Year: 1868

Mr.. PRESIDENT ~ regret my inability to
present my views in regard to the great
Equestionof suffrage, in cur State Constltu
tion in aecordance with the report submit
ted by majority of the committee in any
manner like tnat which its importance and
merits demand Indeed, sm my opinion so
to engraft in the Constitution of North
iCafolina as tn defue and secure an equality
i'of fight to have and exercise political power
to alt male persons horn in the United States
7 or duly naturahzed 81 years of age and up
! wards, who have residedwithin the Stateia
proper time is the main purpose of our as
I semhling 7l, 70 aild.Isf 3i'l aaita
r But sir; before noticing the majority re-
port, 4 would briefly notice the majority
/ report on the SAME subjecr And, SIT, am
decidedly of the opinion, that the report
recommending the imposing of certain dis
abilities, and test oath for classes of per-
sons ought not to be adopted let test oaths
be buried and be forever forgotten with the
past.


The Convention is not called upon by the
Reconstruction acts to impose any partlcu-
lar form of oath, or any disabilities upon any
class of persons, either as to voting or hold
| ing office


The Howard Amendment when ratified
! by three fourths of the States will disable
| from holding office certain classes of per
sons. (unless relieved by two thirds vote
| of Congress of the United States,) | consid-
CT it unnecessary to engraft in the Constitu-
| tion of the State any restriction IN regard to
holding office, for the reason that said
amendment known as the 14th Article re-
fered to when ratified being part of the
| Constitution of the United States will be
| the supreme law of the land. and binding rs
such upon each and every State over its
| Constitution surely we should not go be-
vond what Congress has deemed necessary
for reconstruction, and do what that body
| has not proposed to do, disfranchise any
class of our citizens for their past offences.
Let me correct very prevalent error of
opinion in relation to this subject The How
ard amendment does not disable or would
not disable any person from voting. and no
| person in this State will he So disabled after
| the reconstruction of the State, except it be
| done through provision of the State Con-
| stitution. Sir why should this be done
We are to form permanent body of written
| fundamental laws for ourselves and our pos
terity. The necessity, actual or supposed,
which now exists for DISTINGUISHING any
citizen of the State will soon, we believe,
have passed away. Such provision will
but seem to increase opposition to the ratiti
cation of the Constitution by the people.
1t would be unjust to a large number of the
best tried Union men of the State; it is
wrong in principle, us interfering with the
| freedom of the ballot.


My conviction is fixed against the adop-
ton OF the second minority report, which
would defeat altogether the exercise of po-
/ lictial power by the colored people of the
| State. y 1s-'f 'gz,Is.-. a3sa3 '.aii isEt-
Sir, have said to incorporate the report
OF the majority of the committee, allowing
all our people the ballot, in the Constitution.
For what other purpose have we metz Have
we met to put anew in our Declaration OF
Right that all political power is vested in
and derived from the people only, and then
to define the word people to be about two,
thirds OF those who were born on the soil of
| North Carolina and who hope to live free
as her water and air, and to die and return
to her dust Have we met in pursuance of
acts of Congress of the United States to draft
a Constitution republican IN form, and do
we expect to do so by excluding from its
provisions and benefits all the colored people
of the State, and if so, do we thus hope to
aid in the reconstruction of the Government,
and in restoring the disorganized political
relations of the State with the Government


Sir, universal suffrage is the great popular
American idea. 1t is the great principle of
American politics, which is recognized in
our Declaration of Rights, that all political
power is vested in and derived from the
people only, and which was meant to be
secured in our National Constitution, by the
guarantee to every State in this Union a
Republican form of government. 1t is a
principle consonant with the genius of our
free Representive system of government,
which is approved and sanctioned by the
mass of enlarged and liberal minds of the
country, dear and vital to hitherto depress-
ed race OF our countrymen, and just and
right IN itself. Universal suffrage ought to be
secured and defined in the Constitution of
North Carolina. No argument was needle l
to support this proposition previous to the
rebellion as it related to the white people OF
the State There would he none now, -cx-
cept tor the changed status of the cOored
people, which requires the adoption of the
proposed alteration for their protection, and
our peace and prosperity as State and peo-
pie. No delegate on this floor would now
think OF voting to restrict or withhold the
right OF suffrage from any loyal white citi-
Zen ofthe State, without expecting to meet
the disapproval of an indignant constitu-
ency. Why wish to deny it altogether to
the colored people, or restrict it upon
terms which amount to prohibition
Is it because of prejudice, or is there any we'll
founded argument adduced against the ex-
ercise of this right 10y the people of color as
such ? Prejudice is the main argument or
rather fallacy of the opponents of universal
suffrage. and in such party light it is use
less to discuss it. Iwould leave the weapon
to be used by the opposition here as dexter
ously as they may with a disposition to let
them alone. while joined to these idols; but
l trust that my people may not worship
these idols to our further deusion and
destruction. An objection is urged by party
and by the highest authority of a party that
negro supremacy will result from this mca-
sure. This objection is brought forward out
of mere hypocrisy. for the party purpose of
deceiving the preiudiced and ignorant, for
party ends. No sane man here believes that,
with population OF about thirty millions
OF whites to about four millions of colored,
Such supremacy is impossiblein in the National
Government, and with white population
in the State Of about twice the number of
the colored who predicts or really believes
that such supremacy is attainable in the
State Government Yet another hypocriti-
cal objection of party is moro effectively
urged. that this measure will lead TO social
equality. Was it erunderstood before the
A. rAl =