The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-03-10


nation of governments by persons equally free
that every one should have the right 70 vote
that is to have asyoice In the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
the government to which is entrusted the lives,
the liberties and the property Of all, The people
OF the United States are all free They all have
an interest in so, iety, and every male citizen
should have the right to vote. This right should
be as lasting as the Constitution itself, and as
general and peryasive as the atmosphere in every
State The colored citizen in New York or Con-
necticut is as much entitled to it as the colored
citizen In North Carolina or Georgia. Every
type OF man who is a citizen of the United
States, is presumed to be capable OF seli-goyern-
ment There can be no distinction in this re-
spect between the Caucasian, the Mongolian,
and the Ethiopian, or the subordinate or modi-
fled types derived from either or all of these.
hey are all men, None of them acknowledge
masters, but they are all free to seek their
happiness in their own way, so long as they
do not infringe the rights OF Others. Po-
litical slavery, would not be less oppressive or
depressing to them than what has been known
in this country as African or domestic slavery.
The gift of freedom to the colOred race OF the
United States would be worse than worthless II
not accompanied by the right of suffrage.
The people of North Carolina have already, DY
large majority, secured to every citizen by
their organic law, the right of suffrage 1t is not
probable that this right will be impaired or even
modified, so long as the Republican party of the
State remains united and controls the legislative
department of the government. BUTT is hoped,
from abundant caution and as matter of prin-
ciple, that the Legislature of every State will
promptly ratify this amendment, thus settling
the question for all time. 94
Those who are at present charged with the
governments OF the recently reconstructed states
have had devolved upon them duty i'll relation
to the cOlored population which is more rcspon-
sible and delicate, in many respects, than that
which is incumbent on any State not formerly
slaveholding. This population, faithful, patriot
ic and honest, it is, has needed and still needs
that training in the art'o habit OF sclf-govern-
ment which is the birthright of every white
American; and the children of this population
must be educated in the midst of the children
oil the whites, and educated equally with the
latter, in such way as not to do injustice to
either race or to excite the prejudices oil one
against the other. The governments OF these
States, resting as they do on both races, ana
with men Of both races holding office in
their various departments, have engaged with
alacrity and cheerfulness in the performance of
this duty; and it is their fixed purpose to omit
no effort which may be deemed necessary to
educate improve and elevate the colored peo-
committed to their charge But while this du-
ty is thus performed as to large masses who
have Just emerged from slavery, it is expected
that other States not formerly encountered
with slavery, and in which the colored people
are few in number and generally intelligent,
ratify the proposed amendment, thus fixing the
right of full citizenship for all in the Constitu-
ton itself, and placing it where no future change
or CONFUSION can destroy it.
/ earnestly recommend, gentlemen, that the
proposed amendment to the Constitution of
the United States be ratified by your honorable
body. w.
have the honor to be, with great respect,
your obedient servant
8 ~ . W. W. HOLDEN.
Mr.. FRENCH moved To- refer the message
and accompanying documents to special
committee of five; and to make the subject
"a special order for o'clock.
Tue motion was agreed to; and the Speak
er appointed Messrs. Pou, Jarvis, French,
Seymour and Moore of Chowan, said Com
mittee.
The SPEAKER announced the special order
for II O'Clock, being bills from the Code
Commission;
Bill concerning the settlement of the es-
tates of deceased persons was taken up, and
on motion of Mr.. Seymour, considered by
sections.
Sections and stwere adopted, Pending
section 8, on motion of Mr.. Moore, of Chow
an the bill was postponed, and
The bill to lay off the homestead and
personal property exemption was taken up,
the pending question being on the adoption
of Mr.. Pou's amendment, to come in as Sec
ton %.
Mr.. PoU moved proviso as an amend
ment to the amendment and called the pre-
yious question, which was ordered.
The provso was adopted.
The question being taken on the adoption
of the amendment as amended, resulted
yeas 40, nays 40, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Ames,, Armstrong, Ashworth,
Barnett, Barnes, Boddie, Carson, Cawthorn,
Cherry, Dixon, Foster, French, Gahagan, Cat
ling. Gibson, Green, Hawkins, Hayes, billiard,
Hinnant, Hoffman, Jarvis, Kinney, Leary, Malone,
Matheson, McCanless, Mendenhall, Painter,
Pearson, Pou, Price, Proffitt, Renirow, Seymour,
Shaver, Sweat, Thompson, Weicn, ana "iiAie
40
NAYs-Messrs. Allison, Argo, Bowman, Cand-
Ter, Clayton, Crawford, Ellington, Farrow, Fere-
bee, Forkner, Franklin, Grier, Gunter, Hen
bricks, Hodgin, Hodnett, Horney, HUMPHREYS,
Hndgngs. Ingram, Justice OF Rutherford, Kelly OF
Davic, Long OF Chatham, Mayo, Mcmillan, Moore
of Chowan. Morrill,, Morris, Nicholson, Proctor,
Rayland, Rea, Robbins, Segrist, Simonds. sykes
Vestal, Vest, Williams of Harnett and Wiswall
40 81
The CHAIR Mr.. SEYMOUR announced the
vote to have resulted yeas 80, nays Al.
The hour having arrived for the special
order, being the con sideration of the pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution OF the
States, Mr. Malone moved that it be post
poned until II A. NJ. Tomorrow.
The motion did not prevail-yeas ~,
days 3d.
Mr.. MOORE, of Chowan, when his name
was called, said he cted against postpone
ment in order that the 10Th article of the
u. s., which article embodied the cardinal
principle of the Republican party, universal
suffrage throughout a II the States, might be
adopted on the 4th OF March, the day on
which the first Repu blican President since
the war was Inaugural ted.
Mr.. SEYMOUR said he voted no for the
same reason. er
Mr.. FRENCH, from the special committee,
reported joint resol, ition ratifying the pro-
posed amendment o the Constitution of
the United States, sty led Article Fifteen.
Mr.. FRECH said very large majority of
the House were in ia tvor of the resolution.
He was also aware til 1t some gentlemen de-
sired to explain their position, and he wish
ed to give all a fair chance, but they must
know that the propos litien would be carried.
He proposed to give those gentlemen until
half past two, and no ped they would divide
the time so that each would have an equal
chance. Their renal ks would be to put
themselves upon the record, and he should
move to have their . remarks printed, and
thought they should be willing, without
trespassing upon the time of the House, to
allow their remarks to be printed and &c
before the people. pat5 s.isf, si...
Mr.. HoDNETr, afte Il brief explanation
said he should vote for the amendment
This announcement vas received with ap
plause. a+ts,, ifoea,