State Historical Society of Iowa

"Negro Suffrage Letter," from Judge Cole, The daily Gate City, August 14, 1865

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "Negro Suffrage Letter," from Judge Cole, The daily Gate City, August 14, 1865

Description

Judge Chester Cole served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1864 until 1876, and he wrote the decision on the Clarke v Board of Directors case. In his decision, he stated that "separate" was not "equal" because, as Cole concluded, the term "people of color" was simply a separation of nationality and nothing else. This type of argument is clear in the letter below, which appeared in Keokuk's Daily Gate City. In the letter, Judge Cole argues that the word "white" should be removed from the suffrage clause of the Iowa Constitution. On November 3, 1868, Iowa voters approved an amendment to strike the word "white" from the clause, allowing African American and Indigenous citizens the right to vote.

Source Dependent Questions

  • What was Judge Cole's position at the time he wrote this letter? What counter argument did Judge Cole provide against for the idea the black vote would be controlled by white Southerners?
  • How did Judge Cole characterize the power of the black vote in preserving the union? Provide evidence from the source in your answer.
  • Reflect on George Smith's statement, given five years after this letter. How did terrorist groups like the KKK work to limit black political power? How did Judge Cole predict black men and women would respond to such tactics?

Citation Information

The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa), 14 Aug. 1865. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

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