Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
PROCEEDINGS SIN THE SENATE
Extracts from Our Daily Reports.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.

l. II.
committee Of conference to meet the House committee
the dsagIeeiDg votes OF the two Houses reference
to the Senates amendment to the Montana Territorial bill
striking out the word whlte to confer the right OF
voting on negroes.
Mr. WILKINSON replied to the remarks made yesterday
by Mr. TRUMBUL He said that that Senator had snsered
the proposition calculated to destroy the harmony of
the people Of the North. We had in our army one
hundred thousand brave black fighting earnestly
for the suppression Of the rebeo any OF the sent
from Illinois, and yet the Senator wants discrimination
made against this class in bill to define the qualification
of voters in Montana. He (Mr WILKINsoH) was op.
posed to the slavery influences which had long pre-
vailed in the councils of the nation and to be
conciliated by OF the Republican Dembers We are
fighting against the very element which has 80 ing exer
csed evil power and influence in this country He did
know whether negroes would vote in Montana or not
His amendment to the House BILL adopted by the Se
nate, did not specify who should vote IN Montana As
to the point that Congress should longer in the
interests of slavery the sooner the Senate meets the issue
the better
Mr.. HENDRICKS said that while in some Of the East
States negroes allowed suffrage, in the Northwest
the sentiment had been clearly expressed that they should
not be allowed to vote. When the negro was allowed to
in Montana he should be allowed to in all the
States.
Mr. DOOLITTLE said he had no objection to acqaiss
ding in the request of the House for further committee
conference the BILL but he opposed to the pend
ing motion Of Mr. WILKINSON to adhere to his amend
giving the right Of suffrage 10 the Territory without
regard to color He referred to the fact that the bill had
first been reported by member of the House devotedy
attached to freedom and passed in that body without any
such provision and then reported from the committee
here Cat the head Of which Mr. WADE in the same
form in which it passed the House, and the moment it
about to be passed the Senator from Minnesota intro
duced his amendment He thought the gentleman had
thus raised issue unnecessarily, which, if persisted in
will raise contest that will into the ensuing cam
paign and do much mischief When it had been stated
that there or persons OF African descent
n the Territory the Senator from Minnesota had
toned there who worth fifty thousand dollars
1t happened that person of African descent had gone
there early and discovered gold mine and that person
happened to be the gallery when the Senator mentioned
the fact; that there one cocred person the
Territory There are, however Indians and persons Of
Indian descent there, and question If they would not
under the amendment be entitled to exercise the right of
suffrage Designing politicians could such persons for
voters to carry out their corrupt ends-usIg thus not
only Indians who had adopted civilized lfe but the wild
Indians of the blanket This had occurred in Wis
consin and why not in Montanoi BY the of plenty
Of tobacco aud whskey this had been done stripping the
wild Indian of his blanket and putting the aud panta
10 him for the moment.
Mr. ID. said he deprecated the making at this time Of
such issue presented III the amendment 1t was
mere abstraction and it abstraction which had ex-
cited the religious world aud created bloody wars An
abstraction of Mr. Calhoun had brought on our great
troubles He pointed also to the fact that the Consttu
tons Ohio Indiana, Illinois, and other Western Free
States, prohibited surageand the people of
OF them had by overwhelming ma rites decided to make
no alteration that subject Twice IN New York where
negroes had suffrage property qualification of two
hundred and fifty dollars propositions had been submitted
to the people to remove the restriction altogether but it
rescted by large morities. de could well under
stand how it the New England States where there
few colored persons, who from their association
with the We'll educated people there fit subjects for
the right of suffrage The State of West Virginia. whose
Constitution has just been adopted restricts the right Of
voting to white citizens and in Wisconsin the people have
twice voted against aud that State not behind any
in its anti-slavery ideas. The question whether we
hall now raise the issue amongst He believed in
waiting till each State shall have passed upon this question
for itself The time may come when theee States may
properly enact laws that persons Of African descent who
have shown themselves TO be good sodes may have the
right of suffrage. OF all things the most unwss that we
enter upon is that Congress imposed mainly mem
bsrs who from States whose Constitutions deny tho
right of negro suffrage, should ask extend that right
III the Territories and the District Of Columbia.
Mr. ID. said we have issues enough n considering wbe.
Their our constitutional Government be maintained
and whether the Union of these States shall bs
or broken These issues large enough broad enough
and demand all our thoughts all our time all energies
and all our money. We are engaged in which has
parallel in human history The whole country from
Maine to the Rio Grande resouuds with the tramp Of
armed legions We are pouring out blood and trea-
sure like water We mortgaging the substance of
ages to after to this victory Our country is
bleeding at every pore Every household the dra-
perry OF mourning Grief sits vster at every fresids
aud fills the unwelcome chair at every family altar Sir
there Of that have been compelled look into
the graves of own dear children who fell victims to
this unhOly strife yet SIR if only succeed in
making this such issue of crushing the military
power Of this conspiracy the sacrifice of our cherished
household treasures will not be vain In this struggle
should seek to do nothing but that which gives to
our armes-but that which raises money to support
them aud them when peace shall smile n beauty around
us, aud there to fall then he would have
objection to the adoption OF promotve Of me-
gro suffrage In Gods name let suppress the rebel
ion and though this may give freedom to the negroes
let postpone action upon this other which can only
to distract divide and weaken the energies of the
loyal people in this great struggle. He would have me
Northern people speak but sentiment and that would
be, crush the rebellion and put down this conspiracy He
would prefer to have united North than have England
and France Join against the Southern Copfsderacv
We bad elements Of discord enough amocg US now ana
true policy to aay rather than encourage thes
elements of strife especially now on the eve Of
an exciting Presidential campaign.
Mr.. WILKINSON said his proposition to strike ont
white male citizen" aud insert citizen of the United
States seemed to create the impression in the mind of
the Senator that it would rend the Government in twain
He thought it great deal better TO let the black soldiers
who marching through our streets in defence of
their country have vote in Montana than traitors
vote there He did not believe this question would dis
tract the public mind unless the Senator and those who
act with him stir it up Such speeches the Senator
had made to day had that effect thousand times more
He believed this had been proracted three years I'm
consequence Of the fear Of leaders that they would
distract the sentiment of the North 1t years be-
fore dared to ask negroes TO fight for He would
take the stout and brave hearts Of these black
men.
The Senate then rejected the motion TO adhere 20 its
amendment and agreed to the request for committee of
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