The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-02-18

perhaps become Duke, but not a Demo-
crat If his arguments had any point it
was in urging that because in the past we
have failed to recognize the African race
as part of the human family, having
rights in common with the rest of Gods
children, therefore we should continue to
do SO. This justifying injustice by prece-
dent is not an original discovery of Mr..
Callicot.
Mr.. Bingham said that if Mr.. Callicot
really believed what he had labored so in
dustriously to prove, that negroes and mu-
lattoes are not citizens, then he. ought by
all means to favor the resolution striking
out the clause in regard to colored persons,
as the Constitution will then read, "Every
citizen of the age of 81 years." &C., may
vote. So that, if he is correct in his con-
clusion, after the fundamental law shall be
amended as is now proposed, no colored
person can vote, no matter how wealthy
he may be. He (Mr. Bingham held that
negroes were citizens, and that they ought
to have the rights of citizens Mr.. CALI
cot held to different idea; therefore they
both should, to be consistent, vote for the
proposition under consideration, because it
will enlarge the elective franchise, and be-
| cauca n will restrict If
Mr.. Ellsworth Republican, of Saratoga,
was opposed to the amendment, not be-
cause the negro is not citizen, but be-
cause he is degraded being, unfit to exer-
else the elective franchise; because it would
be cheapening the right of suffrage, because
it would, in the opinion of Mr. Ellsworth,
have tendency to drive white people
from the polls in disgust, and end in put
ting the Government into the hands of the
negroes, and then itwould make our South
ern brethren feel bad if we were to recog-
nize any right in negro except to work
for the support of a master.
Mr.. Milliken favored the proposition for
submitting the amendment to the people,
whom he considered entirely competent to
decide the question on its merits.
Mr.. Reagan was opposed to it because,
in his opinion, the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and the Constitution of the United
States don't recognize the equal rights of
white and black folks.
Mr. Miller of Buffalo, whose complexion
is very dark, would vote for the measure
in selfdefenSe He was not sure but he
might be driven from the polls some time,
or possibly be captured by some United
States Marshal in pursuit of an escaped
chattel.
Mr.. Law alluded to the constitutional
prohibition to show that it was an anomaly.
While every man with a white skin has
right to vote, slight tinge of African
blood closes the ballot-box forever against
the unfortunate man, unless he shall own
property of the value of $3.50. Thus, the
possession of money makes a man a citi-
zen; the want of it serf IF people de-
sire it, they should be allowed to say
whether wealth shall open the ballot-box,
and the want of it close it, This is the
simple question. Shall the mere purse de-
eide mans worth
1t is claimed that the African is degra-
ded and abect race. Admit it. Shall
we, therefore. say that this degradation
and abjectness shall be obliterated by
money! Now, African blood is the cause
of prescription. Next it may be the color
of the skin
If the negro race is degraded, do any
desire to elevate them2 If so, is not the
first necessary step to give to them the
right to vote? We deem this right useful
in elevating the foreigner. In five years,
whatever may be his character, he is allow
ed to vote. If that is right, is it right to
brand as too degraded TO vote man who
may have grown up in our own family, at
tended the same school, ate, perhaps, at
the same table-possessing equal religious
and moral character-our peers in educa-
ton, perhaps our superiors in intellect
He did not believe it. He, certainly,
should vote for these resolutions.
Mr.. Jaques had been waiting to hear
the voice of the Republican party; but he
had waited in vain. He had, however,
heard the voice of the Democratic party,
and he had heard the voice of old Sarato-
ga, (Mr. Ellsworth That gentleman
seems haunted with the fear, not only of
dissolution, but Of insurrection; and he
never heard him approach this subject
without an emotion of terror
Mr.. J. denied that there had been any
such decision in the U. S. Supreme Court