The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-11-11

question Of negro suffrage to the people.
On this resolution long debate ensued,
in which there was much demagogueism
shown by certain members. Although the
Convention represented the people, and not a
member of the Convention was in favor OF
negroes voting, yet some wished it submitted
to State vote. They only wished to court
up the g dear people" hy throwing the re-
sponsbility from their own shoulders, and in
placing j, upon the citizens of the State,
make them believe they only did so in compli-
ment to them. They are properly rebuked
IN the following brief remarks made by our
county delegate, Mr.. Blythe:
There are one or two reasons that will gov
ern my vote upon this resolution. 1t is pro-
posed 10 submit a question to the vote oil the
people OF Indiana, upon which, as conceive.
the people have already expressed their
opinion. think that opinion is clearly indi-
Gated in the kind of feeling which evidently
prevails upon this subject among the members
OF this Convention. Every gentleman who
has spoken upon this question, even those
who appear to take the lead in advocating Its
reference to the proper committee. tell US that
they themselves, when they shall come TO
the bdlot-DOx, viii vote against negro sui
irGge and some even 90 so far as TO say,
that they will vote for excluding free negroes
from the State altogether. Gentlemen make
this declaration who represent a Liberty con-
lsttuency-a constituency whose opinions are
most ultra, and unalterably fixed upon this
question. Was not this question very gene
rally discussed throughout the State during
the late canvass And have not the people
indicated their opinion very clearly and dis
tincIly in the result OF that canvass 2 know
that the people in the pocket" as II is
called, with comparatively few exceptions, ia
vor Tie exclusion of free negroes, and are
against negro suffrage. The opinions OF
that SNAIL minority OF our fellow ctizens.
who think otherwise upon this subject, | re-
spect, and their rights would be unwilling
20 violate. But their rights they have exer-
cised, and their opinions they have expressed.
SO far as the pocket" is concerned, | APP
peal TO lis representatives here, whether, al
the late election, they did not express their
opinions upon this question? And if this be
true, that the voice OF The State has been
heard, ask why it should be left an open
question any longer, to agilate the public
mind
There is another reason sir, whyI am OPP
posed TO this resolution. | think it our duty
here, in manly and independent manner to
take the responsibility vi acting decidedly
and distinctly. am for shoulderng the re-
sponsibility which pertains to the decision Of
every question which may arise here. Sir,
the presumption is, that we have been Sc
lected to fill our places here because of our
real or supposed ability and integrity-be-
cause we are intelligent and honest enough
to carry out what we believe to be the wishes
Of our constituents. For this cause main
tain that we should aci in manly and indie
pendent manner. We should take the re-
sponsibility OF Incorporating into the Const-
tuition whatever we may deem proper, and
whatever may be in accordance with insiruc-
tons received from the people. | am unwl.
ling, sir, to submit to the people single propo-
si,ions, independent of the body OF the Con-
sttution but insist that we should submit
a Constitution complete in all its parts, and
let the people take the responsibility of adopt
ing or rejectingit. Gentlemen may call this
anti-democratic or anti-republican but ! call
it republican and democratic, both. Now,
sir il we submit the proposition contemplated
in the resolution OF the gentleman from st.
Joseph (Mr. CoIlax,) any other gentleman,
with equal propriety, may claim to have his
proposition also submitted 10 the people, and
generally with more propriety. For exam
pie: there is The resolution proposed by the
gentleman from Tippecanoe, (Mr. Petit.
which was some days ago before Us, and dc,
bated at great length. There is much more
reason why We should submit that PROPOSE
ton than this. Tor it is admitted by the friend.
, Of this resolution that the majority in this
Of "a.
people of Indiana, with the exception OF some
live or ten thousand; whereas, upon the
proposition Of the gentleman from Tippeca
l noe we stand here perhaps equally divided ;
> at all events, neither the friends nor the op
ponents of Grand Juries can claim any thing
like u large and decided majority. and Cal
any Que tell which way the people of lndian;
would decide if the question were submitte,
to them 2 Some tell US that the peopl'
7 would reject Grand Juries; but, sir, this i
: very doubtful believe they would adher,
{ TO the present system. And because this j
doubtful question. ii might be referred 4
the people with more reason than The propo
siiion OF the gentleman from st. Joseph
+ But am opposed to submitting any singl
), proposition; Tor If we submit one, why no
! submit all ? / will take this occasion TO re
mark, however, that if this proposition ha
been submitted IN an earlier period oil tn
u session. in all probability it would have ioua
Al more favor than at present, but row since III
/ very committee To which it is addressed hay
: reported upon the question
MIR. COLFAA. (lnterruptng.) II is tn
committee on rights and privileges whic
oi have reported. This resolution is addFesse
> 10 the committee on the elective franchise.
~ hlr. BLYTHE (continuing) was mi'
taken about that then. However, we hav
u report upon another branch oil this sam
Question upon which there seems TO dc man
10 tested very great unanimity of opinion.
agree with the gentleman upon my left, III;
: it would be acting Inconsistency TO refer III
D. matter OF the resolution TO the people, III
: retain in The Coaslitution--as we surely WI