o to
give him the simple right of saying he must be only equal in these
burdens, and not oppressed? My proposition is put in the least
offensive form. It respects the traditionary right of the States to
prescribe the qualifications of voters. It does not require that the
ignorant and unlettered negro shall vote. Its words are simply that
'no State, in prescribing the qualifications requisite for electors
therein, shall discriminate against any person on account of color or
race.' The States may yet prescribe an educational or property test;
but any such test shall apply to white and black alike. If the black
man be excluded because he is uneducated, the uneducated white man
must be excluded too. If a property test be adopted for the negro, as
in New York, the same test must apply to the white man. It reaches all
the States, and not a few only, in its operation. I confess that, so
far as I am personally concerned, I would go still further and put
other limitations on the power of the States in regard to suffrage;
but Senators have expressed so much distrust that even this
proposition can not succeed, I have concluded to present it in a form
the least objectionable in which I could frame it. It will be observed
that this amendment, if adopted, will not prevent the State
Legislatures from fixing official qualifications. They may prevent a
negro from holding any office whatever under the State organization.
It is a singular fact, however, that to-day, under the Federal
Constitution, a negro may be elected President, United States Senator,
or a member of the lower branch of Congress. In that instrument no
qualification for office is prescribed which rejects the negro. The
white man, not native born, may not be President, but the native-born
African may be. The States, however, may, in this respect,
notwithstanding this amendment, do what the Federal Constitution never
did."

Mr. Henderson closed his speech with the following words: "The reasons
in favor of my proposition are inseparably connected with all I have
said. I need not repeat them. Every consideration of peace demands it.
It must be done to remove the relics of the rebellion; it must be done
to pluck out political disease from the body politic, and restore the
elementary principles of our Government; it must be done to preserve
peace in the States and harmony in our Federal system; it must be done
to assure the happiness and prosperity of the Southern people
them