Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-29
Washington News.
Mexican News.

]
WASHINGTON, January 2s.-0fieial news
up to the 29th of December has been re-
ceived here ON El Paso, the present seat o.
the Mexican Government After the occu-
patton of chihuahua by the French they
sent an expedition to El Paso, against Presi-
dent Juarez, who collected at that place
General Ferrago's divisions and made other
preparations to resist the invaders, with
every chance of success. When the French
heard of this they marched back toChihua-
hua, thus abandoning the idea of attacking
El Paso.
The news from the interior is represented
as quite encouraging. The impression pre-
vailed in the whole country that the French
would soon abandon Mexico.
Complimentary.
Various correspondents and editors of the
newspaper press, representing all sections
of the country, last night gave a compli-
mentary supper 10 their popular and highly
esteemed fellow journalist, Samuel NJ. Car
penter, who is on the eve of changing the
field of his professional duties to South
America.
Refused.
Representatives Hubbell of Ohio and
Whaley Of West Virginia, in addition to
John L. Thomas of Maryland have sought
to have their names recorded against the
| 1AoO ACb VI OoAuAlOld DILL DuL Tie
request has been denied because of their ab-
| sence from the House at the time the vote
was taken on the bill.
Conversation between the President
and Distinguished Senator.
The following Is the substance of a con-
versatiOn between the President and a dis
tinguished Senator The President said that
he doubted the propriety at this time of
making any further amendments to the
Constitution. One great amendment had
already been made by which slavery had
been forever abolished within the limits of
the United States, and a national guarantee
thus given that such an institution should
never again exist in the land. Propositions
to amend the Constitution were becoming as
numerous as preambles and resolutions at
a town meeting called to consider most or
dinary questions connected with the ad-
ministration of local affairs. All this in his
opinion had a tendency to diminish the dig
nifty and prestige attached to the Constitu-
ton of the country, and to lessen the respect
and confidence of the people in their great
charter of freedom. II, however, amend
ments are to be made to the Constitution
changing its basis of representation and tax
ation-and he did not deem them at all
necessary at the present time-he knew of
none better than a simple proposition en-
braeed in a few lines, making in each State
the number of qualified voters the basis of
representation and the value of property
the basis of direct taxation. Such propO- |
sition could be embraced in the following |
terms:
Representatives shall be appointed among |
the several States which may be included |
within this Union according TO the number |
of qualified voters in each State. Direct |
taxes shall be apportioned among the seve-
raj States which may be included within |
this Union according to the value of all |
taxable property in each State.
An amendment of this kind would, in his |
opinion, place the basis of representation
and direct taxation upon correct principles.
Qualified voters were, for the NEST part, |
men who were subject TO draft and enlist |
ment when necessary to repel invasion,
suppress rebellion and quell domestic vio-
lence and insurrection. They risk their
lives, shed their blood and spend their all TO
uphold the Government and give protection,
security and value to property. 1t seemed
but Just that property should compensate |
for the benefits thus conferred by defraying
the expenses incident to its protection and |
The President alss said such an amend
ment would remove from Congress all /
the issues in reference to the political equal
10y VI bHo Edcess ~ WOulu icdN6 tue DthbeS L
to determine absolutely the qualifications of |
their own voters with regard TO color, and |
thus the number of representatives to which /
they would be entitled in Congress, would
depend upon the number upon which they
conferred the right of suffrage.
The President in this connection expressed
the opinion that the agitation of the negro
franchise question in the District of Colum-
bia, at this time, was merely entering the
wedge to the agitation of the question
throughout the States, and it was ill-timed.
uncalled for, and calculated to do great
harm. He believed it would engender en-
nifty and strife between the two races, and
lead to a war between them which would
result in great injury to both and the GER
tain determination of the negro population.
he thought, should be given to
more important matters, legislation on
which was essential for the restoration of
Union, the peace of the country and the
of the people.