, 1865-10-28
M LAW:
Extracts from a $pesch delivered in The L. S.
House Of Representatives., by Hon. I'm. b.
Kelley. Of F'ennsyiranio, January, 1865.

- - - 1890 ~" p 'f'N'' W s'N
United States was instituted to secure the rights
Of all tho citizens Of The country, and not for The
benefit Of men of one race only and 1 know not
where to look for evidence that Mould strengthen
the cniiclusivcness Of The mass Of proof l have
Tins aiduccd, embracing rs it does the action of
the Trainers Of nll the State constitutions but one,
OF tho Congress for framing Articlcs'o OF Contcl-
Grafton, Of tlG Convention for framing tlIr Con.
stitution Of the United States, the acts Of Con.
ErcsS i'll unhrokcn series throughout tho active
lie cf Il generation, and the solemn obligations
assumed by the executive department of the Ma.
tional government in the exercise Of the treaty.
making power. If other sources of proof there
DC, it can only serve to make assurance doubly
sure.
MI. Speaker, it is safe to assert that in every
State save South Carolina, AID possibly Virginia
mid l)clawarr,-in Which two States the uucs.
ton of sHfiraEc was regulated lv statute and not
Ivy Constitutional provision, negroes participa-
ted III constituting the convention which framed
the Constitution OF the United States, and voted
tyr ii'cfnbcrs of the State conventions to which
the question of its ratification was submitted;
AMI as tliat Constitution contains no clause which
expressly or by implication 1cIirivcs Them of the
protecting power ami influence of the instrument
they participated in creating, | may well say thai
to secure i'!ttfi!;!s peace by the establishment Hf
political holmogcncity, and pcrpctuaic it BY the
abolition of political classes aud castcs whose
conflicting rights and interests will provoke in.
crs<ant agitation, and ever and anon, as tile op-
pressed may III inspired by the fundamental
PRINCIPLES OF our government or sua,tcd bv
wrongs, excite armed inslrrcction, we need adopt
yih ,,.,r. ,I,.n,.,.. 1t.t v,,.,,,, H." ,.: -. ~ ..-
fathers, aul administer in SD faith to nl men
Tie institutions they tDlndacx,n them.
AS 4 Step to this, mya EcnLmcn, proposes,
not that tie entire mass ;se .orIc Of African dc
scent, whom our laws iS:rS.ns,onns have dcgrul-
cd and aro,alizcl, shall b Immediately clothed
with all tho rights Of citizenship. 1t proposes
only to grant The right 1 suffrage, incs,imE.blc to
all men, 10 ,'"-s, Win s..iy he sn .ar titlcr ny
education for its Judiciu,ts exercise Us to be MI.
TO read lhr Constitution and laws of the country.
il, addition 10 The brave men. WHO in ;lc name
Of law and liberty, and in the hope Of leaving
their children heirs to both, have welcomed Tie
baptism Of battle in the naval and mi!itar: ser.
vice .: tic United States, and who are embraced
by the amendment reported by the committee.
This, ] admit, will he IN entering wedge, ly the
aid Of which, in y brief time, the whole mass i'm.
proved, enriched. an enlightened by the last
coming and hcue!iccnt ltovidcnc" Of God, will
he qualified for and permitted 10 enjoy those
rights by winch they may protect themselves,
AMI ud III giving TO all others that near approach
!" exact JnHticc "i'ica wc hope TO attain from The
intelligent exercise OF universal suffrage, and
we submission Oh all trials ut law i'll Which Il citi-
~" ma! DO interested to the decision OF his peers
rs jurors.
Let us meet me Question iHIrly. 10 our insti.
'''ti"'S rest on comrlexi"nnl differences! Can
we cement ana lcrpcttntr them by s,rrcndcrinS
'he PATROLS OF Tic h's"rgc't district, shorn of
ai' political power, INTO the hands OF the traitors
"''ohl we propose 10 prolitiate by such Il sacri:
nee OF '"ltlI ana honor! DID God ordain our
country 1or i single race oi men Is there rca-
son WHY me ihtclliseit' wealthy, loyal man of
color sii'ii stand apart. at"s''d, on clcctiuil-dav,
"'''le ms ignorant, liltc''lhcratc, VICIOUS, and dis
loyal White ~'iclsiibor participates IN making laws
'"r ms government VIA = tire logic that lie
mes Z" {" son Inc right 10 rot" with or aSains, his
tleicr' itc"liS: II has pleased Heaven that he !
sh"nsa lsartakc more largely ol his mothers than
OF that fathers complexion and is j, not
SHOWN 10 MI OF lis ''n't wei nigh forty per cent
Oi tic colDrcd people Oi the South are children