The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-26

c. X. OsoooD.
The 18Th Amendment In Georgia.
To the Editor Of The Chronicle. have read
your article on the adoption Of the fifteenth
amendment In Georgia. am member
of the House Of Representatives Of that
State, and a Republican that opposed the
expulsion OF the colored members. I was
present during the debate on the adoption OF
the amendment and voted for IL. You do
injustice to the Democrats who voted with
me, when you say, at Is very well under
stood that the support Of II by portion Of
the Democratic members Is q mere sham"
| believe those Of them who voted for the
amendment, did so In good faith and be-
cause they believed II would crafty General
Grant and the true friends OF Georgia for
the amendment to be adopted. Though
Democrats, they preferred the good of the
State and the peace Of society to administer
ing to the sclflsh purposes OF men who
counseled Its defeat. They refused 10 be
controlled by the extreme Democratic press,
or to surrender their Judgment to the dlcta-
ton of Benz. II. Hill and other leaders of
the Democratic party.
Ex-Gov. Brown, one Of the most sagacious
OF Republican leaders In the South, Is fully
aware Of this state OF facts, and in his
anxiety to promote the success Of the Re-
DuDllChu purity anu 10 be0. tTunI
was solicitous for the adoption of the amend
ment. Permit mo to tell you that you are
wrong In supposlng that the Democratic
party is perfectly united In policy in Georgia.
There are In II representative men who pre-
fer the well-belng Of the State to party SUI
premacy at the expense Of peace and good
order. You say "the resolution ratifying
the amendment, which we published In a
recent article, was so wordcd as to render II
impossible for the Republican members to
support it; for II expressly declared that the
amendment did not carry with II the right
OF colored people TO hold Office" Such a
resolution was introduced In the House and
voted for, but the resolution which was
finally passed by the House by vote OF o.
to SO, and afterwards defeated In the Senate
by the casting vote of the president, "a most
intimate friend of Gov. Bullock was In the
usual form Of ratification.
You say "Of course, no one needs to be
told that upon the simple question of the
amendment the Republicans would give
unanimous affirmative vote"
i reply, the vote was taken upon the
simple question Of the amendment" In
the House 10 Republicans refused to vote,
and Republicans voted against II. In the
Senate, upon the motion to indefinitely post
pone the resolution to ratlfy the amendment,
IL Republicans voted to postpone, and the
vote stood II yeas to II nays, Benjamin T.
Conley, the president, voting yea, and there
by defeating the adoption Of the fifteenth
amendment.
assert that the amendment was defeated
by Republicans, and that Gov. Bullock used
his influence to defeat 1t. All the Republic
cans who voted against the amendment, or
refused to vote on the question, are well
known to belong to the Bullock wing Of the
party, and arc Influenced by his counsel.
II Is due to truth and the magnitude of the
question that / should make il known that
Gov. Bullock declared to me that "no true
Republican will vote for the amendment.
Those who do vote for II are disscnters and
are not Republicans"
The following extract from the Governors
message, transmitting the amendment to the
General Assembly, submitted as his pub
Hely expressed desire for he adoption Of the
amendment, the course of his particular
friends In voting against II, and his CONVEX
sation with me In regard TO 1t, are referred
TO as evidence of his pirate wishes;
"Thc ratification of this amendment by
your honorable body, and recognition OF
Its requirements as here indicated, together
with those OF the fourteenth amendment
chich arc as yet disrcgdrded-will, sincerely
hope and confidently believe, secure for us
full and complete recognition as u State,
dennitivcly settle our political differences,
and set at rest, finally and forever, the feel
Ing of uncertainty and insecurity which now
exeitG and disturb large portion Of our
Very respectfully, c. X. osGooD.
WAsHINGToS, D. c., March 81, 1860.
Ex-Prcsidcnt Pierce visited Boston on
Monday. lie Is still nuite fcehln