Year: 1868

DENIED.


come now to speak more properly on
the subject of negro suffrage. The con-
stitution of the United States has referred
tn, qu stio of suffrage to the several
states This may have been right, or it
may have been wrong. [ merely speak OF
the subject as it stands, and say that the
question OF suffrage is referred by the con-
stitution to the several states. 1t first
provides that such persons as had right
to vote by the laws of the state for men,
Der of the most numerous branch OF the
etate legislature should have right to
vote for members of congress. 1t then, in
another provision, declares that the state
may, in any manner they may see proper,
appoint or elect their presidential electors,
so that the whole question of suffrage has,
by the constitution, from the beginning,
been referred to the several states. Now,
it has been proposed by some to avoid the
operation of this provision by excluding
members of congress from the southern
states until such time as they shall ineor-
porate negro suffrage in their state constl-
tutions; to say to them: 1--WE will keep
you ort of your seats until such time as
the state from which you come shall
amend its constitution so as to provide for
negro suffrage" This is one way in
which to avoid the force Of the constitu-
tional provisions.


There is another plan, and that is the
theory which regards the state, being
out of the union, and holding them as
conquered provinces, subject to the juris-
diction of congress, like unorganzed ter
ritory; saying that congress has the power
for calling conventions IN these states just
as in the territory of Dakota. and may
prescribe the right Of suffrage, and determ
ines who shall vote in oIecting delegates
to these conventions, just as in the terri
tory Of Dakota that it may then determine
whether it will accept the constitution of
fered, as might be determined in the case
of any other territory.


I will not stop to argue this question at
length, but will say this, that from the
beginning Of the war up to the present
time, every message of the president, every
proclamation, every state paper and every
act Of congress, has proceeded upon the
hypothesis that no state could secede from
the union that once in tho union, al
ways in the union. Mr.. Lincoln, in every
proclamation, went on the principle that
this war was an insurrection-a rebellion
against the constitution and laws of the
United States not rebellion of states but
rebellion of individuals, the people OF
the several southern states, and every man
who went into it was personally and indi-
vidually responsible for his acts and could
not shield himself under the action or au
thority of the state. He went on the
principle that every ordinance of secession
aud every act of the legislatures of the
rebel states in that direction was null ity
unconstitutional and void, having no lega
force or effect whatever; and that as these
states we're according to law in the union
their standing could not be affecte
by the action of the people-that the pee
pie Of these states were personally respon
sible for their conduct just as man is t
the commission of murder, and to b
treated as criminals jlst as the author
ties thought proper-the the people of q
state can forfeit their rights but that S
far as this action is concerned in leg,
point of view they had no power to affet
the condition of state in the union Ey,
ry proclamation and every act of congrcs
have proceeded upon this hypothesi
Mr.. Buchanan started out with the proI
sition that this was a rebellion of state
He said we could not coerce a state. Gu
reply was, We have nothing whatever to d
with states We will coerce the people {
the states, holding every man responsible
for his conduct.


This was our answer to Mr.. Buchan an
Upon this hypothesis we have just pu
down the rebellion. But it is now pre-
posed by somo that We shall PRACTICAL,
admit that the southern states did sssed
that they did 60 out of the union-tha
the work Of secession was perfect, Wa
accomplished-that the states are out {
the union, that government de fact
was established, aud that VIC now hol
these states as conquered provinces, ju