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.”