The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-15


judgment with the Resolution introduced by
Mr.. Henderson OF Missouri as a substitute,
which provides that "No State, in prescribing
the qualifications requisite for electors therein
shall discriminate against any person ON ae-
count of color or race" he showed very clear
ly that the latter, even If 1t could 60 through
Congress by the requisite vote would stand
not the shadow OF chance Of being adopted
by the States, and he supported the former as
probably the best thing to be done; or at any
rate as one thing proper to be done. Oft he
said: "Now this proposition which we have
advanced has tendency to produce the great
result which we all desire. 1t says to all our
people, especially to the people of these late
slave States, You shall be represented In Con-
gress, but as we fear you may be governed by
narrow views, aud may not do justice to all
your citizens, we add that yon shall not have
poiiucal power any further than you are dis
posed to let all under your charge participate
IN It. Is not that great principlep Is not
that worth something to gain?
I Now, sir, we propose this proposition, and
what does it lead to? We say to all the States.
your political power shall be in exact propor-
ton to your action in the right direction. I
have faith In the good sense of men, and I be-
heve the ultimate effect of this would be to
secure equality Of political as well as of civil
rights for alln : a.lN .e. oHa sa oia
We have heard much of late respecting GER
tain expressions of opinion on the part of the
President, intended apparently to affect the
action Of Congress. This proceeding on the
Presidents part has undoubtedly had some eff.
feet upon the spirit and temper of Congress,
but of tins 1 have heard considerably more
than have seen. 1 am strongly inclined to
believe more has been made of the matter than
was necessary, and that those who have nurs-
ed the sensation have done the country no
great service thereby. At any rate believe
the Union majority in both Houses never stood
firmer than to-day. y iios. ,.qa aa-e
The Senate yesterday accepted the House
amendments to the Freedman's Bureau Bill,
excepting the one which restricts the opera
ton of the Bureau to those States In which
the privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus was
suspended Feb. 1st, 1856. The Bill will prob
ably have become law by the time this
reaches you if not before. 1t has retained in
all its stages its original character. It can
hardly fail to afford good measure OF protec-
I ton where protection is sorely needed
A sally of wit sometimes enlivens the heavy
discussions Of Congress- In general, cannot
say much for the brilliancy of Congressional
jokes, and Senatorial jokes are apt to be es-
pecially grave and solemn. No one need des-
pair of himself if he finds himself "unable to
get them into his head ,rithout surgical OPP
GRAFTON" OF late, however there have been
some Of different sort from the usual type
Mr.. Doolttle of Wis, who is understood by
some to have assumed the distinguished and
dignifed task of promptly echoing in the Sem
ate Chamber the opinions of the President,
in replying to Mr.. Howe, did not deign to call
Mr.. Howe's proposition his, but alluded to It
as Mr.. Summers scheme. In reply, Mr.. Howe
retorted as nearly as can recollect, t,-SMy col
league has known me long enough to under
stand that advocate ideas that are my own.
If 1 were going to peddle any body's ideas I
would not peddle those of the Senator from
Massachusetts,. iOould peddle the Presidents.
IT WOULD PAY BETTER"
The reply of Senator Trimbull to Garrett
Davis miscegenation argument, that he,
Trumbull, was grieved that the propensity Of
white men to many black women In Ken
lucky could only be restrained by such stringent
legislation as Mr.. Davis had described has al
ready been quoted in the newspapers. Quite
as hard hit was that given by Trumbull to
Davis at a later stage of the discussion. In an
swer to a second rambling speech similar to
all the rest from Davis, Mr.. Trumbun said:
Gle also brings up again the question of
marriage between whites and negroes He IL
torubled about amalgamation, and becomes
excited and vehement In talking about It. I
\ should have supposed that at his time of life
he would feel protected against it without any
law to put him in the penitentiary ifhe should
commit it."
Thinking to embarrass Mr.. Trumbull by an
allusion to the black code of Illinois, Mr.. Da-
Wis asked: ,..,g,
"Why did your own State pass such laws"
Quick as thought Trumbull replied:
sDoes not the Senator from Kentucky
know that we have great many Kentucki-
ans in Illinois? lLaughter.] A great many
of his people settled nearly the whole of the
lower part of my State, and as they came over
from under such a law and had to be restrain
ed at home, we were afraid to risk them when
they got into Illinois. fLaughter.l But, sir.
there will be any necessity for continuing that
oof in, vsov Cfofo 1T onolfor