The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-08-28

Tie Abolition Candidate for Judge Of
the Supreme Court IN Fauor of Negro
Suffrage. 6
The Uniontown Genius of Liberty exposes
the course of Judge Agnew in the Reform Con-
vention on the question OF negro suffrage. 1t
should deprive him of the vote OF every man
| in the State who believes that our free white
ancestors framed our institution for free white
men and their descendants forever. We quote
from the Genius.
s.The Republicans have been as unfortunate
| in the nomination of Judge Agnew as that OF
Gov. Curtin. lie was a member of the Con-
yention which framed the Constitution Of 1888:
/ and his course in that body on the question of
negro suffrage was such as will not very strong
ly commend him to the favor of white men.
s.It is known that under the Constitution OF
| 1900 it was a mooted question whether colorcd
men were entitled to vote In some parts Of
the State they were allowed to exercise the
right and in Others it was denied them In the
Convention of 1888, called to amend the Con-
lstitution, it was proposed to put this question
Pat rest bv continuing the elective franchise 70
white men only With this view Mr.. Martin,
\ of ph;laaoirf:s., on the I'D of June, 1887,
offered the following proviso to the sd article:
s.Provided, also, That the rights of an e.
lector shall in no case extend to Others than
| free white male citizens
"On this proviso the yeas and nays were cal
led, and Judge Agnew voted against it, and
Judge Woodward, the present Democratic can
didate for Governor, who was also member
of the Convention, voted for it. The proviso
was lost.-Debates v. 8, page 9l)
'On the 18th of January, 1888, MIR. Martin
| renewed his effort, by moving to insert the word
white among the qualifications for voters.
Upon this motion long and able debate ensued.
Judge Woodward taking an active and leading
part in favor of the motion, and against negro
suffrage. On the Goth of January vote was
taken on the motion, by yeas and nays and the
word white was inserted in the third article of
the Constitution, Judge Agnew voting against
it and Judge Woodward for it. Debate, vol.
10, bage Io6.)
sTo that motion, thus carried against the
opposition of Judge Agnew, we owe the fact
that negroes are not voters to-day in Pennsyl-
vania. s M y,u
'.An attempt was subsequently made to con-
tinue the right of suffrage to those negroes who
had before exercised it; and for this Judge
Aguew voted, on the principle that half a loaf
is better than no bread. Judge Woodward
voted against it. ,.,.J. Fs
sThis is the man for whom white men are
asked to vote. Had he succeeded in making
negroes voters, bis chances of election would
now be pretty fair but as white men are, thro'
the efforts of men like Judge Woodward, alone
invested with the invaluable right of suffrage,
it is not likely that Judge Agacw will ever
reach the Supreme Bench.
awe cannot refrain from giving the conclu-
ding paragraph of a powerful speech made in
the Convention by Judge Woodward on this
question of negro suffrage isai
''I am sure the sober sense of our citizens
would be outraged by decision that negroes
are to vote, and this will be decided if you re-
ect the amendment. At no stage Of our his
tory have our people been willing to give them
this right, and now let us not offend against
nature and do violence to the general feeling,
by saying that in all time to come they shall
possess it. Let us not reduce the inestimable
right of suffrage to this degradation, lest the
people spurn it from them, as unworthy any
longer of their affections, but let us preserve
and bequeath it as we have inherited il, and
then posterity will have no reproaches tor our
memories el2e
1y~One hour lost in the morning will put
l.. H. III ,l.o h,o;,asa nf fhe dav. ona uainad