The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-08-08

the questionable first question being on
striking out the last claus of the substitute.
But before any actor, was had,
The Committee rose and reported the sub.
iect to the Convention.
Oe motion by Mr. STANNARD the 9TH
rule, restricting the time of speech, was sus-
pended during the consideration Of the Stuff
erage Article,
The Convention then took recess till half
past o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention resumed the consideration
of the Suffrage Article, reported from the
Committee of the Whole, without amend
ment.
Mr.. NORTH moved to strike out the
word "white" from the first line of the first
section.
Mr.. N. took the floor and spoke at length
in favor of his motion. He supported it
first, upon the principles of natural justice.
There was standard Of right and wrong
of moral principle, in law making, as in ev-
erything else, while he illustrated upon the
principle of the golden rule of doing to others
as we would at others should do to US.
None could pretend to say, that the condi-
ton OF the people was any safe criterion to
judge of their rights. We were taught in
scripture, that God has made Of one blood
all that dwell upon the earth. The doctrine
of the equality of individual rights in the
Declaration of American Independence shows
that our ancestors of that day were deeply
infused with that principle and he drew a
lesson of the wisdom and the worth of it, as
applied to legislation, by comparing the
present civil condition of New England with
that of the slave States of this Union.
He demanded that the word 'white"
should be stricken from this section, because
it was inconsistent with the spirit of our
civil institutions. He read from the Declar-
alton of Rights in an old book of State Con-
stitutions, printed in 1870, to show that, in
the minds of statesmen of that day, the right
to vote was inseparable from the right #
freedom. He read also from printed sent-
ments of the leading men Of that day, depre
eating the existence Of slavery in an age
when the rights Of men were so we'll under
stood AID so distinctly defined giving spe.
cific quotations from Patrick Henry Benja-
min Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, - and
dwelling with emphasis upon that sentiment
of the latter, that injustice towards any por-
ton OF our citizens tends inevitably to make
them enemies.
He also supported the amendment, from
the consideration that the blood of blacks
was shed in the battles of the Revolution
Attux, Mulatto, was the first man t. at sui
fered, by the hands Of the British, in the
riots in the streets of Boston. Salem, a col
ored man, shot down the gallant Major Pit
cairn, from behind the parapets on Bunker
Hill. Whole companies of black soldiers
were raised, and served with honor in the
Northern army of the Revolution, and many
ships OF war were, in part manned by black
seamen. Mr. Pinckney of South Carolina,
admitted that the blacks were often the pi-
oneers, and always the laborers of the army.
They had the testimony of General Jackson
to their heroism and general good conduct in
the army. Great Britain also had blacks in
her army in that war they left the service
as freemen whilst no such boon was &C
corded to those who stood in the American
ranks. The blacks We're friends to our gov
eminent in the time of its infancy and weak
ness. How should we cypress and despse
them now?
He also opposed this exclusion of the
blacks from suffrage because it was inexpedi-
ent. The right was always expedient, and
the contrary.
He showed how this country was tagging
behind the civilization of the world, upon this
question OF human slavery; he pointed to
the standards which our fathers raised 50
years ago, ard exhorted the Convention to
come up to them. Neither States nor indi-
vidualS could sin with i,npunity, in reference
to human slavery. The mo elevated posi-
ton of the Republican party upon this ques-
ton, made up all the distinction between us
and our political opponents and he hoped
not to see tue Convention attempt, by this
restriction, to lower themselves to their level
merely to take the wind out of their sails for
the h"ur-to gain temporary advantage be-
fore the people.
He was opposed to that word, because it
would cut Off large portion of the CITIZENS
of this Territory, and some of the honorable
members in the other end of the Capitol -
He knew no good reason why Indian blood
could not make as good white men in Mime
sofa as in Virginia.
When he had concluded-and after pro-
ceeding to cali of the Convention,
Mr.. WILSON was in favor Of leaving the
word in, but willing that the question be
submitted to the people. He was unwilling
to act without the decision of the people,
This question had not yet been before the
people.
Mr.. NORTH preferred to make it right.
and let the people have the responsibility oil
the wrong, if it must be. He believed that
a large majority of the body would prefer that
the word were out. And he knew many Re-
publlcans who could not vote for o Constitu-
ton with this restriction in 1t.
Mr.. MCCLURE thought nothing would be
effected here either by leaving the word in,
or striking it out since the question was to
go before the people, and the whole RESPONSE
bllty of the action upon it was to lest upon
them. 1t was no mans business, whether,
at the polls, he should vote to retain or to
strike out this word. He did not consider
tn. vote he was to give here upon this ques-
ton, to have any weight at all in comparison
with the ultimate vote which he should give
at the polls. No man had a right to alledge
that he or any other member would sacrifice
principle by voting either way here. Neither
negro suffrage nor opposition thereto, was a
plank in the Republican platform.
Dir. B4ALCOMBE (Mr. Stannard in the
chair took special exceptions to the state.
ment of Mr. North, that the distinctive diff
ference between the Republican and Demo
cratic parties, was all in this question of ne
gro suffrage. The Democratic party were
committed against negro suffrage but the
Republican party were not committed in ia.
vor of it. It vas no plank in their platform.
The Republican party was formed en- the ba-
sis of opposition to the spread of Slavery
| ignoring other issues. This amendment was
new matter in legislation, which, if it succeed
ed here, he believed would be fatal to the
Constitution.
MIR. SECOMBE protested against gentle
men styling free suffrage new doctrine. II
was doctrine of the true American party
that had ruled this country for so years.
The restriction of suffrage was the interpola
ton.
After further debate by Mr.. Colburn in ia.
VOC of striking out, and Mr.. Foster against
! it.
Yeas-Messrs. Baldwin Bates, Cleghorn
Colburn Phelps, Perkins, Putnam, Peckham
Secombe, and Sheldon. Davis, Gerrish, Hay
den, Mantor, Messer, North-l7.
Nays-Messrs. Aldrich, Anderson, Barth
olomew, Butler, Cogswell, Cederstom, Doo
ley, Dickerson Eschlie, Foster, Folsom, Gal
bralth, Harding, Hanson, King, Kemp, Lisle
Lowe, McCan, McKune, Mcclure, Morgan
Mills, Murphy, Robbins, Russell, Stannard
Smith, Thompson Vaughn: Walker Watson