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


on the 4th of March. He would have been
willing to vote toexpcnds hundreds of dol.
lars to print the speeches; but the Object
Of the opposition was tn prevent Vote
being taken. He would yield the floor for
FIVE minutes to Mr. Argo
The Speaker said be could yield the floo,
| fora portion of the half hour to which Le
was entitled and then call the preyiono
| question.
MIR. AReo. Mr.. Speaker. so far as NV ev.
perience extends as a politician. and il il
very limited, so far as my knowledge extends
as Statesman, and that is very limited
nave been euabled to come to only one con
cluslon In reference to the course that sbonld
be pursued by apubllc man, bv a man RON
resenting in what is called republican form
OF government the interests of a certain cnn
stituency. That conclusion is this. sir in :.
very few words 1t is one which If l;va
and continue in public life, expect to ad.
here to. Whatever the interests of NV CON.
stltuency,- whatever the interests of NV
country demand, whatever policy the inter.
ests OF the Country demand should be sum-
Por'ea, will support. The gentleman
S sno proceeds upon different policy isa
iaise representative, though it NAV he. not
intentionally. tits not false principle of
nonor that Man is to adhere to it is not
an old musty principle that has become oh.
solete, with all its supporters. The man who
trusts to sinking vessel the interests of biS
people, places them In position beyondAo
hope of advancement. 1t is the materi,I j.
terests of the country that we are to attena
to. 1t is principle that the American nao,
pie have decided both in war and in neaoa
both by an appeal TO arms and at the ballot
box, that universal suffrage sbopI
prevail In this country; and for
one, am ready to lend my voice 70
its support. If it were for no other reason
SIR, should do it for the purpose of eoual'
lzlng what the people have said in regard
to political rights, that every man sbould
vote. They have said that that right should
belong to the men of every color. by the
fact that they have given the vote to the
men OF every color south of Mason and
Dlxon's line. Let us equalize the right. If
IL be right, as the American people have
asserted-and to this decision deier-then
let US extend to every man in the United
States. ~
The gentleman from Caldwell has used IT
as an argument against the ratification of
this amendment of the Constitution that
there are in Tennessee and Missouri millions
who now have no right to vote. Sir, this
amendment will give them the right to vote.
They will be no longer DISTINGUISHED, but
can come forward Us freemen and say once
more who are qualified to be their rulers I
60 beyond some of my party and some of
the opposite party in my Interpretation as
to what is the Constitution of the United
States. So far as / am able to understand
principles of government, l assert that
the Constitution of the United States
is confined not only to the instru.
ment properly SO. called, not only
to the printed provisions that we have been
accustomed to regard as the Constitutinnmt
extend to every principle which the Govern
ment Of the United States have acted upon,
every Interpretation which has been given
to the Constitution since the foundation Of
the gov eminent to the present time. The
principles acted upon during the war have
| become a permanent fixture in the Constu-
| ton of the United States. 1t is not within
| the power OF the American people to strike
| from the Constitution of the United States
otherwise than by the forms prescribed in
that instrument, those principles without
|
and say that the country demands the
! Incorporated into the Constitution either by
legislation or by war. In saying that will
support what the country demands, l say
that am prepared to vote for this amend
ment. (Applause.l
Mr.. HARRIS, of Wake, spoke IN favor Of
the amendment.
Mr. FRENCH gave notice that he should
move to allow members to print their re-
marks. He then called the previous qucs-
ton.
Mr. MOORE, of Chowan, opposed the call
for the previous question for the following
reasons
He hoped the House would vote down
the previous question, and hear our con-
sentative friends as long as they desire to
speak, and adjourn after passing the fifteenth
article, and not till then.
The previous question was not ordered
yeas 80. nays 80.
Mr.. MALoNE moved to adjourn. Lost
yeas %, nays 49,
The question was then taken on the. pas
sage of the resolution on its second reading.
and resulted yeas 81, nays ID.
The SPEAKER, by permission, recorded
his vote in the affirmative
During roll-calL, the following gentlemen
explained their votes:
Mr.. HAYES did not look upon this amend.
ment as interfering with any of the rights
that are held sacred by the colored people
of the reconstructed States, while it secured
rights to. his brethren in other States; and
as he knew none of those could be taken
from them he voted yea. Eail
Mr. SYKES said he was once slave and
now freeman, and he felt called upon to
vote for the amendment giving suffrage to
all men in the United States. He desired
to see every man have the right to hold
office, in New York as well as in North Car
DINA, and when love of the government
came, he would let general amnesty come
with it. 5e ST
The resolution passed third reading.
Mr.. FRENCH moved to reconsider the
| vote. 8
On motion of Mr.. AMEs, that motion was
tabled.
| The House adjourned.
/ ~ t,'a rs SENATE.
| FRIDAY, March 5, 1862.
r.