The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-03-04
West Virginia Legislature
WEDNESDAY, March 3.
SENATE.
PRAYER by Rev. W. NJ. Mullenix.

, suffrage amendment propoSeu ny Oou
gress, was taken up.
Mr.. DAVIS offered an amendment
providing that the question should o'
submitted to the people for ratification
or rejection at the October election.
Mr.. DAVIS said that this proposed
! constitutional amendment would changt
lonr whole political status. We would by
one stride make the negroes our equals
It was acknowledged by all parties thai
there was a great distinction between
the two races. General Washington
had said that the difference was sc
great it could never be eradicated.
Douglas had said that history had
shown that the negro race was incapa,
BILE of self-government. Lincoln had
said that he would not countenance
giving political or civil rights to the
colored race. Jefferson had said that
there were indelible lines placed there
by the Almighty, that could never be
erased. He referred to the distinction
made by the Almighty in the fact that
one wore hair, and the other wool.
There was marked distinction. Our
duty re- our people should compel us to
adopt the amendment, submitting this
resolution to them, for it was expressly
declared in the last canvass that the
question of negro suffrage was not an
issue, nor could it be, until it had been
adopted by two Legislatures. 1t was
placing the negroes far beyond the
whites, as white parties who were enti-
tied to vote were not allowed to do so.
he, therefore, hoped his amendment
would prevail.
Mr.. FOREMAN said that whilst he
would probably vote with the gentle
man from Mineral on the resolution, he
could not favor the amendment. He
differed with the gentleman as to the
| fact of parties being excluded who
were entitled TO vote. He believed that
men who had committed crime, should
be disfranchised. Taxation without
representation did not include such as
had committed crime. Parties who had
tried to break up this government were
The people could effect the same thing
by the resolution being adopted or Re,
liected. He was not afraid to meet the
question.
Mr.. RAMSDELL said he was formerly
opposed to negro suffrage, but tGe re-
construction acts have become a fixed
fact, and as the question was forced
upon us, he was going TO favor it. We
had forced it on the South, and now to
stand back and say we won't accept for
ourselves, is sticking on point that
is beneath an American citizen.
Mr.. DOOLITTLE read from Article
V. of the Constitution of the United
States, in proof that it was not cOntem-
plated that the question should be sub
mitted to the people directly.
Mr.. YOUNG had no particular objec-
! tion to the amendment. He believed If
the question was submitted to the peO.
pie they would ratify it. The negroes
! had inalienabe rights given them by
the Constitution. 1t was tyranny for
one set OF men to arregate to themselves
/ the righg of suffrage and deny it to
another class. No white mau is de-
prived of the right in our State, except
for crime, and in all nations criminals
were excluded from the ballot. And
how can we make a distinction as to
colori Who is to decide whether a man
has white or black blood in his veins 7
| Negroes were permitted to vote in Nir-
ginia two hundred years ago, and 1T was
| not until 1888 they were deprived OF
that right. He could not forget that
the negroes had helped to put down the
rebellion. 1t was no new thing under
the sun. Why force it upon the South
ern States and not accept it ourselves
| Mr.. PHELPS thought it should go
before the people. Thisquestion should
not be acted on at this session. He was
not opposed to the resolution in princi-
pie. 1t was making so great political
revolution in so short time that the
! people would not understand the matter
until compelled to yield to it. Twas
simply proposition from Congress, and
not dictation. Upon question of so
much moment as this, tits the part of
wise legislators to take time TO consider,
| If the resolution were forced upon him
now, it would force him to take posi-
| tion he did not want TO assume. He be-
| lieved the 1000 900 of colored voters in
the South would eventually hold the
! balance of power in that section. They
would be used and controlled by the
large land holders. Are we ready for
| thatP
The vote being taken on the amend
ment of Mr.. DAVIS, resulted in its re-
lection.
YEAs-Messrs. Applegate, Davis, Will
son and Yosng-4.
NAYs-Messrs. Hoke (President). Bore.
man, Burley, Gathers, Dix, Drummond,
Doolttle, Leonard, Phelps, Ramsdell,
Werninger and Workman-l2
The question being on the adoption OF
the resolution,
Mr.. WORKMAN said he expected to
vote for the resolution. He had opposed
agitating the question hitherto, because
it was not before us, but now it was be.
fore us, and if for no other reason
than that his conscience told him that
it was right, be would vote for il. II
his people did not think he was doing
right, there were plenty of others who
desired the position he held. We have
forced negro suffrage on the South
where the negroes are more ignorant
than here, and we should be willing tc
take it ourselves.
Mr., YOUNG believed the resolution
was right, and hence he you'd vote fol
it. He was ready to join the Democrat
ic party if it would endorse negro suf
frage, and the Republicans would re
fuse TO do so. He was no policy man.
Mr.. BURLEY had no great feeling
upon the subject. He thought this 6 re
suit of the war, and was willing to ac
cept the situation.
The vote resulted in the adoption o
the resolution.
YEAs-Messrs. Hoke. president,
Burley, Dix, Drummond, Doolittle
Leonard, Ramsdell, Werninger, Work
man and YsuDg-l0.
NAYs-Messrs. Applegate, Boreman
Gathers, Davis, Phelps and Wilson-6
After the announcement of the vote
Messrs. Phelps, Gathers and Boremal
rose and said now that the resolutio,
was adopted, they wsuld defend it, AM
would cooperate with their Republican
friends.
The following House bills were passed
Changing the boundary lines of Nor
gantown school district;
Legalizing the election of townshlG
officers in Summerville and WILDERNESS
townships, in Nicholas county;
4 r. -. g