Year: 1865

The following is the minority report made
in the House of Representatives by Mr.. Rogers,
of the judiciary Committee, on the bill entitled
"A BIZ extending the right of Suffrage in the
District of Columbia" The minority report is
made for the following reasons:


There is no more reason now existing that
negroes of this District than before the war
The men who made the Constitution of the
United States did not intend this Government
for the benefit of the negro race, but made il for
the bene lit OF white men and women and their
posterity forever. The Declaration of Inde-
pendence was made and the revolutionary var
fought for the Liberties of the white race. No
party as yet has advocated negro suffrage in
any presidential election, nor made il an issue
in any State or congressional election, until
since the rebellion. In fact, 1t had become a
settled notion OF the people, firmly established
in their minds by long experience, that the
negro race Were not sufficiently intelligent to
exercise the right OF suffrage. and they have
not been allowed that right since the formation
OF the Government, except in a few States
where they have been permitted TO vote upon
property qualifications not applied 10 the white
race. 1t is degrading the people and the Dis
tTlct 10 permit class OF poor weak-minded
negroes who have no idea of government
many Of whom have just emerged from a state
OF slavery, 10 exercise the highest political
privilege gwen to man upon earth-to wit. the
elective franchise. The people of thls country
are opposed 10 negro suffrage, and have refused
to allow it in the States where it has been made
an issue.


1t can be said, without the fear of contradic
ton, that there is probably not a State in the
Union, except one, that would sanction negro
suffrage were the question to be submitted TO
the people. Even the people of Connecticut.
by a large majority, refused il, and the repub-
lcan party, in all the States except four where
an election was held last fall, declared and
proclaimed, through the press and public
speakers, their opposition to negro suffrage:
and IN the four States where that question was
an Issue, negro suffrage was largely defeated,
although the republican ticket was elected
shOntd GnnprpSS Nra
upon the people OF the District. when the peo-
pie whom they represent have repudiated il in
the States 7 The bill reported by the majority
OF the committee will, If ii becomes q law, not
only allow the negroes to vote for all Of
ficers in the District, but allow a negro to
hold and be elected to any Office in the
District. BY striking out the word "white,"
colored people become citizens OF the Dis
trict, with all the political rights of any
white citizen OF the District. Ii would
place the negro population upon the same po-
hucal basis as the whites, and would soon re-
suit in the election of a negro for mayor Of the
city, az IL is but reasonable to presume that
there would soon be such an influx of negroes
into the District as TO give them the majority.
The "African race" in this country gained more
by the result of the war than any other people
By il they were freed from slavery, and with


81 5hs{ S@ghf H. to be bs
refused to allow the political equality of the
negro race as exercised by the white; and no
civilized people Of any country have allowed
universal suffrage 10 the negro throughout
their governments. If this bill becomes a law
II will be but the entering wedge to negro suf-
frage and equality all over this land


This question of negro suffrage and political
equallty In the District ought TO be submitted
10 vote OF the legal voters of the District
We onght not to make a change in the political
status OF the people Of the District without
submitting IL to them for their rejection or ap.
proHal. The government Of the city is for the
oeneht and protection OF its citizens, and they
ought TO be consulted and in no case should so
radical a change be made without their con-
sent. To allow the negroes to vote and hold
office in the District will be dangerous, and
shake, If not destroy, law and order In the Dis
trict, as the white people cannot be expected To
quietly submit to it.