Speech #500101733

Many Senators voted against it because they thought it was not within the agreement and that it was wrong to shut off debate in the manner proposed. The Senator from Vermont himself remarked that he voted against the amendment solely on the ground that it was not right to cut off debate. but that he was in favor of the amendment when it might be fairly considered. After it was fairly considered and full debate allowed he became convinced that the amendment was wrong and voted against it on the final vote. and has ever since been opposed to the naturalization of Chinese. The minds of many other Senators were changed by the debate. as the final vote of 27 against and only 14 for the amendment shows. While it is true that no person then styling himself a Democratvoted for the amendment. several Senators who never afterwards acted with the Republican party. but joined the DemocraticGreeley party at the following election. voted for the Sumner amendment extending naturalization to the Chinese. Among these were Mr. Sumner. of Massachusetts.