The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-11
PROOFS FROM RECORDS
EFFORTS TO GIVE HIM SUCH
RIGHT DEFEATED.
FIGHT in CONGRESS OVER THE MEASURE
Wrds " and Hold Office" had to be Stricken
Out Before the Amendment Could be
Passed. Historical Evidence
in Abundance.
in Abundance.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

CONTINUED from yesterday
To the Editor: The debate in Con
gress clearly shows that the members
of Congress did not think the 18th
amendment carried with it the right to
hold office. The extracts from the
remarks of Senators that immediatel.
follow are taken from the Senate pro-
ceedings OF February II, 1869 as found
in part of the Congressional Globe,
third session, Fortieth Congress. The
extracts are selected at intervals from
pages 1,294 to 1907. They read as
follows:
Senator Wilson.-Now, l am very de-
srous of getting in an amendment that
shall secure not only the right to vote,
but the right to hold office.
| am acting in this matter in no fac
tious spirit. certainly, but with an earn
est desire to get what l believe to be
right. In my Judgment, nine-tenths of
our friends, in and out of Congress, who
are i'll favor of submitting this question
to the country at all are in favor of so
submitting it as to settle both the right
to vote and the right to be voted for.
do hope that we shall ADOPT that plan
here, and that the fear of failing in
this measure will not drive us. in Il
panic, to send out to the country an
immature proposition-a proposition that
is not complete within Itself. Now, sir,
suppose we submit this imperfect prop
osition which says to seven hundred
and fifty thousand coored men in this
country. You shall have the right to
vote. but you shall not have the right
to sit upon a jury or to hold office,
how will they feel in regard to it?
Mr.. Ferry.-If the Senator will permit
me, 1 will tell him that it says no such
thing.
Mr.. Wilson.-It is true that it ices
not say expressly, but it leaves that in
ference. 1t does not say that State
shall not deny to colored men the right
to hold office; and will it not be an in
SEPARATION to some to keep on and take
athatri from them? Now. sir. / want
to accomplish the work of making thes
citizens equal to other citizens in rights
and privileges.
Senator Stewart.-The Senator from
Massachusetts is as much responsible
as any other person for the condition in
which we are placed. In the first place.
the proposition of the judiciary Com
mittee was conceded by large number
of our friends to be the best. 1t con-
tanned the simple proposition that the
right to vote and hold office should not
be denied on account of race color, or
previous condition of servitude. 1t did
not attempt to extend any further than
the right to vote and hold office. The
Senator from Massachusetts, moved to
put upon that several other PROPOSE
tions which loaded it down; he voted to
put upon it all of those propositions
which went to the House of Represen
tatives, and were rejected by them.
1t CAME here. A majority Of our
friends here this morning, on consuta.
ton and by large vote, said we had
better take this than ito have nothing
and the votes have been very emphatic
upon that point. To throw it open t.
further discussion is to get nothing.
The true way to get the right to hold Of
flee included in this proposition was, by
standing by the Judiciary Committee
Of the Senate. / stood by it. ! refrain
ed from speaking, and protested against
loading that down, as it was loaded
down by the vote of the Senator from
in such shape that to send it to a COM
mittee Of conference at this late day
will cause the loss of everything. This
is not my proposition, but it is the
best / can get, and therefore l am
for taking it now rather than get noth-
ing.
| tell you that voting against this prop
osition is voting against any constitu-
-; IA lie
only hope for getting anything is to vote
for this proposition, and / appeal t,
those who are willing to take something
i'm favor of the colored men to vote fol
it, / appeal to the Senators who are
willing D take something TO vote for
this, and then l will go with them and
stand by them as faithfully as l can
for another proposition that will give
the right TO hold office. | will work
with them for that, and let us save what
we have got. / will labor as hard as
any one for a proposition that colored
men shall hold office, but because ! can
not get what | want now. / am not to
reject what | can get / am for taking
what we can get now.
Mr.. Nye-I trust by this time. honor
able Senators, who opposed the House
pTopOSltlcn, see tHe utter 1utlilty OF at
tempting to pass any other.
There were two or three objections urg
ed against the House propositions; one
was that the amendment did not go far
enough; that it omitted to say that the
class of persons alluded to should have
the privilege of holding office. =
Does ii not 90 far enough? If it does
not, let us take what we can get.
Ever since my hair was as black as the
ravens plumage have heard honorable
Senators from Massachusetts standing
here and elsewhere. making the very all
that surrounded them vocal with the
songs of freedom, and buoying and lash