The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-08-11
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
Speech of Chief Justice Chase.

Mr.. President and Gentlemen: | feel op-
pressed with the many kind ailusons that
have been made here CONCERNING myself, and
for these numerous expressions of your warm
personal regard, be pleased to accept my
sincerest thanks. For many reasons l would
be silent to-day, yet here among so many of
my brothers, feel it not only duty but
pleasure TO give expression to my views con-
corning the important resolutions now under
consideration. Gen. Shepiey wishes you to
erect beautiful memorial building in COM
memoration of the noble sons of dartmouth
who have fallen in the great conflict of the
past tour years. This is we'll !; but would
suggest that, OF the reOrganized country they
died 70 save, we erect q memorial that will
endure forever. 1 believe, gentlemen that
we should be honest In the expression of our
views upon all subjects. My motto has al
ways been to form my ideas, and then put
them into acts. And, In relation to national
matters | am free to say that | believe one
of the first things which ought to be done is
to give every man in this country who is un-
attsinted of crime the right to vote. Great
applause. l believe there is virtue In the
colored people of the SOUTH They do not
possess college educations but turning to
Gov. Smyth) men can be governors without
liberal course of study. Applause. They
can be presidents, also. More applause L.
At the time when | was in politics, bellev-
ed the main duty was TO vote the ticket
Well, there are Intelligent eolored people in
the south sufficient to make up the ticket.
and the others will vote it. Now, how many
gentlemen here can put their hands on their
hearts and give the exact reasons why they
voted the last general ticket? | refer to his
Excellency, Gov. Smyth, to the Elk Judge,
Eastman, to the president and the ex-presi
t,nY md ooH fhnp, tatl axx,Ex
so voted, if they can. l hear no reply. and
wouldsay that If you cannot answer nv
query, you must not object to the -coIored
people voting on the ground that they would
not know what they are about. Applause
Now look to the moral element as the
main qualification for exercising the right of
suffrage. Now. gentlemen, the moral ele-
ment greatly predominates in the colored
people. An acquaintance of mine said he
was opposed to universal suffrage among the
blacks, but remarked that those colored per-
sons who have fought in the army, who can
read and write and who belong TO the church
ought to vote. Well, said to my friend.
that is all right. for those who don't belong
to the church can all join tomorrow lap
plouse. IL might not be very moralizing
process, but it would accomplish the object
in view. Now don't believe the constitu-
tions of the seeded states should determine
the qualifications for voting. have talked
with our good president at Washington on
the subject, and he doesn't exactly agree
with me. but have hopes that shall bring
him around to it before long Appiause.I
Through this great war the colored people
have been freed, and believe that all free
men are citizens. My theory is that in the
south the states remain states, but that the
people are not the same people as heretofore
The organisations of the rebel states have
been destroy ed, and we must go to the people
to reorganize these states. Now who are the
peoplef In reply would say that / believe
this war has made every colored man, woman
or child just as much one of the people as
the whites, tgreat applause,) and believe
that the whole people are to reorganize the
rebel states. / furthermore believe that the
government has no more right to bar one cit
zen tuniess attainted by crime) from voting
than another. Theee, Mr.. President, are the
sincere views of my heart, and / have felt il
my duty to express them to you If any of
my hearers do not readily endorse mv IDEAS
! would at least ask that you give them an |
honest and careful consideration. In corcIu.
sion, gentlemen. l would simply saw. let n.
0uiio not only the memorial monumsnt bns
- 1GeTa- SEksFFF8E84T