The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-09-29

stitutional provision" The fact wa
that nearly all the fourteen absentee
Senators were in Washington, and re-
fused to vote on purpose. They could
not honestly sustain it, and they had
not the courage to break with their
party upon it. Had they voted ac-
cording to their sentiments, it would
have been defeated by not receiving a
two-thirds majority. Among the SEN
ators who refused to vote were some
carpet baggers from the South, and
Senators from the Pacific States, who
were opposed to it on account of let
ting in the Chinese.
In the debate Mr.. Warner, of Ala
bama, n carpet-bagger from Ohio, who
voted for it, said 81 most respect
fully, but honestly, enter my humble
protest against the character of the
amendment. While 1 shall probably
vote for it in the shape it is, l shall
do it rather in Difference to the judy
ment of older and wiser men than my
self than in accordance with my de-
literate judgment.
MI. Edmunds, of Verne ont, a lead
ing Republican Senator, abstained
from voting for it, because, to Use his
language, at is repugnant, Mr..
President, to all my notions of free
government. 1t is repugnant, l know,
to all the notions of the people whom
/ represent, as entering into the frame
work and heart of the Government
that processes to be, and can only be
called. n republican one. x X x
AS l have said, I believe it to he in
furious to the Government, if tits car
ried. 1 believe it to be an outrage
upon the good sense and patriotism of
the country, and, SO believing, a.
though 1 do not wish to occupy time
in stopping its progress, if any politi-
cal fri nds link best to pass it. l
have felt bound to say So"
Mr.. Wilson, of Massachusetts,, con
cluded n speech for tho amendment in
these words: Il am going to vote for
this proposition without taking any re-
<ponsibility for it. 1 am not respon-
sible for this half way proposition. ]
simply take it, ut this late hour, rs the
hest 1 can get"
Nj. Morton, OF Indiana, who is now
in our State advocating the amend
ment, said, when it was on its passage
in the Senate:
''He vas somewhat surprised that
this committee should report to us a
pre- position that has been rejected by
every vote of the Senate from the time
we first commenced voting upon it.
This proposition has been reje ted by
every vote from first to last =; and We
&c Senate rs now required to skunk
through and cut this pretty figure b,
the Committee of Conference.
x X X y X x :
There are some other elements con
nected with the suffrage question Le-
sides hat of color, and it was proper
for us to say in the Constitution, when
we came to amend it upon this subject,
flat the right to vote should not be
denied to any citizen of the United
States on account of his nativity. It
is n great Democratic principle that W,
recognize in our hearts; and when we
came to amend the Con titution 1t was
proper to put it in. S;r, it would APP
peal strongly to the hearts of n large
part of the population of this country,
and was proper as n safeguard against
any future Kow Moth ng excitement
or movements.
"Then there was that other word,
property; the provision that the
light to vote should not be denied on
;,ccount of a want of property. That
ppeals to a strong Democratic senti-
ment; it is the establishment of a re-
publican principle that most of us re
cOgnize; and when We come to amend
the Constitution on this subject it is
proper to put the principle in Itap-
peals to a strong Republican sentiment
that is rife throughout the whole ma
ton.
And it was proper to say, too, as
another essential Republican principle.
hat the right to vote and hold ofic
should not be denied on account of re,
ligious faith or creed. Do we not re-
cognize that as being a true and sound
principle? What vas the objection t.
putting that in Z"
Still, after making this speech
against it, MOrt' n, in accordance with
the ''tinpan' DEGREES of King Caucus,
voted or it.
MIR. Sawper n carpct-bag Senator
from South Carolina: eff 1 vote or
this proposition, if l vote to concur in
this report of the Committee of Con-
ference, I do it with the grea' est hest
tation"
Mr.. Howard, of Michigan, who a'so
voted for It against his conscientious
convictions, made the following short
but conclusive, speech against it:
"Mr. PRESIDENT al r%emarking
that this proposed amendment to the
Constitution will operate as a repeal,
as an annullment of that clause of the
sixth article of the present Constitu-
ton which declares that mo religious
test shall ever be required as a quail.
ification to any officer of public trust
under the United States The ar
ticle which is proposed to us declare
that no State shall pass any law, and
that the United States shall pass no
law that shall abridge or deny the
right of voting CT holding Office to any
citizen OF the United States on account
of race, color, or previous condition of
of slavery. The implics ton is perfect
~ irresistible in the mind of every in
structed lawyer who has any practice
at the bar, that, with the exception of
race, color, and previous condition of
servitude, even the United States may
impos, whatever qualifications Con-