The Washington critic. (Washington City, D.C.) 1890-1890, 1890-02-16


The one thing he most desired and
urged was q Dote on his amendment.
Mr.. Sumner opposed the amendment
in nm elaborate speech, holding that the
Constitution in its scope, provisions
and spirit was adequate to coufer
upon the enfranchised all that was
sought to give them by the measure
proposed He said to adopt such an
amendment would be reelection on the
Constitution itself.
The amendment was voted on and
carried in the Senate February IL,
1869, ayes 80, nays IL and on motion
of Mr.. Boutwell,, its able and earnest
advocate in the House, passed that body
under the suspension of the rules with
an amendment proposed by Mr.. Bing
ham so that the resolution then read
The right Of citizens of the United States
TO vote and to hold Office shall not be de-
MED or abridged by any state on account
Of race, color, nativity, property, creed or
previous condition Of serWtude,
The resolution was then returned TO
the Senate, but that body refused to
concur in the House amendments. On
February 90, 1869, conference COM
mittee, composed of Mcssrs. Stewart.
the Senate, and Messrs. Boutwell,,
Bingham and Logan on the part of the
House, was appointed TO settle disagree
ments between the two Houses.
Mr.. Stewart was determined that the
amendment should not be delayed by
any further disagreements in the con
ference committee. He, therefore, be-
fore the committee convened, went over
to the House and held conference
with Messrs. Logan and Boutwell, He
assured them that he and Mr. Conkling
would agree to strike ont the words
and to hold Office" which phrase was
Objectionable to some of the members,
if they would agree to strike out the
amendment proposed by Mr.. Bingham.
An agreement was entered into in ac-
cordance with the suggestions Of Mr..
Stewart A majority of the conference
committee having thus been induced
to sign the report, the ultimate triumph
of the measure was made certain.
The conference committee reported
the amendment as it originally passed
the Senate with the exception that the
words and ito hold office" were struck
out. Mr.. Edmunds would not sign the
report because the words "and to hold
office" were not retained He was in
favor of comforting the right of the
elective franchise upon colored citizens.
He wished to do more; he wanted to
have incorporated in the organic law
the unmistakable right of the newly
enfranchised citizen to hold any office
in the gift or the people.
The amendment was now reported to
the two Houses and passed, the final re-
suit being reached February &c, 1859
Immediately upon the passage Of the
act Senator Stewart telegraphed the fact
to the Nevada Legislature, which was
then in session, and at once the Senate
and House took favorable action Thus
the Senator's own State was the first TO
ratify the amendment.
Senator Stewart, further using his
influence III endeavoring to secure the
action of the requisite number Of States
to make the amendment part of the
Constitution, called upon General Grant,
President elect, and asked his assist
ance.
General GRANT. How can ! render as
sistance in this matter?
Senator STEWART. BY advocating the
amendment in your inaugural address.
General Grant, after rejecting few
moments, called in General Sherman,
who was in an adjoining room. and,
when he had conversed with him. wrote
in his address the following words
The question of suffrage is one which 1,
likely to agitate the public so long as
portion of the citizens of the nation are ex
cluded from its privileges in any State. i
seems to me very desirable that this ques
tion should be settled now, and ! entertain
the hope and express the desire that 10 may
be by the ratification of The Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution.
The timely action of General Grant
saved the amendment. Without his
approval and recommendation it il
doubtful if the necessary votes of three
fourths of the States could have beer
secured.
1t is important to observe the differ
ence between the resolution offered by
Mr.. Henderson and the amendment pre-
pared and reported by Mr.. Stewart
Mr. Henderson's resolution was AN in
hibition upon the State to deny its citi
Zens the right to vote on account o.
race, color or previous condition
Whereas the Fifteenth Amendment
proposed by Mr.. Stewart, makes it un
lawful for any State or Territory of thu
United States to deny to the citizens o
said State or Territory the right Of tn
elective franchise.
1t is the Fifteenth Amendment alon
that gives to Congress the power to leg
islate upon the subject of elections /,
the States. Prior to tie passage of tn
act the power rested exclusively will
the States, but now Congress, through
the exemption secured to citizens by thi
amendment, can, by legislation, protec
them in the exercise Of the right Of sui