The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-03-12
Suffrage Constitutional Amendment.
SPEECH OF
HON. GEO. w. WOODWARD,
OF PENNSYLVANIA,
I'm the House Of Representatives,
February 20, 1869.
February 20, 1869.

Jew words to-day IN DeiidlI OF the peO-
pie of Pennsylvania, The constitu-
ton of the State of Pennsylvania Of
1890 was silent on the subject of negro
suffrage. A diversity of opinion and
practice to limited extent grew up
under that constitution. In some spO-
radio instances colored men were per-
mitted to vote; but at length the ques-
tion came before the highest judicial
tribunal of the State, and it was de-
cided that the constitution of 1890
rightly understood, never permitted
negro suffrage.
That decision was based upon this
ground, that the negro race never had
become a part of the social compact of
this country. conclusion that was de-
duced from the history of the negro
race, and their introduction into this
country as slaves. 1t resulted very
logically out Of the great principle of
the Declaration of Independence, that
all just Governments should be founded
in the consent Of the governed. A sub
iect, inferior, ignorant, and idolatrous
race, introduced into country against
their will to be slaves, would be great
ly wronged in being treated as having
consented to the government of that
country. The African race has never
consented to the government of this
country. They are exotic, they are
alien, they are strangers to the Com
monwealth. They were brought here
in violation of the laws of nature they
were thrust upon us without their con-
sent and without ours; and according
to Pennsylvania law they never be-
came parties to the social compact up
on which all our political institutions
are founded.
The people of Pennsylvania pene-
trated with these truths, which their
judiciary had thus recognized, amend
ed in 1887 their constitution of 1890,
and in defining the qualifications Of
electors inserted the word white be-
fore the word freeman" This was
not only agreed to in their constitu-
tional convention after great delibera-
ton, but that amendment was submit
ted, with other amendments, TO vote
of the people Of Pennsylvania. And,
sir, it is part of the history of the
times that those who were opposed to
the reform of the constitution were es-
pecially opposed to this amendment,
because of the popularity which it gave
to the other amendments. l point the
House to the fact that the people Of
Pennsylvania. thus through their ju-
dioiai tribunals and by their own pop
ular elections, decided aSssolemnly as
it is possible for freemen to decide
that the negro race was no party to the
social compact and should not be ad-
mitted to the suffrage.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, that decree has
never been reversed. On the contrary,
all political parties have recognized il
and submitted to it. The republican
party, as often as they have been
charged with intending to take out OF
the foundations of our State govern
ment that cornerstone, have asserted
that they were slandered; that they in
tended nothing of the sort. They have
pointed 10 the Chicago platform in cons
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sequence of this disavOwal they enjoyed
in the last election, and in all the late
elections in our State, a very large
Welsh vote, which, | tell them, they
viii lose from the day that they force
negro suffrage upon the people. They
have enjoyed that Welsh vote by reas-
on Of their persistent and apparently
consistent denial that they were for
negro suffrage. The Welsh do not like
the Irish there is a lack Of cOngeniali-
ty between the two classes on account
Of religion and other causes. The re-
publican party, while they cannot car
ry the great body Of the Irish popula-
lation, can carry large proportion OF
the Welsh so long as, and only so long
as, they can persuade that people they
are honest in their professions against
negro suffrage.
The effect of the proposition now be-
fore US is to change the fundamental
law Of Pennsylvania, to reverse the his
toric and traditional policy of the State,
to introduce into the politics Of that
great Commonwealth this alien, for
eign, unnatural element, which down
to the present time the republican par
ty have told the people never was to
be part Of their policy. / ask OF
the gentlemen from Massachusetts and
of this House that before this change
ofpolicy beadopted the whole people Of
Pennsylvania be allowed to pass upon
the question. What answer does the
gentlemen give to this request? He
has answered, sir, in your hearing, that
ne cannot allow the offering of an a.
mendment looking TO that end because
the Constitution forbids iim. | stand
ing here asking the gentleman from
Massachusetts, to do an unconstitution-
al thing, when | beg him to submit
his amendment to vote OF the people !!
Well, sir, if the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts had never done any uncon-
stitutional thing it would undoubted-
ly be very great sin in me to tempt
him into transgression. But, Mr..
Speaker, let nae tell the gentleman
from Massachusetts that asked him 10
violate no constitutional provision
when / asked him to submit this a.
mendment to the people Of Pennsylva-
MIA. And, sir, within five minutes af-