Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-09


sweeping disfranchisemen under the
Constitution of reconstructed Arkan
sas as follows:
Scene--A Union soldier, who has
moved to Arkansas and bought faru
there, wants to register under that pro'
vision of the reconstructed Constitution
which says: "The General Assembly, Al
its first session. shall provide suitable
laws for the registration of qualified cleo.
tors."-[ Article V, section Is
Registrar-Whats your name2
Soldier--John Smith.
R-Age2
S.--Twenty-ive.
R.-Native or naiuralized2
S.-Born in New York.
River given aid or comfort to the
rebellion
S.-Nol l served in the Union army
from Ball Run to Appomattox
R-Can you take and subscribe to the
registration oath2
S.-What is it?
r. II, John Smith, do solemnIy swear
that will support and maintain the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, and the Constitution and laws of
the United States, and the Constitution
and laws of the State of Arkansas; that
/ am not excluded from registering or
voting by any Of the clauses in the first,
second, third or fourth subdivisions of
article VIII Of the Constitution of the
State of Arkansas; that / will never
countenance. or aid in the secession of
the State from the United States; that /
accept the civil and political equality Of
all men, and agree not to attempt to de-
prive any person or persons, on account
Of race, color or previous condition, of
any political or civil right, privilege or
immunity enjoyed by any other class OF
men; and, furthermore, that Wall no.
in any way injnre, or countena.,ce in
others any attempt to iniure s,nv person
or persons, on account Of -, ar nres-
sent support of the g. ,or p10s Of the
oI i;.; o.a'es, OF the principle of the
Ro,'s, ssl;a a,u CIV equality Of all men, or
W Ina, with any political party.
H.. !, take that oath. don't be-
~. N any snch equality at all 4 am
,,er than a negro, and so we're my
father and mother before me. demand,
ar IN he registered here as loyal eiti-
zen Of the Unitad States, and as an ex'
soldier in the Union army.
r. Can't help it. That's the reglstra-
ton oath, and if you don't take 1t you
can't vote, hold Office, or SIT on jury
Arkansas. It's in the constitution, ano
Congress has approved it.
6. D-n such a constitution, and d.
Congress-. too. Ifthis is the ticket CRAM
IA running on, he cant have my VOTE
Erit, disfranchised. ,u
In discussing the Arkansas bill in the
limited States Senate, Senator Doolittlt
made some pointed illusions to its sweep
inc DISTINGUISHING clanse and the posi-
,;on of some of the Radical Senators
He said that under the test oath section
even such man as Senator irumnui
could not vote there, because few years
ago on the floor ofthe Senate he declared
know that there is distinction be
tween the two races, because the Al
mighty himself has marked it upon their
very faces, and, in my judgment, mar
cannot. by legislation or otherwise, pro-
duce a perfect equality between those
races so that they will live happily to
gether. ,,
"Why. SIR" said Mr.. Doolitte
Thomas jefferson would be disfran'
chised in Arkansas under this Constltu
ton" He said:
Nothing is more certainly written II
the book of fate than that these people
1.-THE negroes) are to be free. Nor is !
less certain that the two races equal,
free cannot live in the same government
Nature, habit, opinion have drawn IN
delible lines of distinction between
then"
NV honorable friend (Mr. Trumbull)
also, in language equally strong, oil
another occasion, said:
"There is distinction between tn
white and black races made by CAMPO
tence himself | do not believe thes
two races can live happily and pleas
anily together and enjoy equal rights
without one domineering over the other.
And Senator Pomeroy, Of Kansas, ha
declared, in discussing an amendmer
offered not long since by Mr.. Sumner
providing for regulating suffrage in th
States, that he did not believe Congress
had the right to say what shall be IN
qualification Of voters in any State j
the Union. Senator Pomeroy furthe
said:
For one, sir, am in favor ofleavin
this question OF suffrage to the citizen
of the States, and claim il is their rigi
TO admit whoever they choose to the ba
lotbox. i am not loyal enough myse
to allow my own rights as a citizen to
trampled Epon in that way. would M
be dictated TO as a ciiizsn OF a sovereig
State by Congress or any other power
to what kind Of citizen my State shoul
be allowed 70 vote Ifsthey choose
let all the citizens, including the wome
vote, il is not matter for Congress
interfere with
And yet in the face Of the argumen
presented in the veto message, and d
pronounced judgment Of the people
nearly every Northern State at Il
polls, these Senators voted for the pa
sage Of the infamous Arkansas bill
HnfoD aud Dicnot-h