Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-08-05

not heard distinctly al the Reporters desk.
Mr. CONGER suggested the insertion Of the words
g Indians excepted" after the words twenty-one years
Mr. JOHNSON, Of Tennessee, inquired why Indians
should not vote as well as negroes
Mr. VINTON moved to strike out the word 81 free and
leave the word white," that the section would read
every white male nhabitant above the age Of twenty
years. &C. He did not to allow the section stand
20 as to convey the idea that white could be slave
any where or by any implication
Mr. McLANE asked the gentleman from Ohio what he
meant by white nhabtant lie wished the gentleman to
define the meaning Of the term.
Mr. yINTON supposed the gentleman from Maryland UNI
derstood what white as well he knew himself
If the gentleman from Maryland knew what he himself
he knew what white man was
Mr.. McLANE begged the gentleman from Ohio to accept
his assurance that he had asked the question in good faith
Other gentlemen Of tho committee might understand the pur
port Of the question if the gentleman from Ohio did not for it
was known many that the laws OF Maryland and the laws
of Ohio differed materially on that subject.
The amendment Of Mr. WESTON to strike out the word
Free then agreed to, "a IN the affirmative and 90 In
the negative
The question then required MI. PALrRErs motion to
strike out white" and he ntimaed that if agreed
he should move to insert except Indians not taxed
After some conversation, in which Mr. PALFREY, Mr..
McCLERNAND, Mr.. TUCK, and others took part, the
amendment rejected.
Mr. McLANE again asked the gentleman from Ohio (Mr
Vrsros) how he was to define the white inhabtant"
He understood that the Legislature Of Ohio had enacted that
person white who had more than certain quantity OF
white blood.
Mr. ROOT explained that person backer than mulato
did not come within the legislative enactment which allowed
such persons certain privileges This had been SO decided by
their Supreme Court.
Mr. McLANE inquired it did net 60 further and INK tne
amount of black blood
Mr. ROOT replied in the negative. He said that 1t only
required that person should not be backer than muato to
ene him to certain privileges There were many who emil
grated from the Eastern States TO Ohio that came there very
highly colored Laughter.
Mr. McLANE said he understood the courts OF Ohio to
have ruled that any in whom the white blood predom
mated the negro blood white mans therefore the
child Of muatto slave might easily find himself qualified
voter in Oregon if Ohio law should govern the discretion Of
Judge Of election and from the decision Of Judge Of cleo
ton there would be appeal This case might ase whether
the 18th section stricken not The proper desig
nation should be every citizen Of the United States nhabng
the Territory Of Oregon, else limitation and qualification
Of the term white should be introduced avoid the ANAL
gemang principles Of Ohio law. 1t ought be seveneghths
Of white blood at least and not the Ohio principle of mite
viz. half of white blood to constitute white man.
Mr.. VINTON moved to amend by striking out 6 and
those and inserting, above the age Of wenyone years.
and" This provision gives the right Of suffrage and Of hold
ing office citizens of the United States and those who shall
have declared on oath their intention to become such, &C.
Agreed to-
Mr. GIDDINGs moved to amend 50 as make the quail
fcation the ability to read and WRITE
Mr.. sTARKWEATHER Read what French, Dutch,
or English
Mr.. GIDDINGS was not willing to impose courts and
jues the necessity inquire into the complexion OF per-
sons skin He wished intelligence and virtue to be the test
Of persons fitness participate in the government He
willing that in this period of the nineteenth century,
they should in judgment the color of voters skin
The complexion evidence Of virtue and intelligence.
After conversation
Mr.. GIDDINGS withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. VINTON moved to strike out the words for six
months" that portion which prescribed the qualification of
person to vote who connected with the army or navy
He said he why officer on station for SIX
months, other length of tme should vote for hold
there. Agreed to.
Mr. MGLLN moved to strike out hold Office" in the
provision
After some conversation and modification by Mr.. ROOT,
which Mr. MULLIN accepted, the amendment agreed
Mr. BOYDEN moved to amend by striking out residence
habaton and home," and insert domc." The trainers
of the bill seemed to consider domc habitaon, and home
oil different Domicil a legal term whose sgnfca-
lion was well defined The amendment adopted.
Mr.. GREEN moved further to amend the section by strk
ing all part of il which declared that the qualifications
of voters should be prescribed by the Assembly Congress
engaged in making for the people of this Territory
organic law it would be to them what constitution
to State and he thought that the qualifications Of
matter that ought to be left to the varying compo-
sition Of Territorial Legislature. All constitutions made
the qualifications of voters fixed and stable thing He
thought ought be permanent and stable than it
would be if left to the changes which party often liable
produce. In the face Of popular assembly, when the
Territory passed into the form of State the people would fix
the conditions of the franchise suit themselves but till then
be thought ought TO be permanent and fixed than il
likely be il subjected the transient and uctuatng
composition Of legislative body. He also moved strike
for the first election" and insert for all elections
Mr. ROOT suggested to add after the first year" He
thought il Congress undertook 10 fix the qualifications OF
voters ought at least TO do only for short time There
many things Congress would not recoect well
they would for themselves might that just before
election gentleman might choose step Of cleo
oral district into another and they might think il unfair OF
oil such matters they much the best Judges They might
have pauper Jail bird that they did choose should
vote where he did reside Would il not be best
the people Of the Territory fix all these things in their
way He thought the amendment went far. II
with the great democratic principle that the people could
TO certain extent take Of themselves He thought that
Congress ought certain distance in regulating the fran
chse and leave the rest to themselves They ought have
some discretion in the matter, ppesying would be
happen Should the Legislature make any laws which were
really against the rights Of the people, Congress held
remedy in its hand in the power Mr. r. withdrew
his amendment and that proposed BY Mr. nKEx was rejected
Mr.. HAMPTON, Of Pennsylvania moved to strike out the
words and governor" wherever they occurred which was
agreed to- This 10 consequence Of previous amend
ment)
Mr.. SAWYER moved to strike out the clause which pro-
vded that lands Of resident proprcto should be
taxed higher than those Of residents He was ia favor Of
ing the tracts held by spectators highly that n few years
they would revert to the State.
Mr. ROOT said that he understood the object his colleague
had In view and approved Of but would not bis amendment
in certain work great hardship Should an emigran
die before he got his land his family would become the owners
Of though absent Certainly his colleague did not desire
that his amendment should reach them II was well enough
to tax the land obber but in taxing hem the operation