Year: 1865




SLAVERY DEAD.


BY the operations and results OF the late Slavery
has ceased 10 EXIT in this State and the former slave
has become free 1t is needless to inquire when. how
where this change in the status OF the Degro was ei
fec,ed 1t sufficient know that the fact exists and
Is nrcvocebe In the reesiabishment OF State gov.
ernment II is necessary to recognize It's existence ana
to frame the Constitution accordingly.


In taking the amnesty oath. you have all sworn TO
support the freedom Of the former slave t expected
therefore that you will afima.iyely declare in the Con
stuiion that neither Slavery nor involuntary seryi
tude except as n punishment for crime. whereof the
party shalt have been daily convicted. shall hereafter
exist in this State. This clause has been Incorporated
into the Constitution OF the States OF Mississippi Ala
baina and other Southern States which have lately held
conventions. Slavery extinct freedom reviyes for the
public law o. this country knows but the two conditions
But would leave the fact Of the revival Of freedom
u argument inference but would plainly de ,!are
that all the inhabitants Of this State. without distinction
OF color are tree.


POSITION OF THE sEGRo-rHE SUFFRAGE QUESTION


The emancipation Of the negro makes II necessary. IN
my judgment. TO define in the Constitution with as
much accuracy possible. what his civil rights ana
tha, races nearly equal In numbers. aud 20 unlike
as the coored and white OF this country are con


live peace and harmony together unles the rglts OF
each are well defined by law and each be made TO
respect the rights Of the other The governing power
i in tie hands Of the whc race but the cooTed race
il TO be ee and the government is to be administered
IN such not 10 infringe upon It's freedom


1t may be difficult to define. with any degree OF ac
curacy wherein freedom In society aud under an
organi ed government consists But think II may be
SAID general terms to consist chiefly in the right TO
be protected BY constitutional law in the enjoy yment
OF life In the acquisition by honest industry OF proper
ty. in Its possession and transmission to heirs IN
right TO pereoual security and locomoton. and gen.
orally in right to improve ones intellectual moral
and religious condition and 10 pursue happiness ac'
cordng 10 ones own idea OF happiness not interfering
with the exetcse OF .he same right on the part OF
others But freedom does not necessarily include the
idea OF participation in the affairs Of government.
Th prvitge of voting at elections, the capacity TO
hold office u st jurics arc not essential rights OF
freedom They privileges conferred or duties en-
Joined upon certain or classes OF persons by the
supreme power Of the State for and on account OF the
public good and the persons or classes OF persons upon
whom these privileges conferred or these dulles en-
Joined, may be increased or diminished within reason
able limits without impairlng rights OF Freedom accord
ing that power may determine. Persons may be
free without the capacity 10 hold office 10 st on jury
or 10 vote at elections The English people are free
and yet not onctenh OF the adult male population are
entitled by law to vote al elections or 10 SIT on yuies


In our own State foreigners not entitled In vote or
to .t jures until they have been naturalizcd, yet
they nee; and children are not entitled TO
vote or hold Office. or sit on jury yet they are free


The subject Of tho elective franchise VIII necessarily
come before yon tor consideration and review: The
present constitution confers this privilege upon all male
white persons of tho age Of II years ana upward WHO
are citizens OF the United States and who have resided
In the State year and in the county SIX months and
Others. Colorcd persons are excluded from yot
ing. Whether you viii add TO or diminish the number
of voters by changing the qualifications is question
for you 10 consider and decide III that decision the
people OF this state are mainly Interested but not
solely for persons qualiied % vote tor member Of the
General Assembly of the state will also be qualified.
under the Constitution OF the United States to vote for
Presidential Electors and members OF the House Of
Representatives, People Of other States are therefore,
interested though in much lees degree in the decl
sion you make.


Shall the elective franchise be conferred upon the
oolored racc and II upon what terms and qualtca.
tionst nm not advised that the President has
pressed his views wishes this subject and know
no moro OF the views wishes OF the members of Con
gress than is generally known. I cannot think how.
ever that IL the Con, entlon shall abolish slavery and
provide proper guarantees for the protection and
ry Of the persons and property Of the freedmen the
Congress viii refuse TO adDit our Senators and Repre-
sentatyes TO their seats because the freedmen not
allowed 10 vote AT the Sta,e and other elections. When
the question OF their admission shall arise think the
main inquiry wil be- not the freedmen allowed to
vote, but arc they guaranteed In the Constitution pro-
lection and security for their per,oDs and property
ii does not appear that the public good Of this State
or OF the Nation at large would be promoted by con-
icrrng at the present time upon the freedmen the elect
I've franchise.


Neither the white peoTle nor the colored people are
prepared for radical change In their social rela
tons. Nor have any reason TO believe that any
siderable number Of the freedmen desire to possess this
privilege What thoy desire. and what they have
right In my Judgment to require Ia tha. they shall be
protection In the enjoyment o all the rights
which properly belong to their condition Us freedmen
and that this protection shall not bo dependent upon
the varying and uncertain action Of the Legislature
II protection and not political privileges that they
need and dosre aud the problem 70 be solved s how
TO them that protection without their partiopa
toa ip the business Of tho Government II thoy have