Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-07-28


Our Congressman ON Representation
Basis.
In a speech made some time before the
Senate-caucus proposed Constitutions
Amendment, was offered, u Congress
man said:
But il was urged that the principle Of
representation based on voters could mo-
be adopted, because some OF the New
England States. or I believe only one o.
those States objected on the ground. not
that they would lose representation di.
rectly, but that some other States would
positively gain something. Sir, after all
the glorious sacrifices that New England
has made for our nation during the Revo-
luton, and in the war Of the rebellion
and after all the laurels which she has
won, l had hoped that she would NANTES,
a spiri, of liberality, and that, at the pres
emit crisis when tits proper, If not impera-
lively necessary. that a change in the basis
of representation should be made. she
would not act the part Of the dog in the
manser, and object to a wise and just pro.
position, because some other State will
realize under it some little advantage,
which relatively the northeastern States
do not.
The argument against that proposition
was that California would gain two or
three Representatives. I affirm that one
hundred thousand men who are all pro-
ducers, who are liable to be called into
four armies, who are paying taxes on
their incomes, are entitled, as a matter OF
justice. though there are in their neigh
borhood few or no women OF children or
slaves, 10 more representation than twenty
thousand men who happen to be surroun-
ded by eighty thousand non voters, the
products Of the labor Of these twenty
thousand being all absorbed in sustaining
that community Of one hundred thousand.
Yet u principle of representation so well
based reesired only thirty rotss in this House.
This prejudice against California is akin in
its folly to the cupidi,y which slew the
hen that laid golden eggs.
As to the other proposition which pass
ed this House for basing representation
upon population, exclusive Of any races
the members Of which might be excluded
from voting. let me say that, putting aside
the question of its justice, there was never
any possibility that it could be embodied
in the Constitution by the approval OF the
requisite number Of States or could even
pass this Congress. II the members OF
this House did no, know this, they ought
TO have known it. l knew. as many
others did. that WI were only wasting our
time in the discussion aud passage Of such
a proposition. If the theories bronched
in favor of immediate and universal negro
suffrage are even true, what then You
have not the power to enact the theory
into law, while the exigency Of the coun-
try is such that we should hasten to do
the best within the range Of possibility
without delay.
Mr.. Speaker, l do not know that we
shall be again called upon to act on this
question but l know that the proposition
to base representation On voters is the
only one that can be secured. II we are
no, willing to accept that rule, we shall
obtain no change in the Constitution on
this subject. II q proposition OF this sort
cannot be successful at this session, l
should like anybody to tell me when we
can get a change. It must be a very san
guine imagination that can see in the
future any time when the Union party
will be stronger in this Congress than it is
to-day. That time Is far of, because now
| that the war is over there are numerous
new questions arising to distract our con-
stituency /; questions of trade, Of finance,
of tariff, etc.
That amendment basing representation
on voters is founded in justice, is based
on eternal principle, and it affords the
solution for many difficulties which have
arisen under our present representative
system.