Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-06-02
Negro Suffrage BY Federal or state
Authority.

Authority.
In the debate on the Colorado Bill,
april 24th)-on the question Of recon-
siderVion-ths following colloquy oc.
Cured:
Mr.. Nys-My friend from Wisconsin,
(Mr. Doolittle) when he was laboring to
keep the blacks from voting in Wisconsin
last fall, did not know that there vas an
existing statute OF the book that allowed
them to vote.
Mr.. Doolittle-It my honorable friend
will allow me. I wish right here to state a
fact that has escaped his attention. With
his permission, ! may Is well state Il here
as at any other point. Twenty years ago
! advocated colored suffrage and voted for
it. lntthe State Of Wisconsin, v Q since
I have resided in the State, I was willing
that colored men should vote in it. This
very fall that he speaks Of, I advocated
before our people to allow colored men in
Wisconsin to vote, and I voted for 1t at
the polls.
Mr.. Nye-That is good.
Mr.. Doolittle-But let me say to the
honorable Senator from Nevada, there
was another thing that / advocated, and it
was this: that each State had q right for
itself to determine the question, and that
the Federal Government had no right or
constitutional power to impose on a State
negro suffrage; that the right of q State
to determine that question for itself was
n of the reserved rights of every State,
under the Constitution. I give the hon.
orable gentleman notice now that il he, or
the men who act with. him here, shall IN
dertake to impose negro suffrage upon a
State Of this Union. coming from the Fed.
eral Government as an exercise OF author
ity here, he and any party or set Of men
who advocate K will be crushed under
the force Of public opinion and swept out
Of existence. I say TO the honorable SEN
ator that the rights of States are of as
much consequence as the rights of indi.
viduals. 1t 10 not the first time that on
this subject I have been misrepresented
here and elsewhere.
Mr.. Stewart-Let me inquire Of the
Senator whether he wishes to be under
stood that IN attempt to amend the Con-
stitution so as to effect that end would
crush the party.
Mr.. Doolisle-I say that any party that
advocates
Mr.. Nye-Mr. President
Mr.. Dooliule-To reply to both the
Senators from Nevada at once on the SUBJ
ject is more than I bargsined for. I rose
to correct my friend from Nevada on my
right. fMr. Nye.]
Mr.. Grimes-Answer that question.
Mr.. Doolittle-I will answer it II the
Senator from Nevada on my right is viii.
ling to give way. Lam perfectly frank to
say that any party, political or otherwise,
which shall 20 before the people Of the
United States upon tho idea that tho Fed
eral Government or the Federal Constitu.
ton is to impose upon the States negro
suffrage against the will Of the States, will
20 to the wall.
Mr.. Stewart-That is not the question
I asked.
Mr.. Doolittle-The question the gen.
tleman asked was, whether the States will
accept a proposition to amend the Consti.
tuition giving negro suffrage. I answer
no, sir, they will not. Join the issue a,
soon as you please, here or elsewhere. and
out of New Englsnd there are not three
States in this Union, neither Nevada no,
Colorado, Ior any Of the new States OIL
the old States that will vote for an amend.
ment of the Constitution Of the United
States by which negro suffrage shall b
imposed upon the States.
Mr.. Cowan-Nor amend their own.
Mr.. Doolittle-In reference to that
will not say. There are other States tina
will amend their W constitutions on the
subject. l simply rose to set my friene
from Nevada mr.. Nye] right on tha'
question. While I, a. an individual
have advocated the rightof each State tc
determine this question for itself, snt
in the State of Wisconsin have advocated
giving to the colored men there the righl
Of suffrage, because the negroes who arr
residing there, generally speaking Al I
class, were able to exercise 1t properly,
still insist that it did not belong to the
Federal Government to impose on othel
States as condition to their being In
this Union.
Mr.. Nye-Mr. President, I have said
nothing upon that question. It seems tc
be the nightmare that haunts my frient
from Wisconsin and I receive his asser.
ton with every degree Of allowance thai
is necessary for q person that does MOI
seem to express the wishes of his owr
State as expressed by the Legislature, anc
therefore I doubt his authority to speal
for the public on that question. II II
Banquo's ghost with him.
Mr.. Dooli,tle-Allow me a word or
that point.
Mr.. Nye-You have drawn me of. ant
I should like to proceed with my remarks
The Presiding oficer-The Senator
from Nevada is entitled to the floor.
Mr.. Dooliule-Ths gentleman speaks
of my disappearing the State Of Wis.
cousin. ..-
Mr.. Nye-No. You read the resolu.
tons the other day that requested you to
vote one way, and yet you voted the other
way.
The Presiding Ofieer-senstors mus,
address the Chair.
Mr.. Doolittle-I will not interrupt the
Senator if he does not desire an interrup.
ton ; but on that point I desire to state to
him that the convention Of Wisconsin last
fall unanimously declared in favor Of the
doctrines to which I have advertsd on this
occasion.
SUPPORT OF THE PPREsIDzNr.-The
| Hon. Cassius M. CLAW, of Kentucky, the