Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-02-08
Mr. Bingham's Speech.
ICONCLuDED.


upon that ground against this provlso th
operates with equal force against the su6sti, vi
tute offered by my colleague. What is thatf in
This is the provision proposed by my col ii
league, Mr.. SCHENcK b
Repre senfatves shall be appointed dnong the sevct
h states winch mny be included within tho Union -
cordng number If male citizens twenty.one "
years o age having the qualifications requisite for ecc
Tors OF the most numerous branches Of the State Legis
laure. -
Is not the effect of this the same as that !,
OF tho proviso, differing in degree? IT isa =
penalty. It is the diminution of political !,
power in the State that limits suffrage =
among the citizens of the United States. : :
The intent ofmy colleagues substitute is he i
same as that Of the proviso in the resolution +
reported by the committee 1t is to compel /
those States; upon the penalty of losing I;
political power, to do equal and exact Justice :
among the free citizens Of the United States
in the regulation OF the elective franchise.
1t results that the argument made against
the proviso docs apply as well to the propos-
ed substitute Of my colleague, Does not
that substitute imply, according to the argu-
mcnt We have heard, that all citizens OF the
/ Uuted States, being male persons over
twenty-onc years Of age, in a State, may not
be allowed to exercise the elective fran
chiseH Did not my colleague Mr.
SCHENCK admit in his argument yesterday
that this fact was implied? Undoubtedly.
Does the substitute not imply fnrther-if,
MS contontendcd a penalty for doing an act
is an implied power aud authority to do it.
that the franchise may be conferred in the
, State upon aliens? Most undoubtedly
, Well, is not that violation of the Censtitu-
ton? Was it not intended by the Cousitu
ton, as argued in the beginning, that the !
political power Of this country should he ex
q erci,el in the several States of the Uuien
4 only by citizens OF the United States, natu.
a raj born or duly nsturalized2 Undoubtedly
II that is the intent ofyOur Constitution. The
. ballot is the sovereignty of the nation, and
10 should only be in the hands of citizens. a
n few States Of tho Union, and but few,
\. have granted alien suffrage. Nv colleague,
IS | am sure. is nat its advocate. But let gen
;s tlemen, when they enter upon this mode Of
id argument, raising implied powers from a
40 restraining law, consider well whittier their
ne logic leads them assert again, without
n fear Of contradiction from any man who dc.
60 liberately examines the subject, that the
Dis argument urged against the proviso, that by
as Implication it authorizes an act to be done
oh which it punishes, that the argument lies
re as well against the substitute offered by my
MS colleague. There is in my mind no doubt
ma about it, ID. ~ ...,.,. ......
bt. |, Ii seems to me- sir, that the Joint rcsolu.
ia ton of the committee has this to recon.
TO the proposed substitute, that it leaves to
.ty oyery State of Chi. Union, according to tho
,at original intent and letter Of the Constitution,
all its equal political power in the Union, pro
,al viled the several States obey It's require.
re mepts. That is precisely what it proposes.
lat What is the result, if you substitute my col
rsy leagues amcndmont2 You diminish. ne.
nv cessary tho political power Of the loyal
, States while you increase in the same ratio
tbat nf thn raIol Stata fha;r a1,nia
of sion to representation in this House. Now
nv is it not enough for us to alluw them tC
on. come in wit equal political power upon
xe. precisely the same terms with the rest o,
,eir are we ready to strip the loyal States OF tn,
,on just political power unler the Constitution
and which they hold to-day. ! believe it en-
ard dangers the future safety, of the Repuhli
and to increase the political power OF the eleyc
neir States that have been in rebellion agans
,e,t power of the loyal States. La my judy
the ment that would be the efrct OF my col
md leagues substitute How? Why, simpl
lea. thus. Under the Constitution as it now /
did and as it always has heen, tho entire immi
ym- grant population Of this country is incude
yho in the basis of representation. Every ma
n knows that the great body Of the immi
our grant population Of Americ. always ha
|. = been and now is confined TO the free loya
min. it found anywhere within tho limits Of th
,est eleven rabel States BY substituting th
ave amendment of my colleague You strike fro,
/ of the basis Of cpresentltion tho entiie imm
grant population not naturazed, and ther,
fore not yet capable of becoming voter
citizens of the United States over twent!
yin, ono years Of age. ] ask the House to col
I slider whether that iswisc.
'"' 1t will bo admitted, doubtless, that II
o,,r trainers of tho Constitution inserted tn
,nat provision to encourage immigration. Tn,
,s;,h did so, not only by this provision Of Il
Nam organic law, which declared that the who
/, !, immigrant population should be numbere
,it y with the people and counted as part OF theu
Il NJ but by the further provision that Congre,
ma should have power to pass a uniform patu
III alzaton law, and thereby provide that II
"nj alien population, by complying with tn
,bnr terms Of the statute, should be clothed wit
n;ios the dgnity of citizens Of the United State
rnis and invested with the rights and powers
,ith citizens,
There IL no provision of the Constitute
es," that is more essential to the future of Il
Tents Republic ihan thi'. 1t Sas true now
hers when tho Constitution Of the United Stat
was adopted, that the want of the Repu
lated lie is productive power. The wise state
60. = men who fashioned the Constitution invit
lr in. TO these shores the toiling millions of Il
. it. Old World They invited the workers a,
es,rs. the builders whose honest toll clothes Al
Mr.. shelters nations. They came from eve
,ntral civilized nationality. TO be numbered amo
t i'm our people, and finally to become one wi
urks US as citizens OF the Republic.
An But. say gentlemen now, they shall not
Cum. numbered among our people that wa m,
ar on depart from that policy which has hitheI
ng on given the Republic its strength, which
|. fifty enabled il to achieve what has hitherto be
Jump seen only in the vision of the Seer, n natl
re- are born in day, nation that within the me
bar ory OF living men has peopled this VI
+ ten country Of ours from the Western base
ntnt. the Alleghanies to the gates Of the Pacii
anl and covered the continent with free Co
nber- monwoalths. Mr. Speaker, | trust Il
Ipany tho House will deliberate long before III
A.. a. Il