Evening star., 1864-05-06
CONVERSATIONAL.
xxxv111.r ooNaREss.-FIRsr ssssIos
FRIDAY, May G,

FRIDAY, Mayo.
SKNATR--Mr. Foot, from the Com nittee on
Pensions, reported back the bill in relation 70
the compensation OF Government pension
Mr.. Cowan, from the Committee on tatenss,
called up the bill to amend the act OF March 8,
1863 to promote the useful arts. II extends the
time within which pa,entees VINO ma aS's ~ nss ss-
cure their patents, for six months from ana
after the passage OF the act. Tne Dill was
passed.
section S of an act entitled san act to continue,
alter and amend the charter OF the city OF
Washington approved Nav IL, ls4s, and fur.
guard against the abuse OF the elective fran
of Washington, d. O." was taken up.
He said that as the time for the municipal
election in this city was near at hand 1t was
important that the bill should be acted on at
once.
He submitted an amendment as q new sec
tion, providing that if the board OF registration,
or any one or more OF them, shall neglect or
refuse to perform the duties required OF them,
the Supreme Court OF the District, on being in
formed OF the fact, shall appoint some other
person or persons to perform all the duties and
things required by the act, and said acts and
things so done shall be valid the same as II
done by said board.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Cowan moved to insert the word "white'
before male citizen" in designating those who
Mr.. Sumner-I hope not; hope not, Mr
Mr.. Cowan thought this amendment very
proper, especially when we were making an
experiment which now trembled in the bal
great mistake to suppose the right to vote was
an inherent right, as many seemed to do. It
was mere conventional right, and existed only
where agreed upon. 1t was on the basis Of
white men that the experiment of Republican
Government was set up in this country. Our
white women are not given the right to vote,
and it will hardly be claimed that rude, semi
emerged from q degrading state Of servitnde,
as Is the case with the larger number In this
city, are more capable Of exercising that func-
tion than the intelligent white woman. And
then there are minors, say from 16 to 81 years
Of age, who are certainly more generally in
telligent and capable Of exercising the electiy
franchise than these negroes, who are not al
lowed to exercise political power as a class,
and II is not to be doubted that these colored
men would vote or be led to vote as such here,
If given the power to do 50.
Mr.. Sumner said that the colored voters in
Boston did not do so.
Mr.. Cowan said they were too few in mum.
ber there in comparison with the other cleo
tors to he 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, SO that if these Negroes
were trars ocrted 70 Boston thev would not
generally be voters. In Pennsylvania ne egroes
bda VOteu, out tue moment tQey EP-
came num rous enough, by reason Of the &C.
ces sion offugfuves from the border slave States,
to bs felt aud appreciated in the comm unity,
the people of the State almost unanimously
decided to exclude them from the privileges OF
elective franchise. He thought his amendment
should tertaiuIv prevail
Mr.. DOolittle moved to postpone all prior
orders, go as TO consider two or three In iian
bills.
Mr.. Dixon hoped that would not be done.
He had already said this bill was import
in view OF the coming election.
Mr.. Dooli1tle said he kne W these Indian bill;
were more important.
Mr.. Wiley hoped the bill would be post.
poned. There was no necessity for action on
it
The motion to postpone was rejected, yeas
IA, nays u.
Mr.. Wiley then addressed the Senate at
some length in opposition to the bill, till the
close Of the morning hour, when the national
bank bill came up in order.
HoUsB.-Mr. Dawes, from the Committee on
Elections, reported resolution declaring tb at
+. p. Blair is not, and that Mr.. Knox is emit.
tied to seat in the House as q Representative
from the First Congressional district of Mis-
souri,.
On motion Of Mr.. Farnsworth, 1t was
Resolred, That when the House adjourn to.
day, 1t adjourn till Monday.