Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-03-15
politital.
Congress.
PROTECTION IN CIyIL, I


In the House of Representatives, on
the lst inst, Mr.. Wilson of Iowa, from
the Judiciary Committee, reported sew
eral amendments to the Senate bill to
protect all persons in the United States
in their civil rights, and furnish the
means of their vindication. The
amendments, which were principally
to substitute the words "citizens of
the United States for the word ain
habitants," were agreed to. The act
declares, in its first section, that all
persons born in the United States and
not subject to any foreign Power, ex-
cluding Indians not taxed, are citizens
of the United States, without distinc-
ton of color, and that there shall be
no discrimination in civil rights or inn
munities among such citizens on ac-
count of race or previous condition of
Slavery. The remaining nine sections
contain provisions carrying the law in
to effect.
Mr.. Wilson Iowa. moved to recon-
NIT the bill and spoke in explanation
and advocacy of it. He hoped to re-
port it back and bring it to vote to-
morrow. The objects sought to be
reached and secured by it would insure
for it the most deliberate attention. 1t
was a measure of as grave Importance
as any that ever commanded the atten-
ton of Congress. It was a positive
bill, and he expected it to meet with
positive opposition. Some of the ques-
tions presented by it were not entire
ly free from difficulty. Precedent, both
judicial and Legislative, were found in
sharp conflict concerning it. If the
States would all practice the Constitu-
tional declaration, that citizens of each
State should be entitled to all the priv
ileges and immunities Of citizens of the
several States, and enforce it as mean
ing that the citizen has the right to be
protected by the Government in the en-
joyment of life and liberty, with the
right to acquire and possess property
of every kind. Congress might very
we'll refrain from the enactment of the
bill, but the practice Of the States left
no avenue of escape, and Congress
must do it's duty by supplying the pre-
lection which the States denied. Con
gress must do the best it can to pro.
tect citizens, from the highest to the
lowest, from the blackest to the viii.
test, in the enjoyment of the great fun
damental rights which belong to all
men. This bill provided means for the
execution of the powers delegated to
Congress. Mr.. Wilson defended, at
considerable length, the constitution.
ality OF the measure, supporting his
argument with citations of Judicial
decisions, etc. In conclusion, he as.
serted that Congress possessed the
power to do those things which Gov
ernments are organized to do /; that j,
could protect citizen of the United
States against violation of his rights
by the law of single State that il
should intervene to maintain the granC
character of American citizens tha,
that power permeated one whole sys
TEN, was a part of it, and that withou
it the States could run riot over every
fundamental right belonging to citi
zens of the United States that tn,
right to exercise the power depended
upon no express delegation, but raj
with the rights it was designed to pro
tect, and that Congress possessed th'
same latitude in respect to the selcC
ton of means through which to exel
else that power as if it had been ex
pressly delegated.
i Mr.. Raymond IN. ~ stated tha
early in the session he had introduce,
bill to attain the same general OF
ject contemplated by the present bill
and asserting the same general prime
Pile. That bill has been referred to tn
Judiciary Committee. He should lik
to ask the Chairman Of that Commi,
tee whether there has been any dec
sion in the Committee concerning it,
Mr., Wilson Iowa) stated that hi
; best recollection about it was that til
D gentleman's colleague, Mr.. Morris, VIII
3 was member of the Committee, ha
!; been authorized to report it.
MIR. Raymond would like, if in ha
mony with the rules, to have his bi
> reported and discussed in connectio
). with the bill now pending.
Mr.. Wilson (lowa) did not see ho
i two bills could be before the House
the same time.