The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-02 00:00:00

INDIA.

Great is the rejoicing in " society," says the Times of
India, at the auspicious opening of Lord Mayo's term of
government. Not only is his Excellency determined to
make himself acquainted with all the necessities of the
Indian Empire, not only is he indefatigable in getting up
sewers, irrigation works et hoc genus onine, " bur: he has
also resolved that in every outward circumstance of impe-
rial power the viceregal dignity shall be faithfully upheld.
He has visited the opera in state, and intends visiting the
theatre." His first levee as Viceroy was very numerously
attended. The gentlemen present occupied an hour and
a half in filing past. The emoluments of the Indian
Viceroyalty are not insignificant, but neither is the work.
Abundant falls of rain have greatly diminished the
prospect of serious scarcity in the north-west provinces,
and nobody seems to believe the alleged cause of the
deadly accident on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway.
A commission has been appointed to investigate the
matter.

THE CONS7ITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

(From the Anylo-American Times.)

Last Saturday the House of Representatives
agreed by 140 votes against 33 to the Senate's
Constitutional Amendment prohibiting any distinc-
tion from being made with regard to the suffrage

on account either of race, colour, nativity, property,
education, or creed. The PRESIDENT doubtless
will veto the proposed amendment, but the majority
is so large that his veto will be over-ridden and the
question submitted to the States. The present
Congress has eagerly hurried this measure, in order
to submit it to the States Legislatures now in
session, hoping for its immediate ratification, push-
ing is expressly on these grounds, so it is prob-
able that we may have an early reply to the inte-
resting inquiry--to be, or not to be. By every
means open to debate its enemies retarded action,
carrying the discussion through a whole night
to weary out the Senate, but in vain. Our Lon-
don contemporarits are not always correct on Ame-
rica, and the English, who go by their guidance,
are likely to fall into the ditch. The Pall Mall
Gazette on this amendment observes, "where the
blacks are allowed to vote it is generally under re-
strictions not placed upon the whites, as in the State
of New York, where a property qualification is ex-
acted. Such restrictions will still be lawful under
the new Constitutional Amendment, only negroes
must not be excluded from the franchise on the mere
ground of colour." Let any man, not an idiot, read
the amendment and read the Pall Mall's comment,
and learn whether that is the intention of the amend-
ment, or wholly to abolish such restrictions. Why,
" property" is expressly mentioned ! Can this paper
tell us, supposing the States agreed to the amendment,
how an individual State can hereafter restrict negro
suffrage ? Indeed, as it is aimed at depriving a State
of such power, if it does not, there must be a flaw in it.
The only loop-hole is closed by the previous or 11th
amendment, which defines citizens as persons born
in the United States or naturalized by a residence
fixed under Federal law, nor does it stop there, but
pronounces them to be not only citizens of the
United States, but of the State wherein they re-
side. Negro children born in the Republic are
citizens alike of the United States, awl of that State
wherein they dwell. A Federal law could make
them United States citizens, but it could not im-
pose that citizenship on an individual State which
required a Constitutional Amendment, and this is
a difference our English readers ought not to over-
look. It is within the power of each State to re-
strict her Suffrage, and such laws might practically
nullify the object of the Federal Legislature, for
the citizen might be told that his citizenship of the
United States was recognized, at the same that it was
denied in the individual State, which would practically
disfranchise him. This is met by the 14th Amend-
ment—the first words being " All persons born or
naturalized in the United States and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United
States, and of the State wherein they reside. No
State shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of the citi
zens of the United States." The naturalization
laws make the applicant a citizen after a continued
residence within the Republic for the five pre-
ceding years, the last being within the particular
State. Here, then, is the clear definition of a
citizen one born in the States, or an applicant after
five years' residence, though a new bill on the sub-
ject has been introduced by Mr. JENCKES, and
others changing these provisions. It was still
within the power of a State to enforce re-
strictions already existing in the suffrage. No
privilege or immunity is abridged in New York,
where a negro property qualification is in force
by continuing it in force, nor in not giving a
vote in a State where negroes never were permitted
to vote; but the present Amendment, if passed,
sweeps such restrictions away, and prevents their
renewal. Having defined citizenship by the pre-
vious amendment, that now proposed will, if passed,
enact—

" Art. 15th. No distinction shall be made in the United
States among the citizens of the United States in the
exercise of the elective franchise, or in regard to holding
office iu any State, on account of race, colour, nativity, pro-
perty, education, or creed."

This we take clearly to mean that all restrictions
shall be illegal, except, of course, criminality,
idiotcy, infancy, sex. For instance, Massachusetts has
enacted that no person is entitled to a vote, or is
eligible to office in that State, who is not able to
read the Constitution in the English language and
write his name. There is no discrimination of per-
sons in Massachusetts in this restriction, for a white
man who cannot comply is disfranchised, and a
negro who can is qualified. According to the
wording of the amendment, however, Massachusetts
will be unable to enforce such a restriction, for
although impartial in that State it imposes au
Educational distinction in the United States among
etizens of the United States. But the amendment
dues not stop here, for the following is added :
" Art. 16. Tbo second clause, first section second article
of the Constituticn of the United States, shall be amended
to read as follows :

"Each State shall appoint, by a vote of the people thereof
qualified to vote for Representatives in Congress, a number
of elcctors equal to the whole number of Senators and Re-
presentatives to which the State may be entitled in the
Congress; but no Senator or Representative or person
bolding an office of trust or profit under the United States
shall be appointed au elector ; and that Congress shall
have power to prescribe the manner in which such elec-
tors shall be chosen by the people."

This alters the Constitution, wherein it leaves to the
State L•~gislatures the manner of selecting the Pre-
sidential electors. Even in file last electio❑ it was
the Legislature that voted in lorida, not the people,
and this was formerly the constant practice in South
Carolina. Now comes the dlestio❑ whether the
States will sanction the Amendment, which we
doubt, as there are, combined with strong preju-
dices, sound reasons against it. It will strike ally
intelligent person that prollibitiog an eluca'ional
qualification is a prealiuln to ignorance, plac-
ing, as it does, ignorance on a bvel with know-
ledge ; and if the majority be ignorant the Go-

vernment will be at the mercy of that class of
citizens which common sense tells a man are least
fitted to exercise power. The possession of property
is the exception, instead of being the rule ; but most
enactments affect it, and very many have special
reference to it. Is the principle to be accepted,
alike in the municipal election in States and of
Federal Representatives and officers, that the man
of no property is to make laws for the man of some
property ? The experience of the Rvublic is the
experience of other nations on this subject. A
marked degree of corruption has crept into the
Government, and this has mainly been generatA and
fostered by the extension of the suffrage to poor
and ignorant men. Setting aside then the strong
prejudice which exists against placing the negro on
the political footing of the white man there are at
least plausible reasons why the States should re-
ject the amendment; but what will be considered the
greatest in the Union remains in the infringement
of States Rights. The tendency of recent legisla-
tion is to merge citizenship of the States into
citizenship of the United States, to absorb State
sovereignty into national, compelling the inhabitants
toregard their allegiance as to the Union, not to their
own State, and this amendment is a long step in that
direction. The Standard thus comments on it :
All attempts to enforce an unnatural equality
between unequal races can only result in pro-
voking the stronger, and establishing an inveterate
antagonism, which cannot but be fatal to the
weaker; and the policy insisted on by the dominant
party in America, on the score of justice and pro-
tection to the negro, is proving, and will prove,
even more injurious, cruel, and disastrous to him
than it is unjust and oppressive to the white man."
In this we cannot agree, although it may contain
some truth. It is admitted in the United States
that the franchise is the best protection of weak-
ness, and it is under this impression that the late
amendments have been so strenuously and persis-
tently urged. But however anxious many may be
to secure for the negro his equal rights before the
law, and to protect him to the best of their ability,
there are very many Republicans who will vote
against this amendment. It is a grave difficulty,
for, without the voting power, the negroes cannot
help themselves, nor can the Federal Government
interfere for their protection once a State is recon-
structed. Indeed the whole question, as far as
the negro is concerned, lies in the truth or the re-
verse of what the Standard asserts, but the amend-
ment has been passed by Congress under the im-
pression that it would subdue race hatred, and
give to the negro the only constitutional weapon
he can use in his defence.

SCENE ON COUNTING THE ELECTORAL

VOTES.

On IVednesday the Senators and Representatives
met in the hall of th lattyr at one o'clock to count
the votes of the Electoral College for President and
Vice.-President. The rules prohibiting the privilege
of the floor had been suspended, and in consequence
the wives of the Representatives occupied their

seats, and the sofas were filled, and the place
crowded with women and childre❑ of every degree,
some of the degrees of the former not being of such
a quality as might there be looked for. The read-
ing of the joint rule of the House for the meeting of
the two bodies followed the announcement that the
'louse would prepare to meet with the Senate. Then
the Representatives vacated five circles of their
seats for the Senators, who, led by the Sergeant-
at-arms, entered two and two, Wade, the Presi-
dent, and Gorham, the Secretary, being first, Stun-
ner and Wilson following, then Cameron and Mor-

;on, and so on to the number of GO. Mr. Wade

took the right of Colfax at the Speaker's desk ;
Stunner, Cameron, and Wilson sat together i❑ the

front. Senator Conkling was teller for that Cham-
ber, with Wilson, of lowa, and Pruyn for the House,
whose places were immediately below the presiding
officer. Mr. Wade, who had a bundle of envelopes
before him, called the House to order, and from the
bundle he took an envelope, broke the seal, and
handed the documents to Senator Conkling, who
read them aloud. They were from the Governor of
New Hampshire, certifying to the choice of the
electors, that they had met at the Capitol of the
State and cast their five votes for Ulysses S.
Grant, of Blinn7B, for President, and the same
number for Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, for Vice-
President. Had all the certificates been 1.,a1 the

louse would soon have been cleared, for they were dry,

•
legal, tedious papers, but Mr. Wade announced that
on the motion of Mr. Sumner and It:presentative
Washburne the result only of the others would be

told. Massachusetts came next, then Rhode
Island, Connecticut, and Vermont. The vote of
New York was given fur Horatio Seymour and
Frank F. Blair, by Representative Pruyn, which
was followed by a suppresed titter throughout the
House. Maryland made an amusing blunder, having
omitted " Junior" after Frank Blair's name, and
on this becoming known the laughter was general.
On reaching Louisiana, Mr. Mullins asked that the
certificates accompanying the reports be read, which
was done by Mr. Pruyn, when the same mistake as
that committed by Maryland was found to be re-
peated, as well as " States" omitted from the term
" United States." Mr. Mullins then objected to
Louisiana's votes being counted. The Vice-Presi-
dent showed that on such an objection the Senate
must withdraw and the question be submitted to each
body separately. Mr. Eldredge maintained that
such a rule was iu violation of the Constitution.
After some conversation and much persuasion,
which was sternly resisted by Mr. Mullins, his
formal objection was sent to the clerk's desk as
follows :—" I object to any of the votes certified
from the State of Louisiana, and I raise the ques-
tion in relation to it that no valid electiort of elec-
tors for President and Vice-President of the
United States has been held in said State." The
Senators withdrew amid some confusion, and the
question was then submitted to the House whether
137 members sustained the vote of Louisiana being
counted against 63. Three-quarters of an hour
elapsed ere it was announced that the Senate had also
arrivedat the same conclusion, and then the Senators
returned, the Representatives standing while they
took their seats. After going through many States
Georgia's turn arrived, when Ben Butler, having
insisted on the reading of the certificate, made the
following objection to the tote being counted :
I object, under the joint rule, that the vote of the State
of Georgia for President and Vice-President ought not to
be counted ; and I object to the counting thereof, because
first, among other things, the vote of the electors in the
Electoral College was not given on the first Wednesday
in December as required by law, and no excuse, in justi-
fication for the omission of such legal duty is set forth
in the certificate of the action of the electors ; second, be-
cause, at the date of the election of such electors, the State
of Georgia had not been admitted to representation as a
State in Congress since the rebellion of her people, or be-
come entitled thereto ; third, that at said date said State
of Georgia had not fulfilled in due form all the require-
ments of the Constitution and laws of the United States,
known as the Reconstruction Acts, so as to entitle said
State of Georgia to be represented as a State of the Union
in the Electoral vote of the several States for the choice of
President and Vice-President ; fourth, that the election
pretended to have been held in the State of Georgia on the
first Tuesday in November last past was not a free, just,
equal, and fair election, but the people were deprived of
their just rights therein by force and fraud.
Senator Drake, actuated by the laudable object to
save time and trouble, here threw in an objection
he intended to take to the vote of Nevada, which, he
thought, might be decided at the same time. " Too
late," said the presiding officer, Nevada has been
counted. Drake's mistake raised a laugh, which
swelled into a roar, when Mr. Pruyn got hold
of it instead of Butler's, and read, the ob-
jection being " that it did not appear that Ne-
vada voted by ballot." A passage of arms
then occurred with Mr. Butler, Senator Edmunds
having objected on the po nt of order, when But-
ler rose to speak, whereon Mr. Wood called him to
order, observing that the rule forbade discussion,
which was sustained by the presiding officer, who,
to Butler's inquiry, if he had not the right to state
the question, replied that he had stated it in writing,
to which Butler, quick as thought, observed—" But
Senator Edmunds has not." A strong opposition
was evidently brewing to Butler's objection, and
the presiding officer was irresolute. Ile said :
‘- the Chair is very mug h diseosed to hold the
Senate and the House to their own doing to the
joint resolution which they passed, the purport of

which is, if we understand it, that if the votes of
the State of Georgia did not alter the result of the
election they might be counted, and if they dit
alter the result, they were not to be counted"--6
ruling which led to an uproar of merriment. Tha
President did not seem to be much strengthened by
his wise decision, for he madesome further faint
efforts to suppress Butler, but sank in the at•eraPt'
eventually taking shelter in the withdrawal of the
Senators to consider the objection of the Represents:
tive from Massachusetts. On putting the question,l"
was decided in the negative, by nays 150 to ayes 411
and then the House awaitedfor a considerable tireethe
result in the Senate. What it took theßepresentativeis
a few minutes to decide required an hour and a b3f
for the more deliberative and dignified assenibl'
who had come to the opposite conclusion, the objee-
tion of the gentleman from Massachusetts being
overruled by that body. Then Butler burst out'
" I rise to a point of order ;" Mr. Wade, ignorhig
Butler, directed the tellers to go on with the cote
of Georgia; Butler, determining not to be ignored'
shouted—." The House sustains the objection f
the gentleman from Massachusetts, and I no Obi;
mit a resolution. We do not consider that Na
are to be overruled by the Senate in that mil'
Mr. Wade setting aside the resolution, 6, the tel
will goon with the vote asdirected." Then in the Gnu'
fusion and excitement which follows, Butler ar
peals to the Convention, "We will see if we have
any rights here," but the imperturbable Wade
continues never minding, and the tellers are ordered
to make out the resolution as the concurrent resola'
tion directs. Then Butler, in a most overbearinglnall,,
ner, asks " if the chair entertains his resolution
whereon Wale, roused beyond endurance, shouts
"He did not." " I appeal," cried the Massachusetts
Representative, "from the decision of the chair:
" fhe chair entertains no such appeal," retorts theSeci
nator from Ohio. " Does the chair," solemnly, 3131,
with great emphasis says Butler, " hold as a matt:„
of order that the Senate can overrule the House •
Here was a nice row—the Senate on one side Or
porting Wade, the House on the other supporting
Butler. Mr. Farnsworth rose, but was instantly
suppressed by Butler, who began tucking 11P Ili!
sleeves, rolling them up to the elbow, asif about there
e
and then to pitch into the President, to whoa) /3
shouted, "I do not understand that the Representso
tives of the people can be so over-ruled. I raise °I
question of order, sir, that the decision of the SeoBto
shall not over-rule the orders and resolutions °
this House, and know that I therein speak the
sentiments of the 'louse." Turning to the weal;
bers around him—" Do I not ?" to which cacao th,,
contradictory replies--" he does," "he does net"
Amid increasing confusion he asked, "Shall we linvo.o
this unseemly scene?" the President only answeriel
"debate was not in order." "Jam not debating, °al
Butler, adding, in a disrespectful tone, " he ,arbi-
trary proceedings will be suffered here." "If 1",,
are not debating," said Wade, ,6 sit &Ali'',
Butler tried " the imploring," and "the tender',,
with as little effect as " the stern" and " menacina
the presiding officer only replying, that " the
tellers will declare the vote." Mr. Ingersoll c537r,
to Butler's aid, but with as little effect. 0
• Eldredge, jocularly, when the row was A, ;40
height, asked if it would not be a, well to
0,
us have peace." Mr. Driggs moved that the G°Aa
veution adjourn, and Butler said the Senate 1)
leave to retire. At length Colfax interfered'
quietly ordering the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Menge
to arrest any one refusing to maintain order, wbo
a,
Mr. Ordway immediately laid his hand on M ias
r'
gersoll's arm, Butler resumed his seat, there vi
silence in the House, and the votes were clniea
counted. Tby
the result was announced 6
Senator Conkling, that, including Georgia, Grant
u 0
and Colfax had received 214 votes, and Serleg
and Blair 71, and that, excluding Georgia, the v,,
°
were 205 to 80. After the Senate had reti'dlle;
Butler offered the following resolution
of
solved, "[hat the House protest that the countingg,
the vote of Georgia by the order of the Vice-rre
dent pro tern. was a gross act of oppression, afiuA an
-
invasion of the rights and privileges of the 11°11:1e '0
but no decision was reached that day, wl3l tero,
strong vote of censure was on the next 'II
duced into the Senate against Butler lauseli, • as
as
Mr. Davies from Kentucky, describing hige.
noisy and disorderly, disturbing an I obstrnetiog a
business in a manner so disreputable as to hnnii
wrong and au insult to the people. On the
Butler's resolution was discussed at length, "diois
feated by 130 ayes to naysss ; but the 0°,761
herein raised will be likely to give rise to fu—ot
legislation, and has caused the greatest excite°
in Washington, indeed throughout the country

foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.
vob 21,
.dritrallu and New Zealand, via Southampton. •••• - •21
Ditto, via '`Arseilles filar,
---*
Ditto, via PL.. Feb ama
.„ i•
,razil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video ala", . 22..
Ditto, by French packet gar.
:ape Verds, by Brazil packet ...... .... if Ir. 1
- . .
Cape of Good H.,pe. Ascension, and St. Helena.- • • leebb 2•
21,
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton ' b• a
21,
Feb
a tbraltar, via Southampton
Feb
ludla,via South •• amoton ...... ....... . ..... •••• . 1
'4
Feb
Ditto, via Mandl es
g ir•
,16e.
Malta, Egypt, &c.
Fib . *-
Ditto, Marseilles
Mai ritius, Cape of Good Hope, and Natal, via
Senthams ton
go. 129.1
Ditto, Mareeilies
‘ewfoundlam. ...... ... ........
.......
....... lle bl.
Portugal ...
. gar •
United States, ( anada, California, Sic., by British .1,
Docket
• ••• Feb '
Ditto, by Canadian packet .... .....
Ditto,
Ditto, by L t ited -tates packet
Ditto lint( (Baltimore) .
110'5
West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Teneriffe ......

4Vest Indies and Pa:Alio kexcept Mexico and Baba-
)Jar 1
rues)l.
Cub t and :eaten • flat'

Bermuda, via Halifax .•... Dlar•
Bahamas, via New York Feb'

J3°,l
Captain Isaac Lilly, who died at Augnsv,3,:ltio73—,
30, at the age of 92, was a member of the Constiattirs;
Convention of Maine in 1819, and of its first Leg,'s the
five years before he represented Dresden, Mobile'
Massachusetts Legislature.
aggrering
!ADVERTISEMENT.]—Avoid Medicines: they alivale este
chronic complaints: but Du Barry's delicious health-r ore,
Revalenta Arabica Food, which yields three times the Itiedlej
ment of the best meat, saves 50 times its cost in other re 401
and invariably restores perfect digestion strong nerrfenteties
lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, fu w
regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeeblere;torl6,
extract a few out of 68,000 cures ;—" The Pope's heeLtll.2l, I,•„Sves
by Du Barry's Food. Cure No. 68,413. "Rome, Ju'? si"ely
—The health of the Holy Father is excellent, espeelejntir
et
abandoning all other remedies, he has confined hilnee`,ooso„e
to Du Barry's Revalenta Ara,bics. Food. of which he
a plateful at every meal. It has produced a surprisiniis eS
ficial effect on his health, and his Holiness cannot praise 1;5 e,
n,
lent food too highly." From the "Gazette du Midi, JulY ars, lice!
58,216, of the Marchioness do Brehan, of seven Ye nerrend
complaint, wasting away, debility, nervousness, with :ess, 'l;4
palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleepless,7l; 1,00,
the most intolerable nervous agitation.." Cure No. yep
,0
Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieutenant of Waterford, of tunny„
dyspepsia. No. 49,832: " Fifty years' indescribable eratuleip
dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation Cure of
spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria JelY• 30
46,270: Mr. James Roterts, of Frimley, Surrey, ,ept,
diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derange 'lit e tnaoet
partial deafness. Important Caution.—Beware of I, with
ea
unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to wine ' 0
~uthority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciouslYi: . ici)of
In tins, at ls. 1161. ; 1 lb. 2s. 9d.; 2 lbs. 4s. 6d.; 511)%1icA..00°..g4
225. ; 4 lbs, 40s, Also Du BARRY's REVALENTA ARAPt fO. po
LATE POWDER is packed in tin canisters; for 12 cups , 576 C:1/30
cups at 3s. 6,1., for 48 cups at Gs., for 238 cups at 305., °A 050. ~e 0
at s.ss.—being about one penny per cup. The 30s. th;oet Owo,
are sent free of carriage in England on receipt et
street, Order BARRY DU BARRY and Co , No. 77, Regent-5
don; and all Grocers and Chemists..

i,r
at
thpf 3.0 t n e
y,
BOSWELL—On the 23d üßlt
N. G. Boswell, of a son..
GIt..rNsFELL —On the 24th ult., at I,s,thSet.w:Tfaen:fes:l:Cee'l
Grenfell, of a dauc,hter.
STURT—HOnrythe 27th nit.,2" c'Upper f. tlie
at o, ...400
Lady Augusta S turt, of a daughter. n • k-stres"

Marriages. no 13"
NEILSON—ALEXANDER -On the 23d tilt., at St• --eA vole,
, tDh,etneyso,RTngli,o,sntiadsauWg.hNteerilosfon of 239 Strand, t° `3" °f
Somerset House.
TitomAs —RUCK— Oa the 25t 1311.1Dt}Davyi
Morgan Thomas, of the Inner Temple,. to Alice, %rot,
daughter of Cornelius Ruck, of King Willi:an-0
city, and Brixton. at Alexander,
st o
ei,l3

Deaths.
DAvExronT—On the 21st ult. at Bramall Trull, Che ,gCa
William D. Davenport, Esq., late. 94th Regiment'
57.

Of th°
GREAVES - On the 28th tilt., Richard Greaves, }-A''
Stock Exchange, aged 65. park, Plle°
MAcnoNNELL —On the 27th ult., a lludding
s'A
Leslie Macdonnell, Esq., aged 84. c, pi1,e,..-,4
WYNFORD —On the 27i h ult , at 7, Pita- 'lace. 0" ,t' 1115"
-•) tor",
the Right lion. William 'Samuel, Lord 117313.
71.
_......t"'"°./

: Printed and P.iblished by NY LLI jv A f
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at eutc SON 0111"',201i1
strand, iu the Precinct of the Savoy, the
-
Middlesex.—Tuesday, Mai ch 2, 180.