The New York herald., 1868-03-03
THE VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HfaALp.n

Apparent to tho Seat-The Debate Upon
Suffrage Resnmes-Underwoed Assaulted as
n Judge, Senator and Prrsident-Is Virginia
statc-Spcech Of MIR. Gibson-Reply ofDr.
Norton, Colored.
RIcnMoND, Feb. 81, 1868.
The debate on suffrage still occasions the live.
liest interest here, daily attracting large numbers
OF both races TO TIE galleries aud floor Of the
house. 1t wes interrupted, however, yesterday.
by the expulsion of conservative member. call
it expulsion, though it was done upon the pretext
that the gentleman was ineligible, having voted
for the ordinance of secession, and previ-
ously held Office as clerk, which required
him TO take the oath Of allegiance to
the United States. Tho case was that OF
Mr.. Mauzey. Of Culpeppcr, who was returned
from that county by large majority over John
Minor Bolts. his opponent. Mr.. Mauzey had been
pardoned by President johnson, and thereby re-
stored to all his political rights. When elected he
received certificate as a member of the Conven-
tion from General Schofeld, and has, since the
meeting Of the body, been in constant attendance,
voting upon every question before it. Neverthc-
less the Committee on Privileges and Elections
considered him ineligible, and recommended the
following resolution, which was adopted by
strict party vote:-
Resolved. That Fayetts Mauzey was, at ihe time Of
MIA election, ineligible the Convention
that he Is not entitled to hold the same.
The vote was yeas SO, nays 80. and Mr.. Nancy
was elected. 1t is not believed that Mr.. Bolts
will now claim the seat, as it would be neither
pleasant nor profitable so late in the session..
Mr.. Liggat tconservative) then resumed his re.
marks upon suffrage, as that was next in order.
He was opposed to the enfranchisement of the
negroes upon every principle Of right, liberty and
justice. The measure was an outrage upon the
constitution Of the United States, and subvcrsve
Of all liberties and perogatives Of the States.
Black suffrage was but political stepping stone
for the radical party, by which they endeavorcd TO
wane. This was amply demonstr ted by Mr..
Hunnicutt, who said the protection OF
negroes was required by loyal white voters.
He inquired Of the sable members, Do the
membcr). Do they ask you to take their daugh-
ters to church? Yes (Kelso, the African who was
on the Grant committec). Are you admitted to
parlors when appointed by this honorable Conven.
ton to wait upon General Grant by the ladies
This made Mr.. kelso very indignant, and he said,
II was not turned out Of the parlor." "No,
because you were not let in." The radicals urged
as an excuse for the aagrant unconstitutionaty of
the Reconstruction acts that Virginia was not
State. II so. how was the then President of this
Convention a United States Senator of Virginia,
using the franking privilege and sending docu.
ments from this Convention all over the coun-
try for every radical member who solicited
that favor? He was a political clown and an
exempt iicaton of an acrobat. If Virginia was a
State, how did he, the President act as judge
and Senator at the same time? II this was not
State, he Underwood) was guilty of hich crimes
and misdemeanors. and should he seized tried and
convicted. He used the franking privilege as n
Senator while assuming the State he represented
was not State. Mr.. Clements (radieaO followed
in very good argument in favor of negro suf-
frage, which WIS elaborated at considerable
length in written speech, from which he read.
He urged no dsfranchiscment beyond what was
already done by the Reconstruction acts and made
some points that will be replied to by Mr.. Gibson.
As the hour was late Mr.. Clements remarks could
not we'll be given.
TO day Mr.. Gibson obtained the floor and occu-
pied it nearly two hours. He claimed Virginia
was State, so recognized hy the President ofthis
Convention IN representing IT as Senator and
using the franking privilege recognized by Con.
grcss in submitting to it for ratification an amend
ment OF the constitution; and recognized also by
Congress in the Reconstruction acts, inasmuch as
the States allowed to say whether they
should call conventions or not. He contended ne
groes not citizens under the constitution Of
the United States; they had not come here as for
eigners and become naturalized: they had been
held in bondage unit; Abraham Lincoln, regard
less Of his oath # Office, signed the emancipation
proc ion: they were here today as ci liens
without the shadow OF right They were fitted
neither by intellectual, educational nor moral at
tanments for suffrage. Since they were first dis.
covered by Northern slave traders eating each
others on the shores of Africa they had
not improved one ioia. Iayti and St.
Domingo were then quoted as examples Of
negro rule and negro acknowledgment.
Addressing the negroes he said lit IVES through
no love for them they were enfranch scd. This
was. illustrated by Mr. Hunnicutt yesterday, who
said they were required as voters to protect the
loyal whites :" but the same gentleman advo-
Gated, fifteen years ago. that they should not be
allowed the privilege of Chris ian worship. and
had said upon tbs iloor be would again do so il
the same circumstances existed. Where was the
love for you here Echo answers. where! No,
you are wanted for the purpose of keeping these
political wretchcs in Office. Negro suffrage was
L A.
never submit; to which the North would never
submit and were it To become an issue, the same
soldiers of Picketts gallant division. Of which the
speaker was member, would resist ii, as they had
the invasion Of their SELL He wound up by saying
the race should be placed in a territory and given
lands at the expense Of the country, and he, for
one, would be glad to see them work out their
own salvation, AMI would extend them every help.
Mr. Platte tradicaD moved at the conclusion Of
this speech that 10, ,030 copies Of this speech be
printed for general circulation, which was declared
out OF order.
Or. Norton (coloredD next got the floor. Tie
contcnded he had right to citizenship because he
was a man and because his ancestors had been
men. who were stolen from their native land. He
said as man he contended for all the rights OF
men. IIe had all the faculties Of the white man;
lie held himself accountable to bis God for all
transgressons. and be was obeyed by the brute
with as much alacrity as was tho white man. He
dem inded to know where on earth, in what age
had oppressed, bleeding aud crushed people
made good citizens. His race, stolen, bad
worked and toiled. and by the sweat
Of thcr brows had given the boosted
Intelligence 10 tile white race OF the South. Dur
ing . war to ias'en tighter the manaces upon the
speaker and his race, how had the blacks acted
towards the whites? They had cult vated your
farms, clothed your children. protected your
wives. effected your escaps from your enemies
and kissed the hand red with blood to keep them in
slavery. lie demanded was there any gratitude in
the white race for this devotion Of he poor black
but cry Of war Of races, that your daugh.
tcrs are wanted for our wives, that we must have
social equality? Not one OF these things did his
race ask. heir mothers, stolen, had been dis-
graced and dishonored, and were ashamed TO re.
turn to their native land. and therefore they pro-
posed TO rem1in among those who stole them, who
dlshonored and disgraced them, 20 demand from
them the same privileges they exercised.
His race had stood by tic country when
the cannon's roar had been heard from the sea
shore to tho mountain When the great flag
o the country was IN danger they had rushed to
the service Of that flag 90 The call Of the Chief
Magistrate; side bv side aud shoulder 10 shoulder