The national Republican., 1866-06-09
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
xxxrxrn ooNenEss-F1Rsr SESSION.
FRIDAY, JUSE 8, 1866.
SENATE.

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FRIDAr JUSr 8, 1896.
SENATE.
The Chair laid before the Senate the memorial Of
the corporate authorities Of Georgetown against the
proposed repeal Of the charter. Laid on the table
Mr.. Ramsay presented the petition Of citisens Of
Minnesota, asking the passage Of laws regulating
inter State insuran,e. Referred TO the Committee
on Finance.
Mr.. saulsbury presented the petition Of Samuel
Red1sld, Of Rayenna, Portage county, Ohio, repre-
senflng that he was soldier in the war Of 1872
was captured at the battle Of River Raisin sent to
Canada q prisoner and not exchanged for two
yeara, and not paid for the whole period. He asks
70 be remembered In the bin for the equalization
Of bounties with the few remaining soldiers Of 1872
Mr.. Clark presented the petition Of the Board Of
Levee Commissioners Of the State Of Louisiana,
praying aid In the reconstruction Of the levess
the Minissippi river II represents the great i'm
portanoe Of the work, giving 4 statement showing
that 24s aeres Of land are cultivated in parishes
interested; 2o4, 044 bales Of cotton grown, with
S35 2Sb, $780, 269 S2s hhds. Of sugar made; 8, l59
64s bushels of corn produced, and 3S8 665 barrels
Of molasses made involving products amounting 10
one hundred and eve millions. They ask assistance
on the ground Of damage dJne by the war, the d..
rect pecunary interest Of the Government In these
products, and the protection Of people unable to
help themselves. ...
Mr.. Anthony introduced bill In amendment Of
the act TO provide for the better organization Of the
pay department Of the navy, approved May 3. 1855
II was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
[It provides that 80 much Of that act rs requires
that persons shall be selected from those who have
served as acting assistant paymasters for tho term
Of ono year, and who were eligible to appointment
In the grade Of assistant paymaster, be repealedi
and that II shall be objection TO the appoint
ment Of persons who have served as acting assist
ant paymasters II they not over 81 years Of age
Mr.-Willey introduced bill to authorize W. ].
Lbley aud Others trustees to sell lot No. square
No. 70, in Washington. Referred TO the District
Committee.
RECONSTRUCTION. .....
On motion Of Mr. Grimss, the special order-the
joint resolution from the committee on reconstruo-
tion-was taken up and temporarily laid over
Mr. Fessenden, from the Committee on Finance,
reported the bill making appropriations to supply
deficiencies In the contingent fund OF the House for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1906 which was
passed.
The consideration Of the joint resolution was
then proceeded with the question being on the
amendment of Mr.. Williams to substitute the fol.
lowing for the second section ....
Representatives shall be apportioned among the
several States according to their respective mum.
bers counting the whole number Of persons 10 each
State, excluding Indians not taxed. But whenever
the right to vote at any election held under the
Constitution and laws Of the United States, or OF
any State is denied to any Of the male inhabitants
Of such State, being twenty 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 proportion which the number Of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number 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 oi for denial oil
right to vote ut any election. IL was well known
that In many of the States comparatively few were
allowed to vote 81 certain elections the election Of
school trustees, for instance. lie thought that II
should be altered SO as to apply only to the general
State elections. The opinions which he should ad-
vance were notwith the hope Of influencing any
member OF the Senate, but rather to justify his
own constituents Of the reasons why he could not
vote for Abe amendmsut.
Mr.. J. said that after considerable discussion In
the convention the present clause in the Constitu'
tion regulating the basis OF representation was In
Serted but II was never contended that represent
alton should be based on anything but the whole
number Of the free population. Under this amend.
ment women, children, and aliens would be repre-.
sented, rebels would be represented, but the loya
black man would not be represented. The authors
Of this proposition would be asked by the people
why they allowed rebels to be represented and ex'
cluded loyal men. 1t would be no answer to reply
that this provision was incorporated TO secure the
elective franchise for the black man because you
cannot secure for him the right to vote you deny
him the ght TO be represented
The effect OF this amendment was precisely the
Same as that Of January 5ist, which had been
offered by the Senator from MaSsachusetts Mr.
Snmner although this did not specify race or color
u meant the same thing, and said 70 the southern
States, all your male blacks who are denied
the right to vote shall be excluded from the
basis OF operation what would be the ehect OF
thisi He would take his own state Maryland. J
In 1850 by the census, IL appears that there were
In Maryland l2S, ,5l white males over t"enty-one
years OF age, and Ss, OaO black males over twenty
one years OF age The whole number OF males over
that age was then l66 4Ol. The blacks Il will be
seen comprise more than fourth Of the whole, and
II excluded from the elective franchise the basis Of
representation is to be reiueed in the proportion
which they bear to the whole number oil males, Ma
ryland would lose one representative and probably
two. But 1t would be much more In some Of the
other States In South Carolina there we're 6S, %
white males over the prescribed age, and s2'yzS
black males, the blacks being In excess by oIi
per cent. As the blacks largely outnumber tue
whites South Carolina would lose nt least one
Of her representatives In Mississippi u would be
about the same. Let us see what the effect would
be In the free states There the state oil ms friend
the chairman OF the reconstruction committee Mr.;
FcssendsnJ Maine, had ioi,fzt whte males ana
S62 black males, percentage Of two,tenths oil one
per cent. New Hampshire had VIVA whites and
| l49 blacks 1t does not Affect them at ALL While
| this amen dment would be Tuin0uB TO us IL would