The Van Buren press., 1868-02-14
O.. o. VAN BUREN, Arr X, FEBRUARY Ia 1865. 4.

gress Proyiied, that nothing lVrein con
tanned shall be so construed as 20 prevent
any person who has been honorably dis
charged ,som the United States Service,
never thereafter participating in the re-
bolton against the United States, from
voting or holding office. i7fi' 'iiei 90 '"'
% Mr. Cypert submitted the following as
a minority report from himself:
f'5 he President and members Of he Con
atatioaai Conrention ot'Me STATE Of Arf
Kansas: .....r...-.. :. Z,
The undersigned, n member of the
Committee on Elective Franchise, begs
leave TO dissent from the conclusions ar
rived at by majority OF said committee,
andsubnits the following minority re-
port:l wrl H0liH t3n1 lfno'iniN'H'}
3 lst The article reported by the said
maierity ofyour committee, proposes to
disfranchise' large class of citizens of
the United States and of The State of Ar
kansas, who have heretofore been invest
cd with the sacred right Of suffrage. The
article reported by n majority of said
committee, effects said disfranchisemcnt
in 4 manner unknown to all the establish
cd principles OF our government, in this
| That it preSuIncs that the class pro
posed to be deprived Of the elective fran
ohise, h;s been guilty of disloyalty or
treason against the Constitution and gov
ernmcnt OF the United States. 1t is well
established principle of ous laws and GOV,
ernmcnt that all are presumed innocent.
till the guilt is shown before some judicial
tribunal having cognizance of the crime
In spite Of this acknowledged right ofthe
mcanest criminal, a majority of your
committee pronouuces large number of
their fellow citizens guilty of crimes,
without trial or conviction, and essay to
strip them OF vested and indisputable
franchises, To SO monstrous a proposi
/ tion tie Undersigned can never assent.
] 81. The majority Of said committee
I propose TO require of every person be-
fore he can exercise the privilege of vot-
I inc, TO purge himself from certain crimes
and misltmcanors, and TO accept for the
future the civil and'political equality of
all races of men. ~, ..f.,i.
| The undersigned siscerely believes said
oath to be not only wicked but Jatiie. |
posterity have never been bound by the
oaths Of their ancestors, and a change OF
! circumstances always affords, not only
prttexts,. bnt jusGfable excuses, for vio5
lating obligations reluctantly and unwil-
lingly taken to avert a present or Threat
, enca evil" ~ '''' y
Sd. The majority ofyour said commit
tee, by their said report, further propose
to cniranchisc a class Of persons hereto
tore denied this incstimablc privilege
persons declared by the highest tribunals
Of our country not to be citizens Of the 4
United States Athc Inevitable result: OF
4 which, would be the overthrow ofthc
/ white rnar's government Of our fathers,
and the erection of an .iffic:nized gov
ernment III its stead i'1R 7'l @i t'''s R''" 4
The negro Is not the equal Of the white
man, In mind ndibddy the difference
are striking, numerous, and insurifomts
able. iFour thousand years ago he was
exactly what he is'today All history
\ demonstrates his utter incapacity for self,
/ government, and his utter want ofappre-
ciation of free institutions. But beyond
/ all this, our own experiences and the
teachings Of history inexoIably point to
! this dreadful result The investing ofan
4 inferior race with social and political
equalityis the stepptag stone to miseegena>
| ton, and the consequent utter deteriora-
4 ton and degeneracy OF the dominat race.
| 1t cannot be denied that political equality
| (particulariy tliatleqdality resulting from
the indiscriminate exercise ofthe elective
| franchise,) will result in social equality,
| unless in the throes and conflicts which
will inevitably prcoedc the new order Of
things, one or the other Of the races does
not perish from the earth. So marked
and odious change can only be effected
after the natural and God given prejudices
of our race have ceased to exist. Peace
and prosperity can never result from
measures 80 utterly at war with the in,
I stincts and fears Of the white people Of
4 this State. t. Iaa 100 gi ta ,n40s
| Whilst investing the negro with the
elective franchise Is attended with so
many dangers and objections, the under
4 signed cannot believe, that it will be the
means of shielding tine colorcd man from
4 oppression or wrong, but viii only,ag
a grayeto aud increase the prejudice OF race,
and precipitate a civil and social war,
II The undersigned will not sander the
white peopleof Arkansas SO grossly as
to assert or believe, that impartial justice
\ willnot be accorded to the negro racc,or1
that they Will not enjoy all the requisite
protection for person, property, and rep
utation, unless Invested With the c!aetiyeI
A franchise The contrary he asserts, and
believes to be the truth, ~ ..lryIa. !, - 4
j, The undersigned is not influenced BY
hatred or i'll will to the negro population,
but sincerely desires .tbpir social, intel
lectual, and religious improvements II,
j in the course OF years, they should dem 4
N onstratei their itness for the exercise of
.,,,,1. Il III tl1l