The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-19

white" from the Constitution OF PENNSYLVANIA
l appeal to the history of the party in Pennsyl-
vania TO which the majority here belong. The
distinguished gentleman at the head ofthe Com
mlttee on Appropriations (Mr. Stevens) reported
the Republican platform for Pennsylvania, and
ask whether negro suffrage formed any part OF
Mr.. Kelley The gentleman says am willing
to impose negro suffrage upon people here in the
District whom have 10 right to represent
Mr.. Randall said, Except through the
agency OF the Constitution"
MIR. Kelley-That excepts the whole case. !
was going to refer to our constitutional duty
for have supposed hat under the Constitution
IL was made the duty of Congress to legislate
and not only to legslate, but that 1t should
exclusively legislate for the District.
Mr. Randall admit all that. And yet in the
lace OF the expression OF opinion such as we
have had here in the District, almost unanimous,
and with vote larger, except in few instances,
than has ever before been polled in this city,
We find the gentleman voting to force negro
suffrage upon the people of this District, and
failing to take any steps to give the same rieht
to the people whom he directly represents, the
colored portion of the people of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Kelley-I would like to ask my colleague
(Mr. RandalD whether any steps can now, be
taken on that subject, or whether the Constitu-
ton OF Pennsylvania docs not provide that it
shall be amended only once in five years And
whether it was not amended so as to bet our
soldiers vote two years ago, to the great disgust
OF the Democratic party?
Mr.. Randall - Yes sir the Coustitqton of
Pennsylvania provides that the step towards
procuring an amendment to that constitution
shall be taken at a certain period; and that is
the step which wish to see my colleague have
the boldness to take in reference to this question
of neglo suffrage.
1lr Kelley-Which step the gentleman will
find me ready to take as soon as time opens the
door which, is now barred against the movement
Mr.. Randall-Let me ask the gentleman
whether, when the Republican party adopted
its platform at Harrisburg last fall, that was not
fbn tiY1n IN fhoF into
on this question OF negro suffrage. ! know that
when it was affirmed, during that campaign by
the Democratic orators, that the true intention
OF the Republican party was to introduce negro
suffrage, the charge was vehemently denied
That cunning politician, Mr.. Cessna, the Chair
man Of the Republican State Central Committee,
went so Tar as to issue an address denying that
thC right of suffrage was a question in the can
vass NY colleague fought under tle banner of
that gentleman, endorsing, believe, everything
that he said.
desire only that tic true history of Pennsyl'
yania and the true history of the now dominant
party IN that State, IN reference to this subject
shall be fairly and fully known. When my col
league at1irms that the negroes had the right TO
vote in Pennsylvania up 10 the period Of the
adoption of the Constitution OF 1888, and that
the Democratic party were e10ne responsible Tor
depriymg them of that liG'At, desire that he
shall exhibit all the iacts, SO that this House
may understand the whole case, not merely
pa1t of it.
Mr.. Kelloy-Does tie gentleman mean to init
mate that | did nos advocate Colored suffrage
during the last canvass in Pennsylvania
Mr.. Randall did not hear every speech that
the gentleman made; but rea d the reports of
very many Of them, and never heard or saw
anything in his speeches in reference to that.
Mr.. Kelley--It may be that the gentleman dill
not read it in the newspapers; but let him in
qulre in all the counties in which | spoke, from
the Delaware to Lake Erie (and it was in a
majority OF the counties on that long ine) and
q
heard me- who will NOT tell him that advocated
Colored suffrage.
Mr.. Randall ask, Mr. Speaker why the gen.
tleman's party did not put that principle in the
platform! Acting with that party, the gentleman
was talking one way and looking another, like
the boy in the boat, WHO looked one way and
rowed another. The party with which the gen.
ueman acted wanted to gull the people, their
orators saying in one place that they we're IN
favor OF negro suffrage, and in another place de-
claring that they were against it. / admit that
in northwestern Pennsylvania some of the advo-
Gates OF that party threw down the gauntlet, and
raised the question of negro suffrage directly;
but in every other part OF Pennsylvania they ig-
nored that question.
Mr.. Kelley-I will only remind the gentleman
that The Twentieth and Twenty-tourth Wards OF
Philadelphia are not in north western Pennsyl-
vania; and in both OF those wards ] advocated
colored suffrage, apparently very acceptably to
Mr.. Randall have given the gentleman an
opportunity to answer my question, and have
answered every question which he has pro
pounded to me. l now desire to ask him whe-
ther he Is in favor of amending the Constitution
Of Pennsylvania by striking out the word
'white" in the clause defining the qualifications
of electors?
Mr.. Kelley-I reply to the gentleman that I
am in favor of striking out that word "whlte' as
soon as the Constitution Will permit. / have a
high regard for Franklin, Benezet and the men
who with them laid the foundations of our Gov
ernmept and gave 10 the English language one
of the gran6est things in it, literature, the pre-
in the midst OF the war OF the Revolution, gave
TO the world the first mDe OF the members O.
ruling class, in gratitude to God for blessings
bestowed on them, con errlng freedom and cti
zenshIp upon their slaves. had rather, sir, pass
my life in humble privacy, surrounded and sus
tanned by the spirits OF those good and great men
than have the multitude shouting applause fol
my efforts i'll bad cause in the halls OF Congress
or elsewhere.
| am for so enforcing the provisions of the
Constitution of the United States chat its inter
probation and application shall be in accordance
with what believe Washington and Madison t
| have understood it to express. / do not wish Il
| impose upon South Corolina and Mississippi
| what am not ready to adopt in Pennsy ylvania
| and as the Constitution conf des the election o
| members of Congress- to those who have tn
| ture, believe it has also the power to decid
| who shall vore Tor the lower House of the Legis
| lature. Therefore, sir, hope we will pass
| law defining who shall vote for the lower Hous
| OF a Legislature in each and every State of tn
| Union. That viii settle all our difficulties an,
| 1henceiort armed rebellion will be impossible
|
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