Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-02-28

capture of Fort Pillow rs hellish massa-
ere, and called Gen. Forrest an unhanged.
blood-stained traitor, who Was now howl
ing for white mans Governments
In regard to forgiying and extending the
rights and privileges of citizens to those
men who had strlven to overthrow the gov
eminent, he would not be willing to 90 it,
unless they were really and sincerely re-
pentent and willing to give to poor, hum
BILE and down-trodden race, recently
emerged from bondage the same rights
and privileges which they asked for them
selves.
He continued in the usual strain, giving
a description Of the Southern white mans
oppression Of the negroes since they had
been freed. Even justice in the Court
House had been denied to them in the most
shameless manner, &c.
lie concluded by hoping that The minor
lty report of Messrs. Gambler and Congle-
ton, In its main features, woulI become the
law of the land.
Mr.. Jones, Of Washington, next spoke.
As to universal negro suffrage, he, OF course,
favored it. In regard to the difruacHise.
n1e"t question, he wished to strike out the
9th section, requiring registration and the
majority oath amended SO that every regis
tered voter shall swear never to aid seces-
sion OF the State and TO accept the political
equality Of oil men SO that no man who
had voted against this Constitution could
register, for this Constitution provides for
civil and political equality, and q man, vo-
ting against it, denies that equality, and,
therefore, he could not take the REQUIRED
oath.
Mr.. Pool said that as this was the most
important question that had yet been be
fore the Convention, he would postpone his
call for the previous question until to-mor-
row.
Mr.. Kinney next c%patiatcJ. lie was
next to the Oldest man in the House, having
cast his first vote in 1907. He INDUCED ia
a good many ancient "reminiscences about
things which, as he had not been able to
read and write, he knew nothing about
He told, too, how he had, when Chairman
Of the Registration Board in his county pre-
vented Il young man from registering, who
told him that he had fought in the Con
fcdcrato army and would do 50 again. lie
(kinney), if it WAS III his power, would pro
vide that no Minister Of tie Gospel, who
had prayed for the success q the Conied-
eracy, should vote. lie had stated upon
his canvass, and felt so now, that be WAS in
favor Of DISTINGUISHING Ill that Congress
had put under the ban, for life, and as for
taxing those men thus deprived o. their
rights, he wouli tax their property s& LONG
as they held dollars worth in this State.
He could not for his life forgive them and
not one Of them should by his vote, he
admitted to the baIlOt-b0E.
Mr.. Parker thought that both Republic
cans and Conservatives would make mis-
chief by GOING into CXtrcIucs. lie did not
believe the acknowledgements Of those dis
franchiscd would cndanGcr the safety OF the
government. lie did not believe the acts
OF Congress required them TO dis.ranchise
any Of our fclioW-citilens. It was not il
keeping with the Republican, doctrine; il
was bad policy and dangerous, sHbyGCsivc
to the best interest Of the State. h could
not, with clear conscience, advocate a Con
stitution that contained clause diairlu-
chising portion Of Our fellow citizens.
Mr.. Rich give notice that lie would oc-
cupy the floor this evening.
Nlr. Graham, Of Orange. said that the
Chairman of this Committee on Suffrage
(NIr. POOL had given notice thai he wonId
move the previous question. lie hoped
the courtesy of the Republican party Oh
this floor would give Mr.. Durham an OPP
their (Messrs. Durham and Glabam's) mi
nority report, this evening, at the conciu-
sion of Mr.. Rich's remarks.
On motion, the House adjourned until
I! o'clock, this evening.
NIGHT SESSION.
FRIDAY, Feb. 81, 1868.
The Convention was called to order at J
o'clock.
The Suffrage question was again taken
up.
Mr.. Rich, who was entitled TO the floor,
said that when he secured the floor, this
morning, he hoped to have recovered from
his hoarseness, but, as he had not, he must
request the Secretary to read his remarks.
He had condensed them SO as only to detain
the House few minutes.
The Secretary read the paper. It con
tanned the usual argument IN behalf Of uni
versal negro suffrage, and opposed the dis
reimbursement Of any class of white men.
A large portion Of those already disfran-
chised were loyal and laW-abiding men,
and, viewing the matter in purely part
san point OF view, they would gain more by
kind and lenient course than they could
possibly by a harsh one. 1t must be con-
fessed that the Republican party Lad lost
ground in the North by legislating in a
proscriptiye manner.
Mr.. Rich was in favor of enfranchising
all, and OF presenting just and wise Con
stitution, -thereby healing up all party
strife and contention, and uniting all the
people i'll bonds of love and affection.
MI Durham said that, at first, it was his
intention not to speak, as he regarded this
matter of negro suffrage as settled thing,
| for the present, and he we'll knew thai
nothing that they could say would stoI
Radicalisrn in this blind and mad career
He had been surprised and amused at the
direction the debate had taken. 1t was
extraordinary in the extreme. For the las
three days and nights this measure haC
been discussed in purely Il party point o
view,-not, as it should be, III Il high
minded, statesmanlike manner, with an eye
single to the good of the country. It haC
been discussed solely for the advancement
of the Republican party. At the same time
he was amused to see how frightened the
gentlemen on the other side were, and how
they kicked the poor old dead rebellion,
when there was no danger. \ stranger
coming into this Hall, would have supposed
the rebellion just in its inciplency, instead
of having been dead for three years, -ano
that life and death were at stake to crust
it out Ii had become his duty to defend
his honest ThHe constituents, and the Con
servative gentlcmcn who thought and acteo
with him from the unjust and UnfOundeC