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main question of suffrage and equal rights. As the gen-
tleman from Charles, (Mr. Stoddert, ) had said, this mat-
ter was most proper to be put in the constitution. What
did Thad Stevens and Sumner and Chandler care whether
this Convention granted this right or not? Those men
would prefer that it should not be done, as it would help
to spike their artillery.
Mr. Ritchie submitted a proposition, which he hoped
would meet with the concurrence of all, to refer the pend-
ing section, with all the amendments, to the next General
Assembly.
The Chair said the motion was not in order.
The question being taken on the amendment of Mr.
Tarr, it was disagreed to.
When Mr. Archer's name was called, he rose and said
that he had been one of those who had opposed the inser-
tion in the constitution of any provision in relation to
this matter. A majority of the Convention had, how-
ever, been in favor of inserting the right of the negro to
testify in the Bill of Rights. It was then he, acting in
behalf of the minority, had submitted a proposition to in-
sert the clause in the article on the legislative depart-
ment. This had been agreed to by the majority, and it
was a great concession to the minority. He, therefore,
felt bound to abide by the decision of the majority, and
should vote against a]] amendments.
Mr. Marbury's name being called, he said he was in
favor of meeting the question right here, and of shirking
no responsibility. This Convention should settle the mat-
ter, and not leave it to the Legislature or any one else.
It had been debated to the fullest extent in the last Leg-
islature, had finally passed the House, and would have
passed the Senate but for want of time. He believed that
the interests of the people and the exigencies of the times
demanded that the negro should testify.
Mr. Motter offered an amendment that the section
should be submitted as a distinct proposition to a separate
vote of the people for their adoption or rejection, which
was rejected by a vote of 41 yeas to 58 nays.
Mr. Wickes, in rendering his vote in the negative, said
that he did so for the same reasons as those assigned by
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