In Response to the assignment of readings at: http://memory.loc.gov/

Kim Pozar hcom356 proceedings

The following quote is placed at the beginning and also between other relevant quotes of the conversation of who should vote. The concept of taxpayers having a say, including the indians who owned land was also raised. This quote and mr. tefft's quote both show a respect for the indians as a section of mankind that had been treated unfairly. It also differentiates africans as lesser peoples.

Notice also the locations and camaraderie between the pairings.
The localities are listed at the end.

Mr. DENT observed that it might be a weakness in him, but he had always entertained a peculiar deference for the Indians. They were the original proprietors
of the soil. From them we derived it, and from them we derived many of the blessings which we now enjoy. They have already been deprived of their
original independence. Why should we pursue them, and drag them down to the level of slaves? It appeared to him that the Indians should enjoy the right of
suffrage, and that they should not be classed with Africans. He hoped the amendment of Mr. Gilbert, would remain without further alteration.

Mr. HASTINGS saidWe dare not exclude one human being who was a citizen at the time of the adoption of that
treaty. Every man who was a citizen then, is a citizen now, and will be while he lives in California, unless he declares his intention to remain a citizen of
Mexico.

Mr. BOTTS thought It does not follow that if a man be a citizen of the United States he shall be a voter.

Mr. DIMMICK differed and as for the mixed race, descended from the Indians and Spaniards, he certainly was in favor of permitting them to enjoy the
right of suffrage as liberally as any American citizen. It is no objection to them that they have Indian blood in their veins. Some of the most honorable and
distinguished families in Virginia are descended from the Indian race.

Mr. DENT observed that it might be a weakness in him, but he had always entertained a peculiar deference for the Indians. They were the original proprietors
of the soil. From them we derived it, and from them we derived many of the blessings which we now enjoy. They have already been deprived of their
original independence. Why should we pursue them, and drag them down to the level of slaves? It appeared to him that the Indians should enjoy the right of
suffrage, and that they should not be classed with Africans. He hoped the amendment of Mr. Gilbert, would remain without further alteration.

Mr. TEFFT said he could not in justice to his own feelings, allow the motion to pass, without expressing, with the gentleman from Monterey, (Mr. Dent) the
deep sympathy which he felt for this unhappy race. It might be a prejudice that had grown with his growth, and strengthened with his strength; but from his
earliest youth, he had felt something like a reverence for the Indian. He had ever admired their heroic deeds in defence of their aboriginal homes, their
stoicism, their wild eloquence and uncompromising pride. He was much pleased, when a resident of Wisconsin, to see incorporated in the Constitution of
that State, a provision allowing Indians the privilege of voting. He hoped this question would be considered calmly and dispassionately in all its bearings, and
that gentlemen would not, by acting hastily, exclude all Indians, absolutely and entirely, from the right of suffrage. Were gentlemen aware, that, because a
man is two-thirds Indian, he is not an Indian? Had they considered well the feeling that would go abroad among the native population of California, if
unjustice was done to this class of people? Has not injustice enough already been visited upon the Indian race? They have been driven back from the haunts of
civilization into the wilderness--driven from one extremity of the land to the other; shall they now be driven into the waves of the Pacific? Shall we deprive them of the
advantages of civilization? Shall we prohibit them from becoming civilized? Surely the prejudice against color does not extend so far! He did not desire that
the Tulas, and other savage tribes should vote, but it is not difficult to draw a line of distinction between these wild Indians, and those who are accustomed to
habits of civilization. He considered that this native population was better entitled to the right of suffrage than he was, or a thousand others who came here but
yesterday.

Mr. SHERWOOD disagreed We do not debar the Spanish, or the
French, or the Italians from voting by the use of this word. They are darker than the Anglo-Saxon race, but they are white men. He was in favor of the
distinct expression, "every white male citizen," as used in in the thirty different Constitutions of the Union.

From Monterey .-- C. T. Botts, L. Dent.

District of San Jose .--Kimball H. Dimmick,

District of San Luis Obispo .--Henry A. Tefft.