The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-09
THE sENA1S-TuEsDAY, July Z

On motion of Mr.. Rutland, the presiding
officer was authorized to appoint the standing
On motion OF B. F. Randolph, a committee of
three was appointed to ascertain the location
of the State Library, and whether 1t was con-
The ballot for senators for the long and
short terms was then taken. [The names were
published in The News Of July 8, 1861
Mr.. Whittemore submitted a resolution rati-
fying the fourteenth amendment to the Consti-
tuition Of the United States.
MIR, Leslie said be had no desire to make q
speech. He desired, however, to state his
reasons plainly for his vote on that resolution.
In the Constitutional Convention he was as
signed q positon on the Committee on Fran
cbise and Elections, and had the honor Of pre-
senting o minority report, which stands re-
corded, as it was then written BY him, that he
was opposed to the prescription Of any man in
South Carolina. He was no politician IN the
sense Of iliberality and in antagonism with
Republican principles. He knew that the
amendment must be adopted, and he desired
to say that he contended that every man living
in South Carolina he cared not what color he
might be, has, upon every principle OF equity
and justice, e right to record his vote for his
self-protection. and the protection OF life, loeI-
stard by such principle, he was NOT coward
enough to endorse the principle that pro-
scribes apy other man because he happens to
be white. Principle will live to the cad OF
time. Prescription muet Ultimately die. The
people OF South Carolina had denied for two
hundred and fifty years to the colored man the
right to protect himself, the right to enjoy
freedom; and in Gods good time The storm
came; the revolution was effected which gave
the colo1ed man the right speak for himself,
the right to protect himself. While he inn
printed upon his banner that these principles
we're lust, he desired to say that it was not
cne-sided principle, but principle for all the
people. He should vote for the resolution, but
he voted for i with the qualifications he had
stated. He was afraid OF no man in South
Carolina overturning justice If we were free
people. as he believed we were. he was afraid
Of no class OF men subverting the principles Of
freedom i we have confidence in ourselves,
giving to every man an equal &C ance N the
race Of lite, and II We deserve to be free. With
tlese remarks he desired to state he would
vote for the amendment because the necess:-
ties Of the case demanded 1t.
Wales wes in favor OF every man living in
South Carolina having the elective franchise,
but they had 70 take this measure il the shape
it was presented to them, as It was made
condition preceden. 20 their admission into
the Union. He was opposed to the political
prescription of any citizen.
Wright, Of Beaufort. from an cppreh eEs:en
that the remarks CT the senator fro 70 Barn
well might lead to an erroneous impression as
to the bearing and character OF The Constitu-
tional Amendment. would state his reasons Tor
voting for it. 1t was because it secured to
ovory citizen, except those disqualified u, the
commission OF crime, his polltical rights. In
many OF the Northern States the colored c!ti-
zen was deprived of the elective franchise, and
that portion OF their citizens Tes unjustly de-
priyed Of political rights. PENNSYLVANIA has a
majority Of those VINO inAict this wrong on
theii coiored felow-citizens. The adoption Of
this amendment prevented forever the perpe-
tration OF such injustice in South Carolina.
He regretted that there here Tndodp was provision sion
ton of our citizens from the exercise
of their rights, and If We were in q posi-.
ton to fight the bill he would oppose il because
he did not believe that the Congress Of the