Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-21

i Mr.. MORRILL,, from the Committee on
the District Of Columbia, reported faVorably
on bill to regulate the elective franchise
in the District of Columbia, with amend
ments, one Of which modiies the privilege
| by restricting it TO those who shall be able
to read the Constitution of the United
States in the English language and write
his name. A new section IS inserted pre-
scribing penalty Of 5000 and imprison
ment not exceeding one year for wilfully
reiesting or refusing to receive the vote of
any person entitled to that right
Mr.. WILSON called up the Senate bill to
maintain the freedom of the inhabitants in
States declared in insurrectiOn and rebel
lion by proclamation of the President of
July l., 1862. 1t abolished all laws. statutes,
acts, Ordinanees, rules and regulations,
which make inequalities in rights and i'm
mUnities on account of distinctions or diff
ferenees of color, race or descent.
SUMNER When l think of what oc-
CURED in this chamber yesterday, when I
call to mind the attempt to whitewash the
unhappy condition Of the rebel States, and
at this time throw the mantle of official
Oblivion over the sickening and heart-rend-
ing outrages where human rights are saeri-
feed and barbarism receives a new letter of
license I feel as if 1.,e,Lt ~ speak OF no
Gmng else to-day. Sir, stood here long
ago, in the days of Kansas, when a small
community was surrendered to the machina-
tions of slave masters. And now l stand
here, alas when an immense region, with
millions of population. is surrendered 70 the
-s----siSyIIo sIdVe-IndsUerS. II belongs
to Congress TO arrest this fatal fury. Con-
gress must learn to be brave and to be just |
But 1 am not willing to be diverted from ]
the precise question before the Senate, al |
though in considering shall naturally and |
logically be allowed to pass in review the |
condition of the rebel States.
The Chair suggested that the question be- |
fore the Senate was the motion to refer the |
bill to the Judiciary Committee, and on this |
motion discussion of the merits of the bill |
was not in order.
Mr.. TRUMBULL suggested that Mr. |
Sumner be permitted to proceed and no OBJ
lection was made.
Mr.. SUMNER continued his remarks on
the bill before the Senate. All must agree,
he said, that it was an. excellent measure.
1t undertakes nothing more than the assur-
anee of equality, before the law, which it
is assumed is essential to carry forward and
the proclamation of emancipation
to which the national Governments is pledged.
The words of the proclamation no one can
forget. They read that the slaves shall
from this time henceforth be free, and the
Executive with the military and naval au-
tuOTIlltS eudll IDdluLdiu bneIn vi LueIT IT6b- /
dom. There is your pledge which has gone
before the world. 1t goes wherever the
limits Of your Republic extends, and it is as
sacred as your national life. Wherever
that flag floats, as long as this Republic en-
lures, that pledge is saeredly to be observ-
ID. How shall we see that that pledge is
preserved? Is it to be committed to indi-
giduals? Is it to be committed to States?
No, sir. The preservation of that pledge
must be by the national Government which
made it, which gave freedom and solemnIy
promised TO maintain that freedom
Mr.. SUMNER read number of extracts
rom the Boston Advertiser and other pa
lers, and from private letters received by
lin from reliable parties in the South to
how the disloyal sentiment of the South
,rn people, and the cruelty with which
reedmen are being treated in the late re-
,ellious States In conclusion he called
lpon the Senate to pass this bill or any
'ther bill calculated to secure justice TO the
Mr.. SALISBURY wished to ma one
emark. There seemed to be an aPprehen-
ion in some quarters that the Democratic I
'arty was again to come to power, and I
through the present Executive. There was
llTeady an opposition party sprung from
he ranks of the Republicans. He would
sy to the President that he ought to stand
irm by his policy. Two millions of faith '
ul men in the North would support him,
Though they did not vote for him, and
would welcome the contest whenever it /
ame.
Mr.. COWAN was unwilling to let Mr..
summers speech go to the country without
protest. The extracts read by him, from
rivato letters, were not impartial nor un-
rejudiced. The cases referred to were un-
where one man out of a thou ,
and was cruel to negroes it was published,
ut there was nothing said about the nine
undred and ninety nine others who treated
be negroes properly. Mr. COwan alluded
D Mr.. Summers charge of whitewashing (
sed against the President, and defended
he President from it, He read extracts |
rom the message of yesterday and expressed ,
is belief in its fairness and truth. {
Further consideration of the bill was
until tomorrow. I
A message was received from the House
the death of Mr.. Kellogg, a {
lember of the House from New York, and '
he passage of resolution of respect for s
is memory.
Mr.. HARRIS pronounced an eulogy upon |
he deceased member. t
Mr.. TRUMBULL, from the Committee of ]
onference on the subject of adjournment,
lade a report in favor of adiourniDg from {
thursday, the 2lst inst, to Friday, the 5th '
roximo. The report was agreed to. I
Al. y