PERSONAL RECORD ON RECONSTRUCTION WITH COLORED SUFFRAGE.
Remarks in the Senate, January 21 and February 10, 1870.
The arraignment of Mr. Sumner by Mr. Trumbull, of Illinois, in the closing debate on the Virginia Bill, January 21st, included, as remarked in that connection,[228] a reference to matters of earlier date,—specifically among these being the Reconstruction Act of March 2, 1867, conferring upon the colored people of the Rebel States equality of suffrage with the whites.[229] Adverting to the fact that this bill was an amendment in the nature of a substitute for one from the House, and then reading the names of the Senators who voted for it, Mr. Trumbull asked,—
“Mr. President, do you miss the name of any Senator from that list of Yeas?—That was the vote by which that amendment was adopted.—The ‘Absent’ were, among others, ‘Mr. Sumner.’”
And upon this showing, Mr. Trumbull concluded, that,
“Unfortunately the colored citizens of the South have nothing to thank the Senator from Massachusetts for, in having the right of suffrage conferred upon them.”
Mr. Trumbull continued:—