The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-05-19
TNUMBER SO.

MIR. WILKINSON that the Senate further in |
sist upon its amendments to the bill (H. B. |
No. l5) to provide temporary government
OF Montana, and agree to the conference ask
ed for by the House of Representatives on
the disagreeing votes of the two Houses.
Mr.. DOOLTTTLE. Mr. President GER
tainly do not object to free conference up
on the aisagreeing votes between the two
Houses. This bill originated in the House
Of Representatives. 1t came from the Com
mittee on Territories, of which Mr. ASHLEY,
distinguished gentleman frona Che State Of
Ohio, is chairman--a gentleman no less dis
tinguished for his great legal ability than
for his earnest and untiring devotion to the
cause Of human liberty and to the preserva-
ton to the Union. The bill, in accordance
with all precedent from the beginning of the
Government down to the present hour, linn
tied the right OF suffrage to white men to
men OF the Caucasian race. In this form the
bill passed the House Of Representatives
without division. 1t may be said to have
received the unanimous sanction of that
body. 1t came to the Senate was referred
to the Committee on Territories, over which
the disting uished Senator from Ohio presides,
than whom there is no man in this body, in
the other House, or in the whole country
more devoted to the cause of liberty and to
defend the rights Of the oppressed African
race l refer to Senator WADE from Ohio.
From that committee the bill was reported
to this body without any amendment. 1t
was called up to be put on its passage; was
just ready to pass; and, doubtless, would
have received the unanimous vote of the Sen
ate but for the fact that my honorable friend
j -
his duty, upon his responsibility as Sena-
tor, to introduce and carry through the Sen
ate an amendment which it is claimed will
extend the right Of suffrage to colored men
of Africa and perhaps also of Indian descent
The House of Representatives has disagreed;
still insists upon its disagreement; and now
asks the Senate to appoint committee of
free conference on the subject.
For myself, 80 far as this Territory Of Mon
tana is concerned, | care but very little in
which form the bill shall pass, whether in
the form proposed by the Senator from Min
nesota or in the form passed by the Commit
tee on Territories of the House sanctioned
by that House and sanctioned by the COM
mittee Of this body; but, sir, that against
which | enter my most earnest protest is the
| raising Of this new issue, III form or in sub
stance, out Of this controversy between the
| TWO Houses; against throwing that issue, at
this time and in the present state of the coun-
! try, as a new clement to inflame and imbit-
| ter the great CONTROVERSY to come off in the
ensuing presidential election / mean the is
sue Of negro suffrage. Although perhaps in
| the form OF the words employed this issue is
not necessarily involved, yet it is so general
! ly understood throughout the country by the
| press and by the people.
! From my friendship and nay high respect
| for the honorable member from Minnesota, |
! have every reason to know that he was &C
tuated only by the highest and most patri-
otto considerations but with all my respect
for him | must be permitted to say that, i'll
my Judgment, he has raised an issue un
necessariIy-an issue which, if it be persist
ed in, will of necessity be involved in anC
would control the result Of the coming pres
idential contest. say this issue is altogeth
er unnecessary. So far as it attempts to es
tabIish negro suffrage in the Territory o
| Montana, it is wholly impracticable for
now repeat what | said the other day, there
is not one single person of African descent
! known to be within that Territory. | knO"
my friend from Minnesota, on information
received from gentleman by the name O
| Langford, long a resident of that Territory
said there was one person of African descent
! there, and he was worth $50, 600. Mr.. Lang
ford happened to be in the gallery when thai
statement was made by the honorable Sena
| tor from Minnesota. lie at once sent his
card to an honorable member upon this floor
sought an introduction, and Informed him
! that there was, it is true, at one time one
person of African descent in that Territory,
and be was the fortunate discoverer of a
mine estimated by some to be worth $50,
| 900; but that he is dead, and now there is
not one single person Of African descent in the
proposed Territory of Montana. | repeat
therefore, 50 far as concerns the extension o.
suffrage to persons of African descent, thi'
proposition is the lnerest abstraction i'll thu
world.
But there are other persons in that Terri
tory, other cOlOred men, men of Indian descen
who under this amendment Of the Senate
from Minnesota might, | do not say they
practically would but might be embraced
within its provisions. There are, perhaps
five thousand persons of Indian descent with
in this proposed Territory. Under the pro
visions Of the Senate amendme it nigh
occur that these Indians would declare theiI
intention to become citizens Of the UniteC
States, and thereby become entitled to the
right Of suffrage within this Territory. ! do
not say | think they would, Or that it il
probable they would, but they might.
| Mr.. WILKINSON. With the Senators
permission, wish to ask him if Indians can
become citizens of the United States under
our naturalization laws by complying with
the provisions, by declaring their intention
and taking the oath, &c.
Mr.. DOOLITTLE That is disputed
question of law, upon which persons take
different sides, as they do about the Chinese
Alalays and all the red and yellow races
Chancellor Kent, if recollect Alright, taking
the ground that they are not capable OF be
coming naturalized. | will not enter intC
its discussion now. But this thing, wllicl
although not probable is nevertheless, posi-
bic might actually take place within thit
Territory. The history Of what occurred II
the State of Minnesota, IN one of its far-ot
election districts, at Pembiua, ought to war;
us of what might possibly occur under the
lead Of designing delnagogues, who to car
ry an election, use any means, right or wrong
in their power. By the constitution of Min
nesota, while negroes and persons of Afr
can descent are excluded from the right O
suffrage, Indians who have adopted the hab
its Of civilized life are permitted to exercise
that right. At the first electio on in that new
/, State, at the Pembina district, it is said no
only Indians who had adopted the habits 0
civilized life, but wild blanket Indians Of the
woods, were led to the polls, to exercise the
right Of suffrage under the manipulation OF
these demagogues. 1t was very simple
operation for those designing men, with
few suits of clothes, hats, coats, and pants
and plenty of whiskey and tobacco, to strip
the wild Indian Of his blanket, clothe HIM III
the habiliments and addict nun 10 some Oh
thus arrayed and addicted forward to the
polls to deposit his ballot to return again to
the woods to exchange his civilized costume
for the savage costume Of another wild In
dian, to be led to the polls to repeat the same
operation.
4 ~.