Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-09

.XxXIxTH CONGRESS.
RECONsTR UCTIoN QUESTION.
The Closing Scene i'm the Senate
PASSAGE OF THE JOINT RESOLUTION
YEAS So NAYS IL.
reconstruction i'm the HOuse.
A REPORT FROM Mr.. STEVENS. .
de. &c. DC,
Reconstruction i'm the House.
A REPORT FROM MR.. STEVENS.
WASHINGTON. June s, 1866.
ClNN rNIH

dc. &c. dc.
WASHINGTON. June s. 1866.
SENATE. --..
RECONSTRUCTION.
On motion of Mr.. Grimes, tho special order, the
!olnt resolution from the Committee on Reconstruc
tlon was taken up and temporarily laid over.
Mr.. Fessenden, from the Committee on Finance
eported the bill making appropriations to supply de-
fiscal year ending June 80 1856, which was passed
Ihe eo9sideratiun ofthe joint resolution was then
mendment of Mr. Williams to substitute the follow
ing for the second section:
RepTesentatives shall be aDportioned among the
several States according to their respective numbers
counting the whole number of persons in each State
excluding Indians not taxed But whenever the
right to vote at any election held under the COns-
tuition and laws of the United States or of any State
IS denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State
United States, or in way abridged, except for
participation in rebellion. other crime tho basis
portion which the mum Der of such male citizens shall
bear to the whole NUM- ber Of male citizens twenty
one years of age in such State.
Mr. johnson. of MARYLAND, took the floor
Mr. Johnson said the amendment of the Senator
from oregon was obnoxious in several particulars 1t
reduced the basis of representation for denial of right
TO vote at any election 1t was well known that in
many OF the States. comparatively few were allowed
10 vote at certain elections, the election of school
trustees for instance lie thought that it should be
altered so as to apply only to the general State cleo
tons The opinions which he should advance were
not with the hope of influencing any member of the
Senate but rather to satisfy his own constituents of
the reasons why he could not vote for the amend
ment.
Mr. johnson said that after considerable discussion
IN the conyentlon the present clause in the Consttu
tion regulating the basis of representation was in
serted, but it contended that represents
ton should be based on anything but the whole num-
Der of the free population.
Under this amendment women, children and aliens
would be represented, rebels would be represented
but the loyal black man would not be represent
ed. The authors of this proposition would be asked
by the people why they allowed rebels to be repre-
sented and excluded loyal men? 1t would be no
answer to reply that this provision incorporated
to secure the elective franchise for the black man
Because you can not for him the right to vote
you deny him the right to be represented The eff
feet of this amendment precisely the same ms
that of January 3lst, which had been offered By the
Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr sumner Al
though this did not specify race or color it meant
the same thing. and said to the Southern States all
your male blacks who are denied the right to vote
would be the effect of this? He would take his own
State (Maryland In 1860, by the census it appears
that there were in Maryland 12S 3 white males over
twenyone years of age, and 80 030 black males over
twenty-one years, Of age The, whole number
blacks it will be seen comprise more than fourth of
the whole, and if excluded from the elective fran
the proportion which they bear to the whole numbnr
of males; Maryland would lose one representatives
and probable two: But 1t would be much worse in
some of the other States
In South Carolina there were 6S, ,l59 white males
oyer the prescribed age. and 9292} black males the
blacks being in excess by 81 clio per cent As the
blacks largely outnumber the whites, South Caro-
lima would lose at least one-haIf of her represents
tives, In Mississippi it would be about the same.
Let US see whit the effect would be in the free
States There was the State of his friend, the Chair
nan OF faG Rgcop5tTaeton iE ct Committee M FesseG
males per centage of two-tenths of per cent.
New Hampshire had 9l,974, whites and i i9 blacks
1t does not affect them at all. While this amend
ment would be ruinous to US, it would he harmless
to them. One-fourth of our representation MARY.
and) to be cut off, and onehaf of the representa-
tion of South Carolina and Mississippi.
The effect is to deprive the South Of largo por-
suffrage laws. If tho object is to change the basis
of representation just as suffrage is granted or Dc.
what were the free States afraid? In 1860 the nnbe
of representatives Ia the House amounted to 242 of
which the free States had 81 and the slave States S.
thus giving majority the free States of r. If ali
he Ste Eefa or & e on the SANG basis
was then the danger of the South getting control of
the Government. 1t was imputaton upon the
Tsd0m and patriotism OF the Northern people They
should not say to the people of the world that they
were not equal to the Southern men, that 157 repre-
sentatives could not control s..
With due Difference to the men of the present day
and to the Senate of the United States he had a
shrewd suspicion that they were not superior to the
men who composed the constitutional Convention.
The South would never agree to a proposition of
the character, now before them, If they supposed
were in '6l. The third section weighed upon their
very best men. The importations from the East
might agree to it, but the original Southern born
Mr.. johnson concluded with an appeal to bury the
past and to meet on common ground rs brothers, and
!. Mr. Yates submitted the following amendment to
be inserted as additional section:
Nothing in the foregoing sections shall abridge or
in wise affect the rights, privileges or franchises
Of any of the inhabitants of the United States or any
State or Territory, guaranteed by the amendment to
States. adopted Dec. 1S 1865.
Mr.. Y. said he was Indifferent as to whether this
amendment was voted on not. .tf.
By unanimous consent, Mr.. Fessenden made the
final report from the joint Committee on Reconstruc-
tion which was laid ON the table and ordered to be
Mr.. johnson gave notice that he would present at
early day report in behalf of the minority ofthe
Mr.. Williams then modified his amendment by
striking sut after the word held the words under
the Constitution and laws of the United States or of
any State and insert the words for the choice of
electors for President Vice President of the United
States. Representatives IN Congress- Executive and
Judicial officers, or the members of the legislature
thereof"
Mr.. Howard proposed the following amendment to
the amendment of Mr. Williams to strike out the
words proposed to be inserted, and make it read:
but whenever the right at any election held
under the Constitution and laws of any State for
members of the most numerous branch of its legisa-
ture, &c.." which was disagreed to.
Mr.. Howard moved to amend the section by strk-
ing out the words or In any way abridged which
was disagreed to.
The amendment of Mr. Williams as modified by
him was then agreed to.
Mr.. Clark offered the following amendment to be
substituted for sections and s.
The validity of the public debt # the United States
authorized by law, including debts incurred for pay
ment of pensions and bounties tN1 services in sup
pressing
toned. But neither the United States nor any State
shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred
N aid OF or repetition against the United
any slave but all such debts obligations and claims
shall be held Illegal and void.
Mr.. Fessenden moved to amend the first section
by inserting after the word born" the words "or
naturaliZed," which was agreed to.
Mr.. Doolittle offered the amendment heretofore
submitted by him. which was disagreed to by yeas
Hendricks. johnson. McDougaII, Norton, Riddle,
Salisbury and Van Wrinkle in the affirmative.
Mr.. Davis offered an amendment to the third Sec
ton, excluding from Its PROVISIONS State officers
MI Davis moved to amend the fourth section by
providing for the payment of bounties to the
of slaves who enlisted in the army which was disa-
greed to.
The Joint resolution was then passed by the follow
Ayes-Messrs. Anthony. Chandler, Clark. Conness.
Grnes HaTSs HendeTson HorsTa Howe &iTk
wood. Lane. of Indiana, Lane, of Kansas, Morgan.
Morrill,, Nye. Poland Pomeroy; Ramsey, Sprague,
hams, Wilson and Yates-S3
Nays--Messrs. Cowan. Davis, DooIittle. Guthrie,
Salisbury and Van Winkle-I1.
Absent or not votng-Messrs. Brown. Buckalew.
Dixon Nesmith and Wright-5.
The joint resolution as passed is as follows
ResoLved by the Senate r'ad House Of Representatpes
of the Uued States of America ConGrsss Assembled
(two-thirds of both Houses concurring) That the
following article be proposed to the legislatures of
the several States as an amendment to the Consti
tuition of the United States, which when ratified by
three-fourths of said legislatures, shall be valid as
part of the Constitution. namely:
| ARTICLE -.
Secton1. All persons born naturalized in the
United states, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof
citizens of the United States, and of the States
wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privileges or i'm
munites of citizens of the United States; shall
any State deprive any person of life. liberty pro-
perty without due process of law, deny to any
person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of
l the laws.
Sec 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among
the several States according to their respective nnu-
bers counting the whole number of persons excluding
| Indians not taxed. ...- ~ wv.
But 1hereas. the right to vote at any election for
the choice of Electors for President and VicePresi
dent Representatives in Congress. executive and ju
dicisl officers members of the Legislature thereof
State being Jwentyone years of age and citizens of
the United States. in any way abridged except for
participation in rebellion or other crime the basis of
representation therein shall be reduced in the pro-
portion which the number of such male citizen shall
bear to the wholenumber of ale citizens twenty -one
| years of age in such State. 80
| Section g. That person shall be a Senator or
and Vice President, hold any Office civil or mill
| tary under the United States. or under any State
| who having previously taken an oath, as member
of Congress, or officer of the United States or
member of any State Legislature or as an execu-
tive judicial officer of any State 10 support the
Constitution of the United States shall have engaged
| in insurrectlon or rebellion against the same or
| given aid and comfort to the enemies thereof.
| But Congress may by vote of two-thrds of each
House, remove such disability.
| Section The validity of the public debt of the
hx1o Aohf in