am, full of the
emptiness of nothing. Let him escape this who may.

If there can still remain a question of doubt about this, I beg
the attention of the doubters to the further words of the
Constitution, to be found in the XV. Amendment. And here I am met
with the apt inquiry, "Why, Mr. Riddle, if women are a part of
'all persons,' colored men are also a part of the same 'all
persons,' and if women are made citizens and clothed with the
immunities and privileges of citizenship by the XIV. Amendment,
so were colored men; why, then, was it necessary to enact the XV.
Amendment? This fact is fatal to your argument." Well, there was
no necessity for it. It was a stupid piece of business, very
stupid, and when we recover the lost art of blushing, some faces
will color when that XV. Amendment is recalled. But it does us
this good service; it settles the construction of this XIV.
Amendment, as we contend for it, beyond all cavil. The general
impression is, that the XV. Amendment confers the elective
franchise upon the colored man. If it does not, then our opposers
must give it up, for colored men rightfully vote. What does this
article say? That the elective franchise is conferred upon
persons of African descent, or those who have suffered from a
previous condition of servitude? Not a word of it. It does say:
"The right of citizens"--not the right of persons of African
descent--"the right of citizens of the United States to vote,
shall not be denied." That is what it says--"Shall not be denied
or abridged, by the United States or by the several States." That
does not confer suffrage; _it recognizes a right already
conferred_, and says that it shall not be denied or abridged. A
gentleman of the committee this morning took the ground that this
amendment granted the franchise because it declares that the
right to it shall not be denied! This is in effect that when a
thing can not be denied, the lack of power to deny it creates it.
(Laughter.) I confess I could not see it. (Laughter.) I have
thought of it since, and I do not see it now. "Shall not be
denied or _abridged_." How can you abridge a thing that does not
exist? And would the gentleman also contend that a lack of power
to cut off a thing not in existence also creates the thing? This
XV. Art