Gently been so strong declaration of the
people against the subject contained in the
proyiso, he thought the matter ought to rest.
Mr.. WHIroS said il was true that the ar
ticle giving suffrage to colored persons was
voted down by a very large majority last
spring; but he considered this a very differ
ent proposition from the one submitted mt
that time. He was not afraid to trust the
legislature with the matter. Because public
sentiment was so strong against this right
last spring, il does not follow that it will al
ways be so. Public sentiment may improve;
and il that race become enlightened sufii-
ciently 10 eutitlc them to a right to vote, in
heavens name let them have il.
Mr.. krBoURs was pleased with the n
mendmen, until the proviso was so sudden
ly sprung upon it. He had hoped this negro
question would not come up; il this provi-
SO should prevail, it was sufficient ground to
vote against the Constitution.
Mr.. HARVEY spoke against the re-consid-
Grafton.
Mr.. o. CoLn thought it was inexpcdient
TO insert the proviso he was confident it
would defeat the Constitution. To the pop
ular will he should bow with submission.
MIR. BraLL spoke in favor of the proviso
and MIR. CnAsE in favor of it.
The proyiso was further discussed by
Messrs. EsT ,nRooK and Jackson in favor,
and by Messrs, Fox, KLINE and KiLBouRN
against il, and the ayes aud noes being taken,
the vote was reeonsidered; SO voting for and
81 against the reconsideration.