Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1869-03-17

before them. On this question they do not
represent the people-were never chosen to
represent them. If the gentleman viii say
that this legislature was elected to consider
this or any similar amendment will give
up the discussion. Nay, will give him any
thing 1 have to give if he will hazard that
statement But he will not, and the fact
must remain unchallenged that you are
about to call upon body of representatives
to ratify your amendment who do not rep
resent the people upon this question. The
ratification might just as we'll be submitted
to any other body of men-it might just ss
well not be Submitted at ALL
What I propose is, that the amendment
shall be submitted to Legislature, the most
popular branch of which shall be chosen
after this date, with this question before
the eyes of the people.
The gentleman from Massachusetts says
that is unconstitutional, Why? Because
we cannot select the legislature to which to
submit our amendment. deny his prem
ises. say that the Constitution devolves
upon us the duty of selecting the represen-
tative body to which weshall submit amend
ments. When read the words of the Con-
stitution you will see 1 am right. 1t is rs
| follows:
The Congress, whenever two-thirds of
both Houses shall deem il necessary, shall
propose amendments TO this Constitution,
or on application Of the Legislatures of two
thirds of the several States shall call con-
vention for proposing amendments, which,
in either case shall be valid to all intents
and purposes as part of this constitution
when ratified by the legislatures of three
fourths OF the several States or by conven-
tions in three -fourths thereof, 80 the one
or the other mode of ratification may be
proposed by Congress"
There, sir, is the constitutional devolu-
ton of the duty to exercise our discretion
as between the Legislature and convention
to pass upon amendments. The duty in
wolves the power. If we must choose be-
tween the legislature and convention, we
may choose a legislature or convention
elected last year, or to be elected this year.
The constitution does not shut us up to
legislatures now in session. We may take
any Legislature that shall fairly and reason
ably represent the people. And the ground
, on which / maintain that our discretion
should be exercised in favor of future in
stead of the existing legislature is, that the
people may have chance to choose repre-
sentatives with view to this question
What right had the gentleman to say that
the amendment was to bo submitted to the
people 1t cannot be submitted to the
people by being submitted to the present
Legislature. Nobody knows that better
than the gentleman from Massachusetts,.
When You have matured the form Of your
proposition, throw it before the legislature
ito be chosen next fall, and let the people
understand that when We democrats charged
you republicans with plotting for negro
suffrage we did not SANDER you, but spoke
only the truth. Put your amendment be-
fore the representatives Of the people
chosen after you have shown your hands,
and if they ratify it will agree never to
raise my voice again in opposition to ne
gro suffrage.
Having said this much in behalf of an
amendment which the gentleman from
Massachusetts, will not let me offer, I i'm
prove the opportunity to add few more
thoughts ON the general subject of negro
suffrage. / have shown the House what
has been the fixed position of Pennsylva-
MIA in all times on this subject. For more
than thirty years all parties have acqui-
esced in the rule Of white suffrage. So far
as remember no public man in Pennsyl-
yania has proposed repeal of the rule
Even the late Mr., Stevens, whose opinions
were extreme ON all subjects, never brought
forward any measure to alter our constitu-
ton in this regard. He would not sign the
constitution, US a member Of the conven-
ton, and no doubt he would have voted to
his dying breath to expunge the word
white" SO also, had he been spared
would he have lifted up his eloquent voice
to persuade the people Of Pennsylvania to
change their fundamental law and give the
ballot to the negro; but, sir, persuade
myself that he would not have been guilty
of the insincerity and duplcity that have
characterized the conduct of the republican
party on this question. Having denied
again and again that this issue was in last
falls election, Mr.. Stevens would have said
with characteristic candor, the representa-
tives then chosen do not necessarily repre-
sent the people on this question, let it go
to thenext representatives they ayIchoose.
Not only have all white men in Pennsylva-
MIA acquiesced for thirty-two years in the
rule of white suffrage, but so also have the
black men. I cannot recall single instance
in which any representatives of that class
of our citizens have asked for change
The colorcd people of Pennsylvania are q
quiet, orderly, and respectable population.
They enjoy full protection of all civil rights
Pennsylvania abolished slavery in 1880 by