The Liberator

PROGRESS OF EQUAL RIGHTS.

During the late session of the Legislature of New Hampshire—

On motion of Mr. Clark, of Pittsfield, the bill for re-modelling the Militia System of the State was put back to its second reading, for the purpose of amendment.

Mr. Clark then moved to amend the first section under the head of 'Enrollment and Returns,' by striking out the word 'white.' He said he was as much opposed to colored legislation to-day as he was at the time the Dred Scott resolutions were under consideration.

Mr. Greenleaf, of Portsmouth, said he was opposed to the motion. (Laughter.) It was a new thing under the sun, and he was a conservative, and should oppose it.

Mr. Stevens, of Nashua, said he would suggest to the gentleman from Pittsfield, as he had undertaken to put the bill in proper shape, that there were two other classes exempted, clergymen and physicians, and that, as he has paid particular attention to one class of our citizens, he had better extend his philanthropy to the other classes, and include clergymen and physicians, if he thought it such a great privilege to be obliged to do military duty. (Laughter.)

Mr. Clark, of Pittsfield, said that those classes of citizens will take care of themselves, and that he thought it necessary to look after the colored population, as the gentleman from Nashua seemed to have forgotten them. (Roars of laughter.)

Mr. Robinson, of Salisbury—As an humble member of the medical profession, I shall protest against being put in the same category with negroes. (Renewed laughter.)

The question was then taken on the amendment, and the Chair decided it carried, amid great merriment on all sides.

A division of the House was called for, and then Mr. Greenleaf, of Portsmouth, demanded the yeas and nays.

Mr. Hackett, of Portsmouth, moved to lay the amendment on the table.

Mr. Norris, of Danbury—That will carry the bill with it.

Mr. Hackett—I know it will; that is what I want to do.

Mr. Humphrey, of Concord—I hope that motion will not prevail. I think 'consistency is a jewel.' I have trained alongside of a black man, and I am willing to train with him again, if necessary.

The roll of the House was then called, with the following result:—yeas, 137, nays, 126; so the amendment was adopted.

Mr. Lang, of Meredith, then moved that the bill be indefinitely postponed. Mr. Greenleaf, of Portsmouth, said he did not know as he should be in order if there was a question before the House, but he desired to submit a motion that the yeas and nays be printed with the absentees. He honored every man who said no; he honored those who stuck to their principles, any way. He wanted to see who were the dough-faces. [Voices—'Good'—'That's it.']

The motion to indefinitely postpone was then put, and lost:—116 to 121.

Mr. Towle, of Lebanon, then moved that the bill be laid on the table, and the House divided on that question, 131 to 110, and the Speaker declared the motion carried.

The yeas and nays were demanded, and the roll again called, and resulted as follows:—yeas, 138, nays, 132; so the bill was laid on the table.

Subsequently, the bill was taken from the table, and passed; so that no complexional distinction is recognised in New Hampshire, in the matter of militia training.