, 1854-03-25

Cluue num- Dut 10 protect ourselves. Other
states have been driven 10 these measures 10
protect themselves against rapidly inerea-
; sing race. There are only about five thou
sand whites here now, and we have only 10
open the gate when, from the millions Of this
race now in the United States, we would
have black population here numbering three
TO our one. They are not here, and we are
moi called upon 10 provide for them.
But The other class is heTo-t was here
before we were.
The early settler who broke the way across
the trackess plain, penetrated the dark for
est, and scaled the snow clad mountains,
breaking their way through the death shades
and savage haunts of the then unknown
country We now occupy.
These men married the native women Of
this country, they have reared children and
is it not rather creditable 10 these men that
they cling with parents fondness 10 them
than abandon them 10 The lender merces Of
savage life. The children of these pio-
necrs are now among us-ihey form a class
their fathers have performed important
services for our country.
And now there is no danger Of this class
flooding and overrunning our country, be-
cause with this generation they will prob
ably all pass away and many of them will
leave behind imperishable evidence Of their
real qualifications 10 exercise judiciously,
that privilege Of which we are all proud
the elective franchise.
Mr.. Ward was utterly opposed TO any
such amendment. He saw no reason why,
if half breed Indians were allowed 10 vote,
that half-breed negroes should not have the
same privileges. All argument to the con-
trary, was mere sophislry. He could not ex-
actly comprehend that philanIhropic spirit
which would include one class and exclude
the other. For his part he made no preten.
ees to any sympathy Of the kind---he was
for excluding both, and trusted that no such
amendment would be adopted.
Mr.. Crosbie was in favor Of tho amend
ment, believing, that while we should not
open the food gates to the scum of creation,
we should not exclude those persons who
had already been recognized as citizens,
somo of whom were really deserving of the
right of suffrage. .r ..I..-r
Mr.. Biles opposed the amendment on this
ground. He said three fourlhs Of the half
breeds did not know for whom or for what
they voted--that many could not either read
or speak the English language, or understand
it when spoken. Many Of them understood
no language bul the Jargoa
He trusted such persons would not be al
lowed the right Of suffrage, otherwise the
Territory would be flooded with them, and
our Jurors would consist Of men unable to
comprehend testimony offered before them.
The bill did not exclude any one from the
rights ofsuffrage who might have one eighth,
quarter, or three eighths Of Indian blood
Mr.. Moseley advocated the amendment,
and said that our county had been lauded
10 the skies by the poet, the orator and the
statesman, as land Of freedom-where ev-
cry man could stand on level with his fell
low-man. But debarring man who hap
pened to Be guilty of skin not colored like
ours, from exercising the right Of suffrage,
savored very little of freedom or of an equal
ity Of rights Numberless individuals might
be named, who had Indian blood trickling
in their veins, whose names had been in
scribed upon the tablet of fame. John Ran
dolph, name familiar as household words
the motion Of whose finger awed senates,
and whose wilhering sarcastic thrusts, made
statesmen vince like "galled jade" was
of Indian descent. We have only 10 read
the soul-stirfing eloquent speeches of those
valient Indian chiefs, King Phillip, Mohawk
Henry and Black Hawk, to be convinced
that the Indians arc susceptible Of being cd
ucaied, and il they are, ought we for a mo-
menl to suppose that that class who arc only
.tinclured with Indian blood or Of the half
breed order, are not capable Of becoming in
tolligent and useful members Of society |!
The American half-breed is allowed 10 hold
land-a tax is annuslIy levied upon his pro-
perty-he thus contributes 10 the support of
our inslitutions-but still, unless this amend
menl is adopted, he will be unable to go up
to the ballot.box, that safeguard Of the ma
ton, and say by bis vote,-"I am free
man " In Wisconsin, all persons Of Indian
descent OF who become citizens are allowed
10 vote. And if we, by our votes, disfran-
chise this unfortunate class, this legislature
and every succeeding one will be besieged
upon every hand-petiiion will follow Peti-
tion, to procure the passage Of a special act
10 enable half-breeds who have done some
merritorious deed or who happen to bear the
name of some illustrious man, an opror-
tunity 10 exercise the elective franchise
Where republican institutions exist, there
the people should scrupulously guard against
legislating for "Privileged few"
On the adoption of this amendment the
ayes and nays were called for. The result
was as follows: ayes-Bolon, Crosbie, Den
ny, Huntington, Jackson, MoSeley and Mr..
Speaker, s; nays-Biles, Chapman, Hale,
Howe, Shelton and Ward, 6. The amend
ment was adopted.
On the final passage of the bill the ayes
4 -. f.llu,,.,. n-xi.-,