Washington sentinel., 1854-05-25
C0maressionaI. O.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate--wednesday, May "a, 1884.

1
aid 10 the construction Of ship canal around the
Falls OF Niagara, and others demonstrating against
the Nebraska bill. Among the latter, one from
loo Methodist cergymen, and also of 434 of the
clergy Of Michigan.
AFRIcANIzATIoN OF CUBA.
Mr.. BENJAMIN presented resolutions passed
by the Legislature of the State of louisiana in
relation TO the measures now believed to be in
progress for the Africanization of the island of
Cuba, which were read
Mr. b. said that he agreed with every word
contained IN these resolutions, and he believed
they We're fully sustained by the occurrences now
| taking place in Cuba; and he greatly regretted
that the experienced Senator from Delaware had
called In question the conclusions which his col
league lMr. SLIDELL had stated in his speech.
lie beiieved that after the subject had been re-
ported upon by the Committee on Foreign Rela-
| tlons, he could state facts which would leave no
doubt on the subject.
Mr. CLAYTON asked if the Senator meant
mat the Spanish government contemplated at this
| time the emancipation of the slaves.
Mr. BENJAMIN replied that he believed the
event would take place at the earliest possible
| moment. He could not demonstrate 10 mathe
malicai nicely the fact but he thought he would
De able ny iacts sufficient 10 satisfy any unpreiu-
dicea mind' 10 show that the scheme was now in
| progress
| Mr.. CLAYTON said he did not think the Sena.
tor would be able 10 make out the existence of anv
such design on the part of the Spanish govern
ment Everything which came to his knowledge
| satisfied him more and more that there was no
foundation for such suppositon But if the
| Senator meant that Spain would emancpate the
| slaves In Cuba, in case any attempt should be
made to wrest the island by violence from her
possession, ne was correct. And Spain might well
be Justihed IN so doing, on the same principle that
captain OF vessel might be justified in setting
| fire TO his powder magazine, TO prevent her from
falling into the hands Of pirate. If the Senator
could only prove this, he would prove nothing
more than was conceded Spain had long since,
and time and again, had declared she would do so.
But he denied that, in anything which had yet
transpred, there was any evidence that Spain,
uEder present circumstances, would emancipate
/ the slaves in Cuba.
! Mr.. GWIN said that he was aware that the
Spanish authorities had threatened and undoubt-
| edly would emancipatc and arm the slaves in
case there should be any effort at insurrec,ion in
/ Cuba
Mr.. BENJAMIN said he desired not to have
any discussion on this subject while il was pend
ing before the committee. But he was surprised
that senator so distinguished and experienced
as the senator from Delaware, should persist in
denying the facts stated by several senator's as 10
| the existence of this scheme of emancipation
/ When the laws of the island were considered; ;
when the fact that no head of family could keep
in his house sharppointed knife, or carry arms ;
when the system of espionage in the island was
| considered, together with the recent DEGREES and
registration of slaves, he hardly thought that any
l.
| speculation on the subject.
Messrs. HUNTER and DOUGLAS urged that
| the subject be now referred.
i Mr. CLAYTON followed, renewing his denial Of
any belief of any such design on the part of Spain
| as was now supposed. He did not believe the
administration put any faith in such scheme.
| He would be willing TO abide the opinion of the
present Secretary of State whether such an in
tenilon was entertained on the part Of the Spanish
government.
Mr.. SEWARD followed, deprecatng this dis
cussion as calculated TO create alarm throughout
the country.
The resolutions were then referred to the Com
mIttee on Foreign Relations.
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS.
On motion by Mr. DOUGLAS, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration Of the bill to establish
territorial governments for the Territories of Ne
| The bill was read second time by its title, and
was then considered as in Committee Of the
/ Whole.
| Mr.. DOUGLAS explained that the bill was
exactly the same in all respects with The one
| passed by the Senate with the exception of the
! Clayton amendment. This bill contained the pro.
vision stricken out Of the Senate bill on the mo-
tion of Mr.. CLAYTON. He hoped, as the measure
was well understood, that the Senate would now
| vote on the bill.
/ Mr.. PEARCE moved to amend the bill by strik-
ing out the words authorizing aliens who may
have declared their intention TO become citizens
i
| said Territories.
Mr.. p. said the object Of the amendment was to
confine the right Of suffrage TO citizens-native
and naturalized The right of suffrage was one
peculiarly belonging 10 the character of citizen.
| He knew the practice of the government had
been Irregular. Aliens were allowed this right
in the northwest territory, but that act was passed
before the adoption Of the Constitution The right
Of voting was then extended to those residents Of
the territory for two years, who possessed certain
| other qualifications.
In 1905, Congress conferred the right Of suffrage
in Mississippi Territory TO citizens, and the
course was pursued in the cases Of Missouri,
Arkansas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Utah, and New Mex
leo. In the cases of Oregon, Washington, and
| Minnesota, the former rule prevailed. The bill
repealed the Missouri restriction, and conferred
| upon the people the power and right TO determine
the question of slavery. Under it, as it now
stands, aliens determine that question. He
| was unwilling that question which Congress had
not been able TO settle should be suffered to be
determined by aliens just arriving in the country.
| Mr.. BRODHEAD followed in earnest support
of the amendment. He regarded il as question
| of great importance that the right of suffrage
| should be confined TO American citizens. The
/ naturalized citizens themselves did not ask this
| privilege.
Mr.. TOOMBS thought the error Of the senator
consisted in confounding naturalization with the
right of suffrage. Naturalization made no man
| voter. To make man voter, did not make
him citizen. The right of voting in the Terri
tories had not for the first forty ofthe government
| been confined to citizens.
i Since that tire the practice had been variable.
| The Senate had put this amendment in land the
| House had rejected it. As there was constitu-
tiona question involved, he thought the friends Of
the bill, TO secure the great principle it established,
ought to yield this 10 the House. These foreigners
were in the country, and he was for Americaiizing
i them at once.
Mr.. ATCHISON said he had voted for the
amendment before and he approved il now, but
though the hill contained this and thousand other
obnoxious features, he would not hazard its pas
sage. and thus defeat the repeal Of the infamous
restriction placed on the territory by the Congress
of 1890
He referred to certain statements made by some
abolition prints in Missouri, to the effect that he
had prepared the amendment, and he induced the
senator from Delaware to offer it. He denied
this statement, saying he had never said one word
| to that senator on the subject.
/ Mr.. CLAYTON said he had seen the statement
referred to by the senator, and that it was alto
| gether unfounded.
Mr.. PRATT said he had voted for the amend
| ment when offered by the senator from Delaware
| 10 the Senate hill and believed that the adopton