Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-06-04
CONGRESSIONAL.


the Judiciary Committee reported that Bright
and Fitch, Of Indiana, are entitled to their
seats They avoided all discussion of princi-
pies, under plea of want of time, though
the cas-, has been before them ever over
year. The real reason of the omission is be-
lieved to he that it may be the easier to secure
n vote in favor of Bright and Fitch-it being
notorious that to act consistently with what
the Senate did in the case of Harlan, the
vote ought to be against them. Had Fitch
and Bright gone against the Lecompton
swindlc, they would have been out of the
Senate Chamber long ago. OF course, they
will be kept in now.
On the 25th, in the Senate, Mr.. Seward,
Of n. Y, called up tho Chicago Harbor i'm
provement bill.
Mr. Toombs, of Ca, held that the bill was
unconstitutional.
Messrs Davis, Collamer and Benjamin
urged that the Government had the power to
make Improvements for tho benefit of inter-
nal State Commerce. The $4,000, 900 loan
bill was taken up. Mr. Simmons, of r. l.,
proposed an amendment, providing for
homo valuation on imports, which, he argued,
would prevent great fraud and add largely
to tho revenue. Mr.. Toombs was opposed,
and went off on a war specch--had been
ready for war with England for ten years
past. He went for limiting the expense of
Government to $4,000, 900, except in case
of war. Mr.. Crittendcn favored homo val
uation. He would not dispute with England
about the abstract right of search, let her
found her claim on what prerogative or sup
posed right she may {; bnt the moment she
makes an aggression on our national rights
and honor, will, said Mr.. CrIttenden, fight
her upon the fact with war for the argument.
In tho House, the Ohio contested election
case was taken up. The Southerncrs had
got ready to swallow tho hearsay Ethiopian
evidence against Campbell, as it was presum-
ed they would. So they voted him out, and
Vallandigham in.
On this case the Atlas and Bee remarks as
follows:
A year ago last fall Mr.. Campbell run for
| Congress and was elected by some thirty ma
jority Vallandingham contests his seat on
| the ground that his majority was made up
Votes given by colored men. Campbell
contends that as many colored men voted
for Vallandigham as for him, and further
that the votes of the colored men who voted
for him were legal voters, and this brings US
to speak of the law in Ohio respecting colored
voters.
The Constitution limits the right of suff-
rage to "iree white male citizens" but by
construction gwen to this clause a few years
ago by the Democratic Supreme Court, it
was decided that a man who had little
more white blood in him than black, should
be taken to be white man, within the
meaning ofthe Constitution, and could there
fore vote, and mulattoes have voted ever
since, in most of the counties in the State.
where public opinion, or prejudice, is not
against their exercising the right. Camp
bell contends hat the coored men who voted
for him are mulattoes, and not "niggers," as
the vulgar phrase it.
This matter of colored men voting in Ohio,
is considered different ways in different parts
of tho state. In the southern part of the
state, and especially in Scioto Valley, which
is chiefly seettled by Virginians and Ken
tuckians, no person with colored blood can
vote without being challenged, and few of
them attempt it, while in the northern part
of the state, especially in the twelve IRE
s.rve' counties, they all vote without being
questioned.
In the Senate, on the Goth, the bill for the
improvement of the harbor of Chicago, was
passed by 26 against II. The SIS 100000
loan bill was passed. Mr.. Simmons amend
ment having been voted down.
In the House the enacting clause of the
fertilization bill was stricken out.
The Naval appropriation bill was under dis
cusson in the Committee of the whole.
Mr.. Washburn of Me-, referring to the
appropriation of 81 $50 900 for the construc-
tion OF five steam sloops-o war. heretofore
authorized, inquired of Mr.. j. Clancy: Jones
how he proposed to man these ships after
they were constructed Two thirds OF those
who man these ships are foreigners. Did he
not know that'a bill had passed the Senate,
the effect if not the purpose of which was to
destroy the only school for native seamen we
have.
Mr.. Jones repli that it was the duty of
the government to buy ships, but he never
knew that it was part of tho duty Of the
government to buy men or furnish money to
buy them.
Mr.. Washburn said that was what the ad-
ministration had been doing the whole ses-
sion.