, 1854-04-22
AFTERNOON SESSION.


hOhuIhb Vi luls NuOuOWNbh
On the proviso allowing such HALF-BREED
Indiansto vote whom the judges Of cleo
tons should decide had adopted the habits
of civilized life: itlp'
Mr.. CHENowErH said. This matter had
elected so much debate that he was willing
to vote for the law, with or without this
clause; an imperfect law is better than no
law. Gentlemen attached too much i'm
portance to our acts. 1t will only be sew
en- months until the Legislature will set
again, and if we should commit any errors,
(and fear we may), they in their wisdom
can correct them. l ask gentlemen to
consider the deplorable condition Of our
Territory if we fail to pass an election law.
We cannot fall back upon the Oregon law,
and the Governor cannot prescribe rules
for another election. There would be no
other alternative but for the Governor to
issue his proclamation and call us together
in extra session, and if We cannot agree
now, is it certain we would then ! 1
| 1t is this law or none The Council has
announced to us that they will not recedo
from their position. The amount Of 1t Is,
sir, some of us must yield or We hare no
election law. Let us see how we stand,
is there not a decided majority Of the tis0
Houses in favor Of this measure I As one
or the other must yield, the question now
is, sir, who ought to yield, the Duaiority or
the minority? There are fifteen members
of the tloO Houses in favor Of this measure,
and nine that appear to be opposed to i.
Should the fifteen yield to the nine, or Is it
not ObriOuSly the imperative duty OF the
nine to yield to the fifteen ! confess, SIR,
that l am not fdrOrdNy impressed with
that disposition that brings man to an
obstinate stand and determination not to
yield, whatever may be the consequences.
For one man to assume that he is infalhbly
right, and that others are wrong-that be
is conscientious, and that others have no
conscience-that his principles are dear to
him, but that others can yield without sac
rifce-that he is above the frailties OF
human nature-that error is inconsistent
with the perfections of his being, but that
other men, common men, men full OF tho
weaknesses and prejudices Of a depraved
nature, it is perfectly natural that they
should err, and they do err, because they
differ from me. am conscientious-free
from prejudice-have made a just eoDclu-
sion, and though in the miNOrity, will not
yield because l am rigl and they acr0lg.
Such sentiments are perfectly consistent
with sovereigns, emperOrs, and despots,
whose UM is law-who acknowledge no
equality, but who claim that they are the
government, and that the people at large
are things made for their pleasure. But
with us, we recognize no superiority, but
claim perfect equality Those gentlemen
who require and demand that the many shall
yield to the few, forget that this is one Of
the bitterest elements Of tyranny. The same
odious principle that leads the emperor oi
Russia to demand the obedience Of the
million, with this exception he claiMs to be
and is supreme-we claim to be all equal
lie is what he processes to be--a0el are in
principle what he is, contrary to our pro-
fessions. Sir, have no opinion Of this
brow beating system-these dogged and
stubborn demands Of the few over the
many.
But, sir, what is there in this amendment
W lTlButen Beutleueu OOeo ~ ohO" So
breeds to vote as q class No Does II
prostitute the ballot box, as these gen.
tlemen alledge, to wandering savages
No, sirl II does no such thing-ouny
such as the judges Of election believe have
adopted the habits Of civilized life. Nap
tell, Wheaton and other authors denne
what constitutes civilized man Ihose
who live in houses, cultivate the soil, ana
have fixed places of abode, >" are civilized,
and those who lead wandering life are
savages. But it is alledged that they are
all savages then, sir, if they ara, not one
of them can vote under this provision. Ine
gentleman from King Mr.. Denny says
there are few worthy men among them
for whom he would like to provide. say
that these worthy ones, let them be few Of
many, are the only ones that any oil rs
seek to provide for and the question as %
how many there are included in this prov,
so, depends upon hOlc many are iroTfAy' ana
of this, thejudges are TO decide~
The gentleman from King Mr.. Denny
saws there is not single half-brccd lnoi'