Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-05-04

SPEECH oF NR. EDNUNDs OF yEEMoNT SENATE,
APRIL %. 1906

Ma. EpNuSl s-Mr. President. as | feel con-
strained to vote against this reconsideration, and
as the reasons which impel me to that course arc
somewhat different in degree, # not in kind.
from those which have been advanced by other
Senators upon this floor. Reg the Indulgence Of
the Senate for q very few moments while | state
them
The principal objection which induces me to
oppose the admission Of this Territory at this
time. and to oppose it in spite Of the personal
respect and esteem which feel for the distn-
guishei gentlemen who would otherwise repre-
sent her in this body, is found in the nature Of
the constitution itself which she has presented,
rather than in the irregularity with which It has
been adopted, or in the want Of a sufficient pop
ulation to entiile her to admission; and pre-
sumo that nobody will suppose that | misrepre-
sent Vermont on this question when ! say that
il grows out Of this much discussed word.
"white"
In nv own State from its foundation, when 1t
WAS an independent State for many years, not
member Of the Union, its constitution from the
beginning to this day has adhered TO what
understand to be the principles Of the Declara-
ton Of Independence thoroughly. 1t has toler-
ated no distinctions between human rights OF
one race and another. or ofone color or a1other.
or Of one sect and another. While my State,
as all other States do, recognizes distinctions
among men, while il Acknowledges the para
mount right and the paramount duty Of ma
iority Of the whole people to determine what are
the true qualifications ofelectors, ii discards the
dogma Of delusion and OF wrong which declares
that these qualification and distinctions are TO
r,st upon unreal and accidental foundations -
Its laws always have, as the laws Of all States
do, provided that lunatics, non compotes, crimi-
inals, and 6 variety of classes Of persons upon
whom the law under similar circumstances op-
crates equally everywhere, are not entitled TO
exercise q voice in the government OF the
State.
Now, sir. in the case We have before US, inde-
pendent Of the question what are State rights
independent Of the propriety Of anything in the
constitution Of any State which already exists,
we are called upon. in the exercise Of a consti-
tutionsl power, to decide as a matter Of proprie-
ty for which we are responsible, what is ct and
necessary TO be contained In the constitution of
State which W. are about to admit. We have
entire power over the subject. II appeals to our
sense Of Justice and to our duty to the country.
1t appeals to that sense Of justice and 10 that
duty in the lessons We have derived from the
past and the hopes which we have for the future.
| am not TO be told, for one, that the rejection
Of 4 constitution because it imposes the qualih-
cation Of color upon its electors is thing that
has never been done before. As the honorable
Senator from Massachusetts, SAID the other day
when is the time to begin if it is not now , II
all preceding time the condition OF the country
the rights Of States, the situation Of people wer'
| different. We have reached the eliminating
point where the bitter fruits of error Of year
ago have been resped in large degree, anc
where now, turning our faces once more tovar,
the arts Of peace and the hopes Of prosperity
and Of equality. and fraternity too. shoulC
hope, We are to begin new era,
There is, therefore, eminent fitness according
to the spirit Of the times, there is great appro
priateness that now when We have the first op
portunity after what has passed. We should pu
ourselves right upon the fundamental principle
of government; and accordingly there have beel
| in this spirit introduced already in these ensbl
ing acts qualifications and requirements whic
were never introduced before. 1t has not bee
usual, according to my recollection. to insert
these enabling acts that ''the constitution whe
formed shall be republican and not repugnan
to the Constitution Of the United States and th
principles of the Declaration Of Independence.
That ancient charter of our liberties has agai
been referred TO, and among its principles b
lieye is the cardinal one, which has been state
by the Senator from Massachusetts,, Of the equa
Nv OF man, and that further principle whic
has been stated by him, which that instrumer
emphatically declares, that the obligation an
the right Of those who govern is derived fro
those who are governed
Now, there is offered to us constitution whis
contains in it the fundamental declaration tn
! the obligation to obey law, the power Of tho
who are to exercise law, does not depend uPt