be given to
the XV. Amendment, but some of the States exercise such power in
this country to-day.

Mr. SARGENT.--Will the Senator allow me to direct his mind to one
consideration?

Mr. MERRIMON.--I will.

Mr. SARGENT.--The XV. Amendment to the Constitution which the
Senator refers to, reads: "The right of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied or abridged:" It does not
create a right, it says "the right"; it speaks of something
existing which shall not be denied. The right, then, to vote is
the right of a citizen of the United States; the right exists. In
other words, the right which exists of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied or abridged.

Mr. MERRIMON.--There is no affirmative provision or principle in
the Constitution that confers such a right, and my friend arrives
at his conclusion by a simple inference; that is all. And I
apprehend that a right of so much moment, contravening the whole
policy of the Government, heretofore, can not be established by a
simple inference; and especially in the strength and in the face
of the fact, however it might be as to other matters, that the
United States shall not have the power to abridge the right for
the cause mentioned. Besides this, if I concede what the
honorable Senator says, he must acknowledge that it is within the
power of the United States to abridge the right to vote for other
causes than those stated. The constitution of Connecticut
prescribes these qualifications: Every white male citizen of the
United States; one year's residence; freehold of the yearly value
of six dollars; good moral character; able to read any article of
the Constitution or any section of the statutes of the State. But
if that State had undertaken to restrict the right to vote
because a man was black or because he belonged to a particular
race, or because heretofore he had been subject to a condition of
servitude, that would be absolutely null and void; or if they had
put in that he should not vote because he was white it would be
null and void.

Next, by the constitution of Massachusetts, the right to vote is
limited to "male citizens (excepting persons or paupers under
guardianship); residence in the State one year; in the town or
district six months;