The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-03-08
Suffraue Extension.

Senator Sholes from the select committe the
suffrage question, on Wednesday of last week, sub
mitted to the Senate the following report
The select committee constituted withreference to
the suffrage BILL beg leave to report, by majority, as
follows " t'Nf = sft - =
We deem it not improper to discuss the General
principle Of the subject submitted
If the political right of suffrage is not manhood
right then we are at a loss to understand how the
rights enumerated in the declaration as natural and
nalienabe, are such, because one is an indispensi
bic means of securing the others. They must stand
or fall together. And ii governments are instituted
among men to secure rights and the Just powers OF
government are derived from the consent ofthe gov
erned, how are those rights to be Justly secured
without that consent and ON what principle do we
assume the right to govern any class people with
out their consent? Any other basis is violation OF
the just principles OF a republican government.
The only question to beasked, on truly republic
can principles in respect to any class being entitled
to the right OF suffrage is, do they actually consti
tute part of the whole people And are we not
forever precluded from assuming that the coored
population of this State not part of the people,
by the fact that we subject them to taxation and call
upon them to bear arms in defence of the govern-
ment! Ii they are considered part of the people
as respects all the burdens of governments ON syhat
ground of consistency or justice do we exclude
them from the full privileges of government? 2
We take the broad ground, that the ballot belongs
to all classes ofour people 10 every fully as
In the policy of exclusion, the second step is as
consistent as the first the third as the second AID
SO on indefinitely. A principle is adopted, the a.
advocates of exclusion some make one thing areason
and some another One would exclude on the
ground ola want of education Another would
make the possession of certain kind or amount OF
property an essential qualification. Another reli-
gious creed. Another, thinks tatthose foreie
birth should be excluded. While the popular decis-
ion of Wisconsin excludes people OF color even
though their blood may be aths gsths Anglo Sax
on Of all the reasons FOR exclusion the most popu-
lar is evidently the most useless and most I'M
just. Fl Tas
Again, five may deprive man ofOne ofhis rights
we may of all-and if one man, then all men: and
the great theory offundamenta rights is an explo-
ded hypothesis.
A common pretext for the invasion and plumber of
individualright has been that rights are the gifts
may rightfully take away. The true doctrine, how
ever is, that individual rights the gift of God,
and exist Independent ofallsocial cempacts, civil
constitutions and legal enactment-that they exist
as truly in community under despotic govern
ment, as in one under free government God has
implanted them in the human constitution, what he
has thus doneis not abrogated by any thing which
may insert in their written codes. And more
than this. the whole design OF civil institutions and
human governments is, or should be, the equal and
perfect protection and security of rights just
for a9goyernlnents thus constituted VIII their
machinery work tremendously and successfully I;
and in far they not thus constituted, will
disorder and failure ems Re.-Is not our country a
striking example in point, and does not all history
exhibit this truth The voice of law Is the voice OF
right. Legalized wrong is the most hagrant and
abominabe species of wrong; and OF this character,
Is the wrong done to the coored people ofths state.
To deny destroy rights is opposed to the le
gltlmate design OF civil institutions than any thing
IRENE opposite of the whole design OF law and iurs
prudence. Correct and just legislation win regard
each individual in the community vital part OF
the community. Any wrong done to any members