The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-12-29
Spirited Debate in the Senate on the
Negro Suffrage Amendment.

In the OulCeu states senate, on
Friday, the subject matter being a bill
to force Georgia again out Of the
Union unless that State adopted the
negro suffrage amendment and other
Radical measures, n spirited debate
ensued, which WI iud by telegraph as
follows:
Upon the opening of the doors, the
consideration of the Georgia. bill was
resumed.
Mr.. Stockton, Of n. J. Cd ex-
pressed the belief hat if the 18th
Amendment was declared adopted
through the means contemplated, the
day would come when it would be de-
| clared no Dart of the Constitution
The people of the United States would
never submit, if they could prevent it,
to al attempt to force negro suffrage
upon them. The objection to it Was
not so much to the exercise of suffrage
by negroes as it was to the meth6d by
which the accomplishment of the OBJ
Iject was designatedz.-Th dominant
party, feeling that this Fifteenth
Amendment must be adopted now or
be lost forever, were willing to, attain
that end, even though it carried with
it the destruction OF everything Of val
ue in the relation of the States to the
Union.
Nh. Ferry, of Conn Or in the
reply to the assertion that the Four
teenth Amendment had not been adopt
ed by Georgia because the old Legisla-
ture was illegally organized, said the
vote of that State having already been
counted in its favor, it would be IN
wise to insist upon its ratification again.
He looked upon the pen.ling amend
ment as inpolitic.
Mr. Conkling expressed his objcc-
ton to the amendment and was follow
ed by Mr.. Morton, of Ind, (RrO who
agreed t modify his amendment by
leaving out the condition of ratifying
the Fourteenth Amendment. He said
if the Senate refused to make the same
requirements for Georgia as wasinsist-
ed on in the cases of Virginia, Texas,
and Mississippi, it would be a %confes-
sion that in their action heretofore they
had done wrong. Having gone thus
far in their policy, it was too late for
Congress to think of turning back
By Incorporating this provision in the
bill the effect would be to secure the
rasiication of the Fifteenth Amend
ment. The purpose of Democratic
members of the Ohio Legislature and
the Democratic majority of the New
York Legislature would be f~orestalled,
and seeing that the amendment was
secured, they would be found on the
strong side. Instead of denouncing
the negro race they would be found
putting themselves in a position to be
most acceptable to American citizens
of African descent.
1t was not here contemplated to
force any $ upon Georgia, but
simply to say to her, if you do not
give US the security we require, you
can remain where you are. Those who
had the upper hand in Georgia never
would adopt the Fifteenth Amend
ment unless under compul sion; for
they would be urgel not 10 60 one step
further than Congress required them
to go.
Mr.. Edmunds, of Vermont, (R-)
asked why the Senator from Indiana,
did not move to insert in the bill q
clause directing the military command
er in Georgia to declare the amend
ment adopted, without the formality
of a vote on the subject.
Mr.. Morton asked why did not the
Senator think of that when he voted
to impose the Fourteenth Amendment.
Mr.. Edmunds denied he had so vo-
ted but subsequently admitted having
voted for the reconstructed measure,
, which contained the measures refer
red to.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, (R.) n re
ply to his colleague, Mr.. Thurman, as.
serted that the people of Ohio, at the
ballot box, had declared in favor Of
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments, and that the merits of the ques
tons presented by each were Endorsed
by the people after a full discussion.
Mr.. Thurman reiterated his asser.
tiors, declaring that in the elections
referred to the grave issues in the Con
st%itutional amendments had received
comparatively little attention, IN conse-
t quence of the more exciting appeals
to the people by the Republican party