Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-18

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as practicable after delivery, the opinions
of the Supreme Court Of this State The
number and variety of new questions
arising out Of the late political and civil
connexions, which are being adjudged
in this tribunal, render their prompt pub
location very desirable to the Bar, as well
as interesting to the intelligent general
reader.
The decisions will be printed from
official copies, and may be relied upon as
accurate and authentic They will ap-
pear in onr daily and tri-Yeedy editions
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NEGRO SUFFRAGE AND BISPRAN-
CHISEMENT OF WHITES IN THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The bill comforting the right of suffrage
upon negroes and DISTINGUISHING sympa.
thisers y with the rebellion, has passed
both houses Of Congress, and was proba-
bly, salt to the President on the 18th
inst When the bill came up in the Sen
ate on the 18th inst, the amendment of
fered by Mr. Dixon, Of Connecticut, re-
quiring those not heretofore qualified to
vote to be able u read and write, was re-
jeeted by vote Of II to a. even Mr..
Sumner, who has detained SO much
about intelligence and suffrage, voting
against the amendment and in favor of
the unlettered African exercising the
highest right Of citizenship During the
consideration of the bill, on motion of
Mr.. Wilson, Of Massachusetts,, proyiso
was added, Furnishing by fine not ex-
ceeding $1,000 or Imprisonment not ex-
eeeding two years, any person who should
influence votes by purchase or bride of
any kind, and by imprisonment not less
than one year and perpetual disfranchiseS
ment any person accepting such bride
The object of this amendment is to pre-
vent, if possible, the negroes voting with
their old masters or present employ rs,
as there ia every reason to believe they
will do How far the proyiso Of Mr.. vii
son may operate to prevent the negroes
from voting as their interests may dictate,
is matter yet to be tried The interest
Of the negro may not be so closely identi-
fed with the DISTINGUISHED in the District
Of Columbia as with the same class in the
States Of the South, and they may not
vote there as they certainly would in the
Southern States, but the amendment will
operate 10 prevent Radical tampering
with the negro.
The report of the debate on the bill
contains the following
Mr.. Edmunds, (Rcp.,) of Vermont
moved TO amend the first section by strik-
ing out the Werds is a citizen of before
thesWords the United States, and insert
ing in lieu thereofthe words was born in"
saying that the Supreme Court having de-
cidea that negroes were not citizens of the
United States, that fact might be used to
their prejudice at future elections.
At the suggestion of Mr.. PomerOy, Of |
Kansas, the amendment was modified by |
inserting after the words "bOrn in the |
United States, the words or naturalized :" |
and, as modified, it was agreed TO.
1t thus seems that the Radical majority !
in the Senate are afraid of the decision Of |
the Supreme Court tliat negroes are not |
citizens Of the United States, and we
here find what shoald be the gravest
legislative body in the world resorting to |
"a dodge to secure the negro the right to
vote.
The following is tho vote on tie pas
sage Of the hill in the Senate
YEAs-Messrs. Anthony Brown, CattsH,
Chandler, Conness, Creswell, Edmunds,
Fessenden, Fogg, Frelinghuysen, Grimes,
Harris, Henderson, Howard, Howe, Kirk
wood, Lane, Morgan, Morrill,, Poland,
Pomeroy, Ramsey, Ross, Sherman, Sprague,
Stewart, Sumner, Trumbull, Wade, Wiley, |
Williams, Wilson-32.
NAYs-Messrs. Bnckalew, Cowan, Davis,
Dixon, Doolittle, Foster, Hendricks, Ne
smith, Norton, Patterson, Riddle, Sauls-
bury, Van Winkle-13.
Mr. Fowler, Of this State was absent
on account of sickness Of his wife, hut
there is no doubt he would have voted for
the bill if he had been present
The bill came mp in the House Of Rep
resentatives ON the nth inst. The Wash
ington correspondent of the Cincinnati
Gazette furnishes the following synopsis
Of the proceedings Of that body on the
bill;
The action OF the House on the district ! I
suffrage bill was unexpectedly prompt and
decisive.
Il was reported from the Senate during
he morning hour, and went to the Speak ,
FRS table under the rule, with several other
bills. Business ON the table was reached
about two o'clock.
Three or four bills were read and re-
'erred TO the appropriate committees. Half ,
past two the Speaker announced the suf- ,
lrage bill.
Mr.. Ingersoll, of Illinois, chairman Of {
he District Committee, was on his feet, |
and at once demanded the previous ques-
Ton on its passage. ~
Mr., Hale wanted him TO withdraw the {
demand, that he might offer an amendment | (
Of an educational question.
A dozen members answer No, no and
he Clerk proceeds 20 read the bill ai
length
While be was doing 80 several gentle
men crowded around lngersoll, some appear
ing to ask delay, others seeming 10 object
hereto. Uf (
He renewed the demand az soon as the J
reading was finished, and the bill was put
IN lis passage without debate or amend
nent I
The vote stood one hundred and eighteen .
yeas TO forty-six nays, being seven more
han two-thirds Of those present.
Many gentlemen who would have voted I
or 1t are absent on special committee work. [
Col. Stokes attracted attention BY the
hearty manner in which he voted aye and :
Mr.. Raymond was congratulated upon the {
decisive manner in which he turned his d
Jack upon the Philadelphia Convention. I
OF the Maryland delegation, e1-Gov-
,rnor Thomas voted aye Phelps no while '
dcCulloch and John l.. s Thomas were i
lbsent L.
West Virginia aud &eniucky voted
igainst the bin, Col. Mckee, Of the latter
ltate, going with the Democrats. ?
OF the Tennessee delegation, Maynard, h
stokes, Arnell and Hawkins voted ave,
cooper, Taylor and Campbell no, while ="
leftWitch was absent.
OF the Missouri delegation. Andersen i
Blow, Loan, KeIsoand Van Horn voted for J.
be bill, Hngan and NOEL against il, while :
Benjamin and MoClurg were absent.