New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-03
IDE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
gueech Of Thad6eus Stevens or the
Amendment.

nope lNteluGlbl!, me true meaning Ol 'hc P''P''-
hon submitted by the Committee, noticing slightly
'he objections which have been made to IT.
nis true we have been informed by high author
ity. at the other end of the avenue, introduced
through on unusual conduit that no Amendment Is
NECESSARY TO the Constitution as oir fathers made
A. and that il is better 10 lett stand as II 49, NOW,
,r think very differently myself for one individual
beoye there is ntrused to this Congress high duty
NO less IMPORTANT and less iraught with the veal or
woe Of future ages than was nrUstei TO The august
body hat made the Declaration Of Independence
believe now II omit 10 exercise that high GuV' u
abuse H. we shah be held 10 account by future genera
lions Of America and by the whole civilized worm '"
is IN favor Of freedom, and that our names wa
down 70 posterty with some applause or VII" O'".'
oroenaton If we DO not treat the subject thoroughly
honestly and Justly in reference to every pu'"h oe"s
On this continent ,
Sir. e,r fathers made she Declaration OF lhdelenu-
.nee and that hat they intended TO Do tne iounua
,on Of our Government Jfthey had been able to paso
.ba- Constitution on the principles OF that Declaration
jf would have needed no amendment during all tue'
"a every human being would have hau MS lsbtsi
eyery human being would have been equal before tne
iaE. and no oppression couia Luse ueon .t,
cent through usurpation against The principles Ol lha
Government. <, - -. 1900
INTO order in shaping the organic law institution
sot fron he'll appeared among them which mas been IN
creasing in volume and guilt ever since II obstructe4
MI their movements ana all their aeuons anu preohaeu
5hsm from carving ont their own principles into the
orgapie lv OF this Union But rather than not have
harmony among those Is colonies, they postponed ana
oomrromlsed They compromised their principles Tor
what they deemed greater good, Oeneyhg snort
time would work cure, and purify the msuutoh
vlch they admitted TO be clogged by il. .
Al thar day ninety bales of cotton left the United
States in year and now we nave millions OF bales
exported; then but few slaves eomparatNey existed
there being only 1900 600 Of the wnoie population ana
now the black population has risen above the whole
population OF that day 10 100000 who ale either TO
he treated as our fathers declared by solemn docara
ton they Ought 60 be treated or TO be oppressed by US
as insoent tyrantS by which viii deserve The e1eora
lions Of the human race. thas come tothat The time
has come when can make the Constitution What our
fsthers desired TO make il. The time has come when
through blood every stain has beon washed out unless
We choose 10 retstabhsh IL
God forbid ,hOuG so adopt the principle Of the gen
teman from New-York orr. Raymond. that this Con-
stitution needs no amendment would rather not i've
man live and he so disQraccd by such sentiment
Now, when everything il IN our power; when the
Rebels have lifted their parriedal hands against lhe
country and cut themselves OF nom every right under
the laws of the Union and every nigh under repndl
ated Constitution shall we recall this desire OF our
fathers place IT upOn the broad foundation OF hu'
man rights OF shall We still cut OF portion OF those
riehs. and still crush beneath our feet iOJ1uW lD,
mortal That Is the question presented 70 u.s. ana
yet we are told that amendment IS necessary. sr,
t me tell The gentleman who SAYS this ana those who
Esy t. for his public information now aud for the inior
nation of philGnthrOpists and the friends OF freedom
spd OF the human that do not envy them the p0
zjtiOn in which this and only this, Will put them Ix
euse ne Sir for going So far in my remarks at this
tiue.
1ir Raynond-I rise simply TO remark that il the
gentleman understood me 10 say no amendments what
ever were needed TO the Constitution and the COnsi
luton ives better without Il u, he misunderstood me-
iy:',--lv seia On bis very point Of representation
IS, ceVeDs-I refer not only to 81 &, cs,er,a ,p
New.YOrk, but to what l take 10 - an aat"'l ia
utterance of one al the other end OF The avenue am
glad the gentleman has explained II IN that way.
Now siT. since have referred TO that believe
right Cor have doubt that this is the proclama
lion the command OF the President of the United
AMI at time when this Congress was legislaing on
this very question; made. in my Judgment in violation
OF tho privileges OF this House, made in such q way
that centuries ago had il been made 70 Parliament by
British King il would have cost him his head. Bu>
sir pass that by we are tolerant OF usupaton IL
this tnereg. G9yeInueIy UI ours.
Now, SIR let mo consider what is the meaning OF the
proposition made by the Conmittee how for ought "a
be affected by any notifications It has been amended
by the COMMITTEE in obedience 10 what is supposed Il
be the sense Of the House Tie Committee have ie
ported back the simple proposition that representation
shall be apporoned among the States In proportion to
their numbers provided that when The elective fran
chise shall be denied abridged in any state on ac-
count of color all persons therein Of such race
s e iiiia
But some OF our friends are apprehensive that this is
an implied permission TO the States to regulate the
elective franchise within the States. Now, sir yen
ture 10 say that there is no good phiologs Who upon
reading this proposed amendment, will for a single
moment pretend that IL either grants privilege or
takes away privilege from any State that subject
II does however punish the abuse of that privilege II
IL exists. Now, hold that the states have the right
and always have had IT, 10 TX the elective franchise
within their own States And / hold that this does
not take ii from them Ought it TO take it from them
Ought the domestic affairs of the States 20 be nfrnced
upon by Congress so far as TO regulate the reslrc.
tons and qualifications Of their voters How many
States would adopt such proposition How
many would allow Congress 10 come within their
Jurisdiction 70 fix the qualification of their
voiersi Would NewYorki Would Penns ylyania
Would the North Western Statesi am sure not one
of them would. Therefore you should take away the
right which now is and always has been exercised by
the States by fixing the qualification Of their electors
instead Of getting 70 States which is necessary to
ratify this amendment. you might possibly get five
venture 70 say you could not get five in this Union.
And that is ia the opinion Of the Committee
10 all that has been said tns subject Bat it grants
no night II SAYS, however, TO the state OF South Caro-
lima and other slave States true leave where il has
been left for eighty years die right 20 fix the elective
franchise. hut you must not abuse 1t; If you DO the
Constitution will impose upon you penalty and will
connue TO infct it until you shall have corrected your
actions.
Now, any man -cho knows anything about the cor.
ditOn Of aspiration and ambition for power which
lists in the slave States laOws that Of their chief
objects is TO rule this country II 10 ruin il they
could not rue H. They have not been able 10 ruin It,
and how their great ambition will be to rule II. II
State abuses the elective franchise, and takes il from
those who the Oniy loyal people there the COnstitu
ton says 10 such State You shall lose power in the
halls Of tie nation and You shall remain where you are
ashryeled and driedup noleny instead OF being the
lords OF creation, you Lave BEEN far America
n concerned, for years past
Now sir, | say more strong inducement could ever
DC held out to them, no more severe punishment could
ever be inflicted upon them States. If they exclude
the coOred population they will lose at least 80 Repre-
sentative m this ha II they adopt il they will have
Is votes. Take it away from them and they will have
only from 81 To 20 votes all told in this hail. and then,
cir let them have AL the Copperhead assistance they
can get and liberty will still he triumphant Now, L
prefer that an immediate declaration that all shal he