Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
TuIRrT-EIehrH ooss aEss
n Ffrss ss.-ion.
SENATE.
FRIDAr, May Q, 1894.

1
Mr.. Foot, from tho Committee on Pensions.
reported back the bill In relation 10 the com
pensatlon Of Government pension agents, with
amendments.
Mr.. Cowsn, from the Committee on Patents,
called mp the bill to amend the act OF March s
1868, TO promote the useful arts. II extends
tho time within which patentees, who have me-
elected It, may pay the final balance fees, To
secure their patents, for six months from and
sfter the passage Of the act. The bin wac
passed. E So
On motion OF Mr.. Dixon the bill " to amend
section Of an act. entitled an act 70 con-
tinue. alter, and amend the charter Of the city
Of Washlnetou,' approved May II, 1sls, and
further 70 preserve the purity Of elections, and
guard against the abuse OF the elective fran
chise, BY registration Of electors for the city
Of Washington" d. c., was taken up.
He said that as the time for the municipal
election In tbs city was near ut hand II was
Important that the blu should be acted on at
once. |FI- AZ
He submitted an amendment "A new sec-
tlon, providing that II the board Of regula-
fion, or any one or moro Of them, shall neglect
/ or refuse to perform the duties required of
them, the Supreme Court OF the District, on
being Informed Of the fact, shall appoint some
other person or persons to perform ali the
duties and things required by the act, and said
acts and things so done shafl be valid the same
as II done by said board.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Cowan moved to insert the word Ehite''
before "male citizen" designating those who
are to be voters, in the first part Of the bill.
Mr.; sumner-I hope not, hope not, Mr..
President.
Mr.. oowsn thought this amendment very
proper, especially when we were making an
experiment which now trembled In the balance
In behalf Of inferior race. a, . q -
II was great mistake to suppose the right
to vote was an Inherent right, as many aeomed
TO do. IL was 4 mere conventional right, one
started only whero agreed upon. Il was on the
basis OF white men that the experiment OF re-
publican government was set up In this coun-
try. Our white women are not given the right
to vote, and II will hardly be claimed that
rude, semi barbarous, uneducated negroes, who
have Just emerged from degrading state Of
eervitude, az is the case with SO large num-
Der In this city, arc more capable Of erercisinR
that function than the Intelligent white women.
And then there are minors, say from 10 TO
81 years Of age who are certainly more general
ly Intelligent and capable Of exercising the
elective franchise than these negroes who are
not allowed to vote. No one should be allowed
to exercise political power as . class, and It is
not to be doubted that these colored men would
vote or be led to vote as such here, II given the
power to do so.
Mr.. Sumner said the colored voters OF Boston
did not do so.
| Mr.. Cowan said they were too few In number
there In comparison with the other electors to
be OF any weight In an election, and therefore
there was no motive for class action. But even
| In Boston negroes cannot vote unless they can
read and write, go that II these negroes were
transported to Boston they would not generally
be voters. In Pennsylvania negroes had for
merly voted; but the moment they became
numerous enough, by reason Of accessions of
fugitives from the border slave States, to be
felt and appreciated In the community, the
people OF the State almost unanimously decided
to exclude them from the privileges OF the
elective franchise. He thought his amendment
shsuld certainly prevail.
Mr.. Doollttle moved to postpone all prior
orders, 80 as 10 consider two or three Indian
| bills.
Mr.. Dixon hoped that would not be done.
He had already said this bill was important In
view Of the coming election. .r
Mr.. Doolittle said he knew these Indian bills
were more important.
Mr.. Wiley hoped the bill would be post
poned. There was no necessity for action on IL.
The motion to postpone was rejected-yeas,
IA; nays, 81.
Mr.. Wiley then addressed tho Senate at
some length, In opposition TO the bill, till the
close OF the m jrnlng hour, when the national
bank bill came up In order.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Dawes, from the Committee on Elec-
tlons, reported resolution, declaring that =,
Z. Blair Is not, and that Mr.. Knox IL entitled
to aseat In the House as Representative from
the First Congressional district Of Missouri.
On motion OF Mr.. Farnsworth, II was
ResolUsd, That when the House adJourus to-
day, 1t adjourn I'LL Monday-yeas "a, nays 80.