Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-02

SPEECH OF SENATOR EDMUEDs AGAINST tn
BILL.


/ Mr.. President, as feel constrained to vote
against this reconsideration, and as the reasons
which impel me to that course are somewhat
different in degree, if not in ind, from those
which have been advanced by other Senators
upon this floor. beg the indulgence of the
Senate for few moments while l 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 dis
tingushed gentlemen who would otherwise
represent hel in this body, is found in the ma
ture of the constitution itself which she has
presented, rather than in the freguarity with
which it has been adopted in the want of
sufficient population to entitle her 10 admission !;
and presume thai nobody will suppose that |
misreprssent Vermont on this question when
cay that it grows cut OF this much discussed
word, white"
In my own State from is foundation when it
an independent Stale for many years, not
member of the Union, its constitution from the
beginning to this day has adhered to what
uaderatand to be the prime pies of tie Declare
ton Of Independence thoroughly. 1t has toll
Grated no distinctions between human rights Of
race and another, or Of one color and
another, or OF one sect and another While
my State, as ali other States do, recognizes
distinctions among men, while il acknowledges
the paramount right and the paramount duty
OF majority OF the whole people TO determine
what the true qualifications of electors, it
discards the dogma of uelusion and Of wrong
which declares that these qualifications and dis
tlnctions are 10 rest upon unreal and accidental
foundations. lis laws always have, as the laws
of all staiec do, provided that lunatlcs, non
compotes, criminals, and variety of persons
upon whom the l-w und-r similar circumstances
! llN nj fpn q
exercise voice in the government OF the State.
Now, sir, in the We have before Us, in
dependent Of the question what are State rights,
INDEPENDENT OF the iropTiety OF anything IN
the constitution Of any State which already eX-
ISIS, called upon, in the exercise of q
constitutional power, to decide a matter Of
proprlety for which are responsible, what i.
TT and necessary 10 be contained III the consti-
tuition of State which We are about TO admit.
We have entire power over the subject. 1t
appeals 10 sense of justice and 70 our duty
10 the country. 1t appeals to that sense OF JUS
tce and TO that duty IN the lessons We have de-
rived from the past and the hopes which we
have for the future. | AIN not 10 b. tod, for
one, that the rejection of constitution because
it imposes the qualification Of color upon it's
electors is thing that has never been done
before As the honorable Senator from Mas
sachusetts said the other day when is the time
to besIa if II is not now 10 all preceding time
the condition o. he country, the rights Of
states, the situation Of the people were differ
ent. We have reached The eliminating point
where the bitter fruits of errors of years ago
have been reaped il large degree, and where
now, turning our faces once more towards the
arts of peace and The hopes OF prosperity and
of equality, and fraternity too. | should hope,
10 begin era. ILeTe IS, therefore,
eminent fitness according 10 the spirit OF the
times, there Is great appropfiai ensss thai no"
when We nave the tirst opportunity after what
has passed we should put ourselves right upon
the fundamental principles OF government sud
accordingly there have been ~ this spirit 10
troduced already IN these enabling acts quallt-
cations and requirements which were never III
troduced before. Il has not been usual, accord
Ing 20 my recollection, l insert in these en-
abIng acts That he constitution vhen formed
shall be republican and not repugnaut TO the
Constitution Of the United Stats ana the prln-
cip!es Of the Declaration ot Independence.
That ancient charter of our liberties mas az am
been referred to, and among It's principles
believe is the carduiI one, when HIS been
slated by ths Senator from Massachusetts Of
the equality Of man, and IN I further principle
which has been stated By him, which that ID
strament emphaticaly declares, the. the obh-
cation and the right Of those who govern is
derived from those who governed.
Now, there is offered 10 constitution
which contains in it the fundamental declaration
that the obligation 10 obey Jaw, The power OF
those who - exercise law, does not depend
upon the consent Of some portion Of lhe gov
erned al all but that by reason OF the accident
of the color Of i man s skin Of his race, of
origin, independent Of color-because l take It
the word white in This constitution means
white a distinguished from the negro
- he oh dad
/ from participation III the government. We
are called upon b. This constitution, l say TO
d. clare. II We approve II and submit 1t to thl.
peoplc, that a provision, fundamental IN its
nature, in this cJastl.ution Of that description
10 correct. | Cannot consent 20 tie doctrine.
If rightly understand the theory Of the form
alton # government, It is that coma tuition,
are formed (aade from the mere frame work
and machinery Of goyernmen) for the protec
ton Of private lights ard the fundamental
rights ri mnorities and individuals against tbs
powers of majoriiiss against the exercise of
arbitrary power or Of tyranny on he part of
the government.
Now, sir, whal is there sacred, what is
there fundamental! in the right o. The y bite
TO rule the black, that the white men can
not Re trusted with the power OF wledlng ii by
q majority What is there IN the nature Of
this question which makes 1t our duty u say to
the people Of Colorado, g W e will not trust a
majority of your voters 10 repeal the clau Sc,
but We will allow you to put il in your funda
mental law so tina; the free will of your ma jor
ity Can never get il out fail to what
there is sacred in This right Of white suffrage
and ii The duty Of the absence OF outrage On
the part OF the black man, require it to
be inserted in the fundamental law OF the Gov
eminent.
Iou will And sir and Senators will find that
this constitution contains the usual clause that
two-thirds OF tbs Legislature are requisite to
amend it in any particular. 1t is not, therefore,
1 said before, the QUESTION whether it is right
or fit that a state should decide for itself who
or what portion OF It's citizens should vote, cut
it is the fundamental question whether we will
allow a territory over which We have control to
impose upon Itself an obligation which 1t cam
not recede from, TO exclude from any OF the
political rights Of government any class of its
citizens. That IS tue question. do not know
but that if this were left, as the original enab-
ling act left it, to the people OF that territory
to declare of themselves when and under what
circumstances the coiored race should be
clothed with political rights, | should not be
satisfied. / should then have preferred indeed
that we sh uld have some voice III the matter /
but fail TO perceive how we can De appealed |
to 10 give 10 these people constitution which |
ties up their own hands from doing what every
one of my political brethren says Is an act Of
justice.
What is there SO sacred in ls thing that
this same constitution does not require the Leg-
islature, by two thirds of its members, 10 allow
any other class OF citizens to vote Is it not
the subject OF ordinary legislation to declare
VINO shall vote and under what circumstances
And if SO, why is IL necessary 10 insert in a con-
Eiabc ha cfyfrI .lisI hxra