...possible approach. In fact, he had urged Hahn to consider giving the vote to a small number of blacks, "the very intelligent, and especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks." The constitution did give the legislature the discretionary power to enfranchise blacks in the future...

...the question of voter qualifications, said Lincoln, "I barely suggest for your private consideration, whether some of the colored people may not be let...trying time to come, to keep the jewel of liberty in the family of freedom." Hahn and Banks got the message. But persuading a convention of Louisiana...

...things will probably define the elective franchise. I barely suggest for your private consideration whether some of the colored people may not be let...especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks." Lincoln to Michael Hahn, Mar. 13, 1864. Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, ed. Roy P. Basier (New...

...voter qualifications, said Jncoln, "I barely suggest for your private consideration, whether some jf the colored people may not be let in — as, for instance, the very inelligent, and especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks. They would probably help,...

...constitutional convention: "I barely suggest for your private consideration, whether some of the colored people not be let in — as for instance, the very intelligent,...especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks. . . . But this is only a suggestion, not to the public, but to you alone." Hardly a ringing endorsement...

...things, will probably define the elective franchise. I barely suggest for your private consideration, whether some of the colored people may not be let...the jewel of liberty within the family of freedom. The new constitution made no provision for Negro suffrage. The President's recommendation had been...

...franchise in Louisiana, the President took the liberty to "barely suggest, for your private consideration, whether some of the colored people may not be let in, as, for instance, the 21 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A PROCLAMATION. WIIKKKAS, the President of the...

...the first-free-state Governor of Louisiana," he asked "whether some of the colored people . . . — as, for instance, the very intelligent, and especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks" should be permitted to vote. That would help "to keep the jewel of liberty within the family of freedom."...

...consideration," wrote the president, "whether some of the colored people may not be let in [to the suffrage] — as, for instance, the very intelligent, and especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks."18 This idea of a qualified Negro suffrage was gaining considerable support in the North. But...

...blacks and whites. By 1864, however, he pleaded, in fact demanded, votes for some black people for "they would probably help, in some trying time to...the jewel of liberty within the family of freedom." Similarly, in 1848 he warned against amending the Constitution: "No slight occasion should tempt us...