The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-09-08
How the Fifteenth Amendment was
Adopted in the Senate.

oBOA 80
the States, as is we'll known, is an issue
In the coming election. In this con-
nection it is worth while to inquire
how it came to pass Congress. The
Cincinnati Gazette, of March 8, 1859,
just after its passage in that body,
give the yeas 70 nays, which stood,
in the Senate, thirty-nine for and thir-
teen against. There were fourteen
Senators absent and not voting. Up
on this the Gazette made the following
comments: 1T those who voted for
the amendment under protest had vot-
ed against it, it would have failed.
As it was, the affirmative, while it was
two-thirds of the Senate present, was
not two-thirds of the whole Senate, but
1t was ruled that two thirds of the Sen
ators present complied with the Con-
stitutionaTi provision" The fact was
that nearly all the fourteen absence
Senators were in Washington, and re.
fused to vote on purpose. They could
not honestly sustain it, and they had
not theico9rage to break with their
partyupon it. Had they voted ac-
cording to their sentiments, 1T would
have been defeatedbyngt receiving Il
two-thirds majority Among the Sen.
atoraVhe-refHsed to vote Bere some
ca~rRetIbaggers from3 the Southland
Senators from the Pacific States, who
wereiopposed to it on account of letL
ting in the, Chinese. In. the debate
MI. WARSEky,i6f Alabama, a carpet
bagesrtrom Ohio, who voted for it,
saidsffI most respectfully, but earnest
ly, sAtersmyfhumble protest against
the eharaetefyofth amendment. While
/ sha4l probably vote forit in the shape
1t Is Ishall do itTathe in Difference
to thejudgment of older and wiser
mehsthap myself, than in accordance
with my deliberate judgment.
Mr.i EDMUNDsi of Vermont, aleadl
ing-5Republican Senator, EabStainec
from voting foFfit BECAUSE, to use his
Language. 1T is Eepugnant, Mr.. Pre-
sidentsyte all M anotious of a. free gov
ernmentosJtis repugnant, [ know, to-
all TIE notions of the people whomI
representa- as entering int the framefl
woodland heart. of the sGoyernment5
thatsBJateRest to be, and only be call.
ed, AaEepubliqan can IL IN ASH
havbosaid, ! believe tito be injurious to
the GpEernmentia if it is carried out.
I bejAfe tito be an outrage Igponthe
goodseaseand patriotism ofthe .eeHn-l
try, and So believing, although LIDO not
wish5to occupy time in st9pping its
progress, if my political friends think
best to pass it. l have felt bound to
say soy
Mg,INiusoN, of Massachusetts,, con-
a speech for the amendment in
these words II am going to vote for
this proposition without taking any
responsibility for it., [ am not re3eon
for this halfway proposition. 1
take it atHhis late hour, as the
best I can get"
Mr.. MoRroS, of Indiana who Is
low in our State adEocatingthe amend
nent, said, when it was on its passage
the Senate:
II was somewhat surprised that this
should report TO us a pro-
oositionl fiaatsbeen rejected by ev7
vote of the Senate from the time1'
We first eommenced voting upon it.
This proposition has been rejected by
'verynYote from first to last and yet
heSSenate is now required to stink s
through and to cut this pretty figure
the Coimmittee of Conference" +!
k,SsH = 81,
There are some other elements con- /
lected with the suffrage question be-
ides that of color, and it was proper =.
or us to say in the Constitution, when I
We came tosamend it upon this subject, J
hat the right to vote should not be |
to any citizen of the United I
states ON account of his nativity. 1t {
5 a'great democratic principle that we |
ecagnize in our hearts; and when we {
amend the Constitution it was t
roperFo,put it in. Sir, it would APP I
cal stronglp to the hearts of a large I
art of the population of this country, 5
ndowas proper as a safeguard against {:
nYf1ture Know Nothing excitements 1
r movements. - l
'Then; there was that other word, !
property Z the provision that the right 8
D vote should not be denied on ac- J
cunt of of property. That ap- l
eals to a strong democratic sentiment; I
isthe establishment ola republican
rineIple} that most of us recognize ;
nd when we come to amend the Con- t
on this subject it is proper to J
ut that principle in. 1t appeals to a {
.rong republican sentiment that is rife '
the whole nation. !
"Andv it wa proper to say, too, as {
essential republican principle, I
nat the right to vote and to hold Of !
ce should not besdenied on account I
f religious faith or creed. Do we not {
ecognizenthat as being a true and l
ound principle What was the OBJ 1
ection to putting that in ?"a ar a
Still after making this speech |
gafnst it, MORTON, in accordance 1
the 'tinpan" DEGREES of King 1
,aucus, voted for it. I
MrzSAWTER, a carpet-bag Senator I
rom South Carolina, said : eff 1 vote :
or this proposition, if vote to concur
n this report of thu Committee of Con
erence, j DO it with the greatest re-
uctance; lido it with great hesita-
c
Me- HOWARD, of Michigan, who r
lso voted for it against his corscien- t
ious convictions, made the following c
hort, but conclusive, speech against i
:: f
"Mr. President-I was remarking @
nat this proposed amendment to the v
Constitution will operate as a repeal, t
s an annullment of that clause of the r
ixth article of the present Constitu- =