Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-04-30
The Negro's
Citizenship.
D Or ~ 6rsw4 essua Il an Ws.
A1zss Rssl1sa II RspshscM Ca.
vsaIss II 1865 VIII No.
sstel 6eeeed Gsssl.

Hon. James G. Blaine gives the follow
Ing sketch Of the origin and growth o
Negro suffrage, which sketch II inter
esdng ut this time because Of the prop
osition to place such restrictions upor
the suffrage that thousands of colored
and others voters win be disfranchised
The Republican victory Of 1865 led
to the Incorporation OF impartial suf
frage In the constitution Of the United
States. The evasfve and discreditable
position in regard to suffrage taken by
the national Republican convention
that nominated General Grant in 1868
was keenly felt and appreciated BY the
members OF the party when subjected
to popular discussion. There was some
thing so obviously unfair and unmanly
In the proposition to impose Negro sui
frage on the southern states by na-
tionai power and at the same time to
leave the northern states free to de-
eide the question for themselves that
the Republicans became heartily
ashamed Of 1t long before the political
canvass had closed.
When congress assembled imme-
diately after the election Of General
Grant there were found to be a COM
mon desire and q common purpose
among Republicans to correct the I'M
fortunate position In which the party
had been placed by the national con-
vent1on, and to that end it was re-
solved that suffrage as between the
races should by organic law be made
impartial in all the aDates Of the Un-
ion. north az well as south.
Various propositions were at once
offered both In the senate and house
to amend the constitution of the Unit
ed States In order to attain impartial
suffrage. 1t was both significant and
appropriate that the draft proposed by
Mr.. Henderson Of Missouri was taken
rs the basis Of the amendment first
reported to the senate. In the preced-
ing congress when the fourteenth
amendment was under consideration
Gin the spring of 1860 Mr.. Henderson
had proposed substantially the same
provision and had solemnly warned
his Republican associates that, though
they might reject it then, It would be
demanded CT them in less than FIVE
years. This declaration was all the
more suggestive and creditable coming
from senator who represented for
mer slaveho!ding state. And 1t was
not forgotten that Mr.. Henderson had
with equal zeal and equal foresight
been among the earliest to propose the
thirteenth amendment.
Mr.. Henderson's proposition. now
submitted and referred to the judi.
ciary committee, was In these words:
mo state shall deny or abridge the
right OF its citizens to vote or hold Of.
nee on account Of race. color or previ.
ous condition"
II was reported from the judiciary
committee by Mr.. Stewart Of Nevada,
with an amendment proposing another
form Of Extraordinarily, ''The right
Of citizens Of the United States to vote
and hold office shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or any
state on account of race. color or pre-
vtous condition Of servitude."
During the debate on the question
Mr.. Hendricks Of Indiana reproached
the Republican party by forcing this
question upon congress when in the
platform Of principles upon which they
appealed for popular support they had
distinctly waived it and when the leg
islature to which It must 60 for ratifi-
cation had been elected without the
slightest reference to 1t in the popular
mind. In order to prevent what might
seem to be an unfair submission of the
amendment Mr.. Dixon Of Connecticut
proposed that 1t should be referred to
conventions in the respective states
instead Of to the legislatures and thus
give to the people in the election Of
members of the conventions full op.
portunity to pass upon the, merits Of
the question.
It was commended, on the other hand.
BY Republican senators that no sub
1ect had been more fully matured IN
the popular mind than this had been
BY the discussion which had taken
place since the beginning and especial
" since the close of the war. But
this was not candid or truthful
statement Of the case, as had been
abundantly shown by the action OF
the national Republican convention.
Only few Of the leaders Of the party
had openly announced themselves In
favor Of Negro suffrage in the nation;
a few were openly hostile, while the
great majority of the prominent mem
beers feared 1t and refrained from
omen expression in regard to 1t. The
mass Of the party, as is usual on ques-
lions OF this character, had made their
own conclusions. and their earnestness
OF conviction finally forced II 1t did
not persuade the reluctant chiefs to
adopt IT.
The house OF representatives had
been considering the question of the
suffrage amendment at equal step with
the senate. On Jan. II Mr.. Boutwell,
OF Massachusetts,, from the committee
On the Judiciary. proposed an amend
ment to the constitution in these
words: 1.-THE right Of any citizen Of
the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United
States or any state by reason OF the
race, color or previous condition OF
slavery Of any citizen or class of citi-
zens OF the United States. The con-
gress shall have power to enforce by
proper legislation the provisions OF
this article NJ 1
I. Object to Strong nedlcine.
Many people object to taking the