Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-12
LOCAL NEWS.
The District in Congress.


In the House OF Representatives, yesterday,
alter the morning hour, the consideration of
the bill to extend suffrage in the District of Co.
lumbia, by striking out from all laws and or
dlnances the word "white," was resumed.
Mr.. Rogers, of New Jersey, said that there
was no purer patriotism than that which be-
longed to the party opposed to those in power
and he was willing to accord TO gentlemen
who advocated radical change in the social
system like honesty in the conviction of
right.
At the time of the adoption of the Constitu-
uon OF the United States, none were included
within the general terms of sspeople" or .lciti-
zens," but white people, and this fact had been
solemnly decided by the Supreme Court of the
United States, and that the Government was
made Tor white men and women, and not for
the colored race.
Mr.. Kelley would not be guilty of an impro-
pnety, but he would ask the gentleman to men
tion the case.
Mr.. Rogers replied the Dred Scott case.
hesr hhsrey g asked @ taa hss5 6 he
tum of judge and the decisi on Of a court, and
whether he would point out the facts on which
wbicb it as snid SaGdad iis e IN
objection was that what one Of the judges of
the court asserted was what the gentleman
now announced as the decision of the court
And he (Mr. Kelley affirmed that when the
Constitution OF the United States was adopted
the free colored men of New Jersey and the
States adjoining, and Of all the States in the
Union, excepting South Carolina, and proba-
bly, with the exception of Delaware and Viz
ginia in which suffrage was regulated by sta
IN.
citizens, and did vote for delegates TO the con-
vention that framed the Constitution. and did
vote on the question Of its adoption. He chal-
lenged the production of any legal decision or
any historical work TO contradict the assertion
which he had made.
Mr.. Rogers replied, he made the assertion,
and would prove that not single Judge dis
sented from the principle that in the Declara-
ton OF Independence and in the Constitution
the only intent was to include the white race
as citizens.
M KaIlav so;d ,ha con,lo~,o. ...:.o....
hended the case, and asked what the court did
decide.
Mr.. Rogers replied that the court decided.
and every intelligent man who read the deci-
sion would see, that Dred Scott was not a citi-
zen Of the United States, or of a State, and did
not come within the political status of State,
and could not become free citizen to prosecute
in any court of the United States
Mr. Kelley remarked the gentleman had not
yet answered what was decided, but he (Mr.
Kelley would state that the court decided that
II had no jurisdiction of the case before it and
therefore turned it out of court; and thus pro-
claimed by solemn decision that all the array
OF facts was outside Of the court, and had no
judicial value.
Mr.. Rogers said that great sanctity was
attached to the action of the Supreme Court by
the gentleman and his friends when the court
bowed to radicalsm; but when the court nobly
met the issue, and declared what was the law
of the country, they then brand the court as
nsnrpers, secessionists, and tyrants, and that
their decisions are not entitled to consideration
Mr.. Kelley replied the gentleman was slightly
mistaken. The Republican party of the conn
Try stand by that decision. He had never
heard member of that party deny that the
court decided in accordance with law when il
decided that il had no jurisdiction in the case
The assault came from members of the other
party, who say that though the court had no
jurisdiction, it did decide the Infamous dogma
which those gentlemen hold as their creed.
Mr.. Rogers repeated the court did decide
that Dred Scott did not come within the juris-
dicton of the court, was not a citizen OF the
united States, and could not place himself in
position for action in the Federal courts
As TO conferring suffrage on the negro, it was
a monstrous doctrine, forcing equality at the
ballot-box, side by side with the white race
No such doctrine was heretofore announced
by the Repu ublican party.
When the hour to which the gentleman was
limited in debate expired, IL was extended.
Mr.. Rogers in the course of his speech was
interrupted by questions from members on the
Republican side in relation to suffrage in the
various States, and in conclusion, he further
expressed his views against extending the
privilege to negroes, asserting that experience
and observation showed they were incompe-
tent to its intelligent exercise
Mr. farnsworth, OF Ill, said, If he recollected,
the gentleman from New Jersey did all he
could to embarrass the armies Of the United
States, and prevent the Government from
sending reinforcements TO their relief aud as
sistance in the field; and. among other things
me gentleman voted against the passage Of n
bill providing for the speedy trial OF the guer-
rillas among the rebels who were shooting our
poor soldiers, whs, while weak and wounded
were Dragging themselves from the Held of
battle. And, If he recollected right, the gem
tleman and his friends in New Jersey refused
TO give the white soldiers the right to vote
even as TO who should represent them in Con-
gress. The gentleman protested against what
he called the injustice OF giving the black man
the right TO vote. The white soldiers, how
ever, did not object 70 clothing the black man
with the privilege. The objection came from
the gentleman and his political friends II
freedom is inalienable, then there should be
the right Of votingto protect IL.
He took issue with the gentleman thai this Is
exclusively the white mans Government and
maintained that our fathers, who made the
Constitution, designed IT, not for the white or
the black man, but for mankind.
He noticed the charges OF amalgamation
made from time TO time, saying it existed
where slavery prevailed, not where the negro
was free; and as for the allegation that the
attempt was TO produce equality, he was free
10 admit that he would prefer q seat here by
the side Of Fred Douglas than beside Fernando
Wood, for instance. fIAughterJ
DURING the war law wss passed giving