Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-26
ment of two minutes. [calls to order from the Re.

I
publican side.
Mr.: Stevens-I am so much astonished at the en-
hibitiOn On this side of the House that withdraw
the demand. and leave the question to the House.
Mr.. Blaine. of Maine. said that, having originally
proposed the constitutional amendment of which
the pending proposition was The redrait ana SUD
stance, he desired TO say word on tile matter be-
fore the vote taken. He desired to re-aiirm his
assertion in regard TO the effect of the suffrage basis
As between the States OF New York and Pennsylva-
MIA attempted TO be controvertcd yesterday by the
gentleman from New York OR. COnklng). He
stated on the authority of the eminent chairman OF
the C0mmlitec Of Ways and Means (dr MouilD,
That II would give nett gain of five members To
! New ork and the table submitted bv the gentle
man from New York itself admitted nett gain of
I four.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, Offered an amend.
ment to the pending resolution. Provided further
That TINS article shall not be construed to affect the
power OF Congress TO regulate the qualifications for
electors ol the most numerous branch of the Lcpis
| latures of the several States.
Mr. Donneily' OF Minnesota, spoke in favor Of the
resolution. 1t would do away with the rotten Dor.
ough system of the country 1t would reduce the
representation in Congress to basis of perfect
equality.
Mr.. Sloan, of Wisconsin, made few remarks to
show that representation in the House should he
based only on the right OF suffrage.
Mr. Brooks of \. Y, said that this discussion was
only for agitation, for no gentleman could believe
that an amendment of this character could become
the fundamental law OF the land. The opinion OF
the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. Stevrns) was
that there are States in the UnOn excepting those
represented on this lloor and the gentleman knew
the Pre- Sident recognized tlTty-siX States and that
il was necessary 10 obtain the ratification of two
thirds of them TO make valid an amendment TO the
Constitution, which the gentleman knew 1t was I'M
possible to obtain for the amendment now under
consideration for it would require the assent OF tie
Legislatures of twenty-fOur Satts. lie repeated,
the object of tbs proposition was agitation II
WAS an appeal from this House 10 what was iaml-
liarly known a. BuncOmbc." lie had asked the
gentleman this morning 10 be consistent and 10 IN
clude the ASiatia immigration, which by means ii
connection with steamers, are abOu; - pour
forth in mighty masses the Pacific coast to labor
and cultivate the soil.
Mr. Stevens remarked he had already said The
state Of California cXciulcd thcm and therefore
they would not be counted on the basis Of repIcsen
;ItiOn. ...-H
Mr.. Brooks observed that Oregon California and
Nevada were 10 BE- deprived Of representation, aud
WAS not the Indian. rs well rs the ncglO, - 4 man
aud Il brotllrrr 70 this he received no answer
lie raised hE, voice in behalf OF fifteen millions of his
cOGntrywomcn, the rarest and brightest portion Of
our creation aud asked why they are To lie de-
priyed of representation They excluded from
all voting. Why not recognize them as entitled 10
Mr. Stevens replied the amendment did not say
they shall not vote.
Mr. Brooks rcsumel-The ground on which it was
presented WAS, that there is new era OF progress,
hut not the Indian but the negro is to he treated ~
" man ani brother But why not give the fair
sex the right 0l representation Many members
here hold IN their possession petition from ladies
asking for equal rights with negroes. He then
caused to he read petition signed by Susan i. An
thony. and addressed to him, saying that copy
was sent to Hon. ThaddeuS Stevens last week with
a request that if the Committee on Reconstruction
should not report favOraby they would not inter
pose any barrier to women enjoying the right to the
ballot
Mr. Stevens asked The gentleman whether he was
in favor OF granting the right OF suffrage to women.
Mr.. Brooks replied he preferred his own color and
white women above the negroes. Applause.
Mr.. Stevens-Are you in favor OF such an amend
mcntl
Mr.. BrOOks-Snch an Amendment ought TO come
from the other side.
Mr. FarnSwortl. of Illinois, said That in whatever
law they might pass, it must he 50 hedged about
with guards AMI protection, and he plain ani
clear that wayELrng man, though fool, need
not err therein. They Had adopted II constitutional
amendment that ,Iavcry should not exist, bat they
found that in the South those made free are being
reduced to slavery again for every petty offence
The cunning rebels had evaded the law by which
the Shac .ilcs OF every man were removed 10 seemed
tn him the pending proposition WAS not 80 clear ~
it ought to be. The Southern States might deprive
the negroes OF the right of Suffrage by requiring
property qualification, or if education We're required,
by excluding them from the schools thus prevent.
ing the negroes from possessing the required quail
icatiOn.
Mr. Baker Of Illinois mentioned his objections to
the resolution. 1t failed to provide and by apt
words to secure a representation IN tn, Government
properly corresponding with the measure OF suffrage
on which it rested. Under It's operation three con.
tugcnrics arse
First. given State may enact universal suffrage;
in that the proposed amendment to the COnst.-
tuition was all right.
Second. That such 4 State might deny or abfidYc
the elective franchise on account OF race or color
and in that case the amendment would operate to
exclude from the basis of representation all persons
Of all races and cOOrs and thus effect the end pro.
posed by the committee.
Third. Such State may deny or abridge the cleo.
tive franchise on some other account; for instance,
property or Intelligence, aud in this case very
large number of people were DISTINGUISHED. yet, un-
der the operation of lie amendment they would
all he counted in the basis of representation, which
would he unjust in its leaving obnoxious things
standing in the way of our system, and which it was
the object of the amendment TO eXtirpate. Tie
House shonld prevent State from dcprving citi.
IcEs of suffrage and at tie same time give her the
basis ofrcproscntation.
Mr. Jcnckcs of Rhode Island, said the amendment
did not contain the principle of justice, which Ie.
quircd thatthe qualification OF electors of this House
and for the President in other words the two pOpu
lar branches, should be denied in the fundamental
law. II the amendment should 90 into effect fOur
millions of freedmen, three-iiltIs of whom only
have hccu countcd heretofore. would not only be
excluded from the basis of representation, but
clulci forever in the election OF representatives. 1t
would exclude an entire race among Us. ii we can
exclude them we can exclude immigrants. South
Carolina might exclude Union men. ii the loyal
States exclude those who took part in the rebel
lion.
Mr.. lie Blond. OF Ohio novel that the rcsolu-
ton and amendments he referred TO the Committee
of tie Whole the State of the Union and that the
debate thereon be restricted to each speaker
minutes.
Mr.. Stevens objected.
Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio, moved that the resolution
he rrcommtcd, with instructions to amend; first 10
appOitOn direct taxation amOng the States accord
ing to the property in each and second, to appor-
ton representation among the States on the bass "f
adult male voters who may be citizens of the United
States.
Mr.. Washbunc, of Illinois, objected, ana tie
House then adjourned.