Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-04-27
colorado-wilson and Sumner.

The admission of Colorado is opposed |
by many good Union men on the ground
that their State Constitution does not give
impartial suffrage. The motion to admit
has once been rejected, and motion TO
reconsider that vote has been pending Tor
some :ime, and on Thursday Of last week !
the subject came up and the following de-
bate occurred between Senators Sumner
and Wilson:
hope the Senate will not proceed with
the consideration of the question to-day,
and assign two reasons why they should
not proceed with it to-day The first is,
that on looking about the Senate, l see
many senators absent who ought to be
here at the consideration of so important
question. That is my first reason. The
second is that this day, in this city, is ded-
icated to the cause of human freedom and
human rights,-of emancipation. The
streets, to-day, are filed with happy
people, emancipated by act Of Consle less,
who are celebrating the anniversary of
their rights. 1t is, sir, no proper day in
which to proceed to recognize human
equality, and in which to receive into this
Union a con immunity which chooses to in
suit the age by appearing here with con-
stitution setting at defiance the fundamen-
tai principles of the Declaration of indie
pendence. Sir, this is no day in which TO
proceed with the consideration Of that
question. insist that this day shall be
consecrated to human rights, that it shall
not be given up 10 an attempt 10 recognize
the overthrow Of human rights. l may
be told, sir, that there are but ninety col
ored persons in this distant territory who
are to be sacrificed. If there were but
one, that would be enough to justify my
opposition. Out of these ninety, more
than seventy-fve, ] am told, have borne
arms for you in the late war, and yetthese
people are now positively DISTINGUISHED ia
the constitution which it is proposed to
recognize. Sir, if you choose to do it, il
you choose to insult the public sentiment
of the age by such an act, do not do ii to-
day.
Mr. Wilson replied =
Mr.. President, / have made this motion
this morning, in pursuance of notice
which gave yesterday. My colleague
opposes it, as he has a right to do, although
be was one of the most prompt men in the
Senate to take up the proposition TO au-
thorize Colorado-to do precisely what she
has done. He voted, not only to take up
that proposition in preference TO olhei
business, but he voted for the bill to allow
Colorado to make constitution and come
this distinction, or not to make it, just al
she pleased. That bill did not even maxi
a suggestion that site should secure equal
ty before the law TO all OF her citizens
On the 81 day of March, 1864, my col
league voted that the people of the terri
tory of Colorado should be authorized tC
frame a constitution, and that the presi
dent should admit her into the Union
When she framed it on his proclamation
he did not then propose to provide tina
she should not make this distinction. HI
never suggested it. He did not dream o
it. All Of US on this side of the chamber
/ think, voted for that biz, and had Colo
RADIO framed her constitution Immediately
she would be in the Union to-day, just a
Nevada is. for which he voted. Although
: voted against taking up the proposition
when my colleague voted to do SO, yet
when it was up and we came to a vote o.
! the passage Of the bill, | voted for it, am
} the bill was passed Is to II.
: Now, sir, the people of Colorado hay
5 availed themselves of the liberty which
, gave them, by our votes. and they hav
. framed a constitution which they hav
a presented here. 1 voted the other da
e against that admission, but | must comics
}, that in doing so did not feel satisfied tha
: / was dealing fairly with the people {
: Colorado ] do not think it is fair pla'
n after we passed the bill which we did PAL
e in 1864, and after the most enterprisin
and vigorous men in that territory, WI
agree with the majority of US in this chan
't Der, have framed constitution and CON
N here for admission, for us TO refuse the
as application on the ground of distinctic
l. which they have made in their consitl
ton, when we did not ask them to refIa
~ from making such distinction, when "
o. imposed NJ condition on them, when "
u did not suggest any. After this course
9 legislation, it seems 100 late now to rais
~ question upon that point.
t. {. That, sir, is my position. have move
!" this reconsideration, and shall sustain
&c for the reasons have stated. am FRI
III 10 say, however, that viii vote for l
1