The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-06-10
A Leaf from the History OF Reconstruction

Mr.. Robert Dale Owen contributes to the
June number of the atlantic Monthly scrap of
political history, which affords singular illus.
tration Of how great event may hinge upon tri.
fling incidents. In his article, which he enti-
ties political Result from the Varioloid," he
explains how slight attack of that disease,
from which the late William Pitt Fessenden,
of Maine, suffered in the Spring of 1866, chang
ed the whole complexion of American politics
during the past nine years, and is apt to exer-
else its influence for many years to come. The
time indicated, says the Charleston News and
Courier, Mr.. Fessenden was Chairman of the
Committee or Reconstruction in the Senate,
and Thaddeus Stevens vas Chairman of the
Committee in the House of Representatives.
The two committees were very frequently in
joint session, and, in addition to other matters
connected with the reconstruction of the late
Confederate States, had the question of negro
suffrage under consideration. Mr.. Owen says
that be proposed to the Committee an amend
ment to the Constitution, providing that no
class of persons should be denied the right of
suffrage because of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude" after July 4, 1876. The
idea of the proposition was that the negroes
would be given the ballot in about ten years
from the date of the ratification of the amend
ment, and on the Centennial of American In
dependence. Mr.. Owens asserts that his sug-
gestion was favorably received by very many of
the prominent and influential Republicans, in
cluding Henry Wilson, Conkling, Boutwell,,
Washburne, Thaddeus Stevens, Mr. Bingham,
of Ohio, and the then Senator Howard, Of
Michigan. All the Republican members of the
committee agreed to it, and the amendment,
substantially as submitted by Mr.. Owen, was
adopted in committee on Saturday, April 81,
1866, and ordered to be reported to Congress on
the following Monday. Mr.. Fessenden was
kept away from this meeting of the committee
by his illness from varioloid, and it was sug-
gested that, as he was Chairman of the Senate
Committee, it would only be courteous to defer
final action until he could be present. Nobody
but Mr.. Stevens thought there would be any
harm in waiting day or two, and the commit
tee adjourned over. He was inclined to object
to the postponement of en- important measure
on mere formality, but he thought that objec-
tion would come with bad grace from him as
Chairman of the House Committee, and. ..accor.
dinghy he remained silent. That loss of few
hours was fatal to the amendment. The senti-
ment of the committee and the nature of the
proposed legislation had leaked out, and the
timid Republicans at once brought to bear up
on the committee, pressure for the suppress.
sion of the report. Negro suffrage was in those
days too advanced position for even good Re-
publicans to occupy, and the end was that the
committee report never saw light.
In this way, we are told, the hesitation OF
the Republicans in Congress, who were afraid
of negro suffrage ten years hence, secured it
seven years sooner than was contemplated by
Mr.. Ovens proposition. The effect of Mr..
Fessendcn's illness was to postpone the pro-
posal of the suffrage amendment till February
26, 1869, and then it came in form that gave
the negroes the ballot Immediately upon the
ratification of the amendment.