the
American people by an issue which certainly is not made in
sincerity and truth, then I have no difficulty whatever. While I
do not commit myself against the progress of human civilization,
because I believe that time is coming, in voting "no" on this
amendment I only vote to maintain the position for which I have
fought, and for which my State has fought. My notions are
peculiar on this subject. I confess that I am for universal
suffrage, and when the time comes I am for suffrage by females as
well as males; but that is not the point before us.

Mr. WILSON: The Senator from Pennsylvania demands that I shall
express my concurrence in or my opposition to his amendment. I
tell him, without the least hesitation, I shall vote against it.
I am opposed to connecting together these two questions,
enfranchisement of black men and the enfranchisement of women,
and therefore shall vote against his amendment.

These ladies in the conventions recently held seem to have made a
great impression upon the Senator from Pennsylvania. While I
heard him reading their speeches, I could not but regret that the
Senator had not read the speeches of some of those ladies and the
speeches of some of those gentlemen who attended those recent
meetings, before he came into the Senate. If he had read the
speeches of the ladies and gentlemen who have attended these
conventions during the past few years, their speeches might have
made as great an impression on him at an earlier day as they seem
to have done at this; and if they had done so, the Senator might
have made a record for liberty, justice, and humanity he would
have been proud of after he leaves the Senate. I have, sir, quite
the advantage of the honorable Senator. I have been accustomed to
attend the meetings of some of these ladies and gentlemen for
many years, and read their speeches too. I read these speeches
for the freedom of all, and for the enfranchisement of all, woman
included. Before I came to the Senate of the United States, I
entertained the conviction that it would be better for this
country, that our legislation would be more humane, more for
liberty, more for a high civilization, if the women of the
country were permitted to vote, and every year of my life has
confirmed that conviction. I ha