Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
pRocEEDIEaskIN THE HOUSE

PRoCEEDIEGs THE HOUSE
| Eztrsets from Our Daily Reports.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
Mr.. PENDLETcN, who yesterday moved to reconsider
the vote by which the House disagreed the Seuaos
amendment to the bill organizing the Territorial govern
Of Montana, and asking committee OF conference
thereon, said his object to call attention to the cha
rcer Of the amendment and To give tho HOUSE oppor
tuny to adhere to the provisions of the bill passed
the House The Senate amendment intended and he
thought il admitted to give negroes the right to
vote in the Territory ut the frat election 1t was
amendment different from the provisions in any bill here
tOfore passed for organizing Territorial government 1t
struck out the words white male inhab!an and insert
cd "mao citizens of the United States without restic
ton a. to color. This amendment was adopted BY the
Senate The attention of that body called to tho fact
that tho Supreme Court had decided that negro could
be citizen Of the United States Butit announced
that this decision was wrong and would be dsregarded
He wanted gentlemen to understand that this the first
time eTt had been made by the Federal Government
to place whites and negroes political equality in the
Territories Congress has passed since July At, 1861
six bills organizing Territories Each provided that all
white male Inhabitants. resident ia the Territory should
be qualified electors The chairman of the Committee on
Territories had followed this precedent in the Of
Montana but the Senate had stricken that clause and
inserted amendment to permit the Negro to vote We
making rapid progress beyond the position laid down
three years ago when the Republican party came into
power He desired to call the attention Of the House to
this subject that they may by their vote to-day deter
mae whether they were prepared to countenance he did
not say agree to. Of legislation which will end in
giving negroes the same political rights white 10
the Territory He repeated that he wanted the House
to decide whether it will adhere its former action or
not If it shall reconsider the vote Of yesterday he would
to ADHERE and then the Senate must recede lose
| the bill. thH
Mr.. BROOMALL inquired whether the gentleman be.
eved that negroes citizens of the United States
Mr.. PENDLETON replied that if no had the determi-
nation of the question he would have very little difficulty
in arriving at the conclusion that negroes have right to
vote But this act did not depend upon his opinion.
Mr. n. aka1 vvhp mt he Sunra anna
determined that negroes are not citizens of the
United States
Mr.. PENDLETON replied that the court had SO de-
ternined, and asked whether Mr. BROoMALL aud his Re-
publican friends bowed to that decision If the gentle
NAH did, and could speak authoratvely for his party,
there would be little difficulty in this case
Mr.. BROOMALL replied that be had no right to spesk
for his party but he would ask return whether the
had not decided to the geuemas satisfaction that
negroes not citizens of the United States aud whether
he is not willing to let that decision alone.
Mr. PENDLEToN asked whether the gentleman thought
il had been decided.
Mr. BROOMALL replied that he had so read.
Mr. PENDLETON said it had been so decided but that
Attorney General Bates had advised the political depart
ments that the decision wrong and advised them to
upon his opinion
Mr.. BROOMALL said, as the gentleman seemed to be
satisfied with the decson Of the Supreme Court he hoped
the gentleman would vote with him.
Mr.. PENDLETON wished to know whether the gentle
man was satisfied with that decision.
Mr.. BROOMALL replied that, if he were called to re-
view the opinion he would inquire whether such animals
X
Mr. PENDLEToN repeated that thi, was the first time
it sought incorporate such provision 10 Territorial
bill He wished gentlemen to know that he desired 70
confederation in order to get test VOTE that the Repub.
can party might show the sincerity of their oLrepeated
declarations that they were not in favor of negro equality
Mr. BEAMAN said he did not propose to discuss the
question whether it expedient to give the elective
franchise to the coored but be wanted the House
to understand the question now pending. The Committee
Territories had reported bill organizing the Territory
Of Montana and provided that all free white ms citizens
an WI who truc
out the word white" 1t insisted by the gentleman
that the effect of the Senate amendment let coored
vote. He would not inquire whether this the
effect or not or whether such legislation was
but it known that the House had disagreed to the
Senate amendment thus nonconcurrng and had appoint
ed committee of conference The House had passed
bill excluding coored voters and the Senate had amended
the bill to give them this privilege As the question
stood the Houe had refused to consent coored
therefore, opposed TO the position he had assumed The
gentemsn's argument was against the action of the
Senate @ m.
In cor: fusion, Mr.. BsAMAs moved to lay Mr. PEsDLE-
Tos's motion on thetable. This was agreed toyeas SO
nays ~ -r#
INCREASE OF SOLDIERS PAY.
Mr. HOLMAN, of Indiana, offered a resolution direct
ing the Committee on Military Affairs to report the bill
increasing the pay Of privates in the army and that the
same be made the special order for tomorrow.
Mr.. HOLMAN said that prompt action should be taken
upon this subject He not particular about the bill
being considered to but desired
for early day. This, he said, of the fist SUBJ
Jects which the attention the COMMITTEE Military
Affairs called And noy after four months, not step
of progress has been made The Military Committee still
decline to act II the House wishes to the pay
IL must instruct the committee hope that the House
will not consent to reference Of the resolution That
but defeat Of the gentleman understands
that. If the chairman Of the Committee Military
Affairs thinks that the subject cannot be acted
row, let him sugges another day discam any intention
to interfere with the business Of that committee or to
censure it, action
Mr.. GRINNELL. I AJAX the gentleman to wait until
have ascertaned what revenue to by the
tax and tariff bills. z,
Mr. HOLMAN. / shall wait for ouch purpose. /
have con to postponng action this subject for
hour You are increasing the pay of every class Of Office
holders, you are expendDg millions for other purposes,
and YET the gentleman from Iowa proposes that before
increase the pay Of the private soldier look after the
subject of revenue
Mr.. GRINNELL. / am ia favor OF increasing the pay
of the common soldier, but not in favor OF doing il
until know that the gentlemen the other side in
favor Of levyng tax enough TO sustain the credit Of the
Government Let the gentleman state where have
increased salaries deny that voted TO raise saa
res. demand specifications.
Mr.. HOLMAN. would but be recapitul.tine the re-
cords Of this House upon the subject Of salaries il
to refer generally TO the subject Of the increase Of
sation OF the officers of the Government do not epeak
Of the genemsn's individual action But the gentleman
argument strangely enough is directed against the private
soldier When increased the grade of colonel to that
of brgader The other day. and increased the pay
pondpgy in of the pleasant official positions Of this
CITY, when subsequently increased the grade of another
colonel 10 that OF brgadier IN similar position, and when
have been doing that and again. and have
been passing bills appropriating macy hundred million
dollars for all conceivable purposes, heard no such