The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


against the of the United States. Referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary. .- . -,
Mr.. Wade (Ohio) introduced bill to admit the
State OF Colorado INTO the Union. Referred 70 the
Committee on Territories.
The following bill to regulate the elective fran
chse in the District of Columbia was then upi
a Bill to Regulate the Etectt1c bTd"e"'se W @e
BE it enacted by the senate and House of Repre-.
sentanves OF the pnte8 ro anS after tSe DassaSe of
this act each and every male person, excepting
paupers ana persons under guardianship OF tne age
Of twenty one years and upwards, VINO have not
been convicted OF any infamous crime or oHense,
and who is a CITIZEN OF the United stats and who
OF six months previous to any election therein,
shall be entitled to the elective franchise, and thall
be deemed eectOr aud en- titled TO vote
at any election in the said District, without any
distinction on account OF color or race
Section 2. And be 1t further enacted, That any
person whose duty it shall be to receive votes at any
election within the District of Columbia, who shall
wiliully refuse to receive, or VINO snal wiiIuly Iy
under the act shall be liable to an action oil tort by
the person injured and shall be liable, on indlct-
meDt and conviction, If such act was done kno W
ingly, to fine not exceeding five thousand dollars
or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one
year in the jail of said district, or TO poth
SecuOn g. And belt further enacted, That If any
person persons shall wiltuily interrupt or disturb
any such elector in the exercise of such franchise
he or they shall be deemed guilty of msdemeanor
and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum
not TO exceed one thousand dollars, or be imprisoned
in the jan in SAID district for period not to ex-
ceed thirty days, or both at the discretion OF the
cOuIt,
Section T. And be it further enacted That 1t shall
be the duty OF the several courts having criminal
jurisdiction in said district to give this act In special
charge to the grand jury at the commencement OF
each term of the court.
Section g. And be it further enacted, That all acts
and parts OF acts inconsistent with this act be and
The amendment reported by the Committee on the
Of Mr. Morrill, VIZ strike out all after ' the enact
ing clause Of the bill, and in lieu thereof insert
lNote-The amendment of Mr.. Morrill, is printed In
frn m af far no pa. nf
each and every male person, excepting paupers and
persons under guardianship, of the age OF twenty
convicted of any infamous crime or ofiense, and
excepting persons who may have voluntarily left
the District of Columbia to give aid and comfort TO
the Rebels in the late Rebellion and is citizen of
the United States, and who shall have resided
yous to an election therein shall be entitled to the
elective franchise, and shall be deemed elector
ana entitled to vote at any election in said Distrc,
without any distinction on account of color or
race.
Section 2. That any person whose duty it shall
be TO receive votes at any election within the Dis
trict of Columbia who shall wilfully refuse 10 re-
ceiVe or who shall wilfully reject the vote of any
person entitled to such right under this act shall
be liable to an action of tort by the person injured,
and shall be liable on indictment and conviction,
II snch act was done knowingly, to fine not ex-
ceed1ng $5OOO or imprisonment for term not ex-
ceeding one year in the Jail of said District, or
wilfully interrupt or disturb any sach elector in
the exercise of such franchise he or they shall be
deemed guilty OF mlSdemeanOr, and con-
yiction thereof shall be fined in any sum not to
exceed $1,000, or be Imprisoned in the Jail in said
District for period not to exceed thirty days, or
both, at the discretion of the court.
Section A. That it shall be the duty of the several
courts having criminal jurisdiction in said District
to give this act in special charge to the grand Jury
at the commencement of each term of the court.
Section s. That all acts and parts of acts incon-
sistent with this act be and the same are hereby
repealed.
Section 6. That the Mayors and Aldermen of the
cities of Washington and Georgetown respect
year, shall prepare list of the persons they judge
fc 20 qualified to vote - - ---oral wa.. yf said
cities In any election, and said Mayors and AihAr
snail be in open session 10 receive evidence OF
@ le quaiIueat,on Of persons claiming the right TO
Ite III s.ny election therein, and for correcting
7o' list, on two days in each year, not exceeding
five days prior to the annual election for the choice
of city officers, giving previous notice of the time
and place of each session in some newspaper
printed in said District.
Section 2. That on or before the day appointed
the mayors and aldermen of said cities shall post
mp a list of voters thus prepared, in one or more
public places in said cities respectively, at least
ten days prior to said annual election
Section s. That the officers presiding at any elec-
ton shall keep the check list herein requir
ed atthe polls during the election OF all officers and
no vote shall be received unless delivered by the
voter in person, and not until the presiding ohcer
has had opportunity to be satisfied of his identity,
and shall find his name on the list and marx IT, ana
ascertain that his vote is single.
Mr.. WILEY, of West Virginia. proposed the
following as ubstitute for the first section of the
substitute offered by the committee. In all cleo
tons to be held hereafter in the District of Column
bia the following described persons, and those
only, shall have the right to vote, to wit
First. All those persons who were actually re-
sidents of said District and qualified to vote therein
at the elections held therein in the year ee hteen
hundred and sixty.fve, under the statutes then in
force.
Second. All persons, residents of said District,
who have been duly mustered into the military or
naval service of the United States during the late
rebellion, and have been or shall hereafter be
honorably discharged therefrom.
Third Male citizens OF the United States who
shall have attained the age of twenty-one years,
excepting paupers, persons non compos mentis, or
convicted of an Infamous offence, and who, be-
ing residents of the ward or district in which
they shall offer to vote, shall have resided in said
district for the period of one year next preceding
any election, and who shall have paid the taxes
assessed against them, and who can read and who
can write their names.
Mr. MORRILL,, of Maine, said the bill had been
so long before the Senate, and was SO we'll under
stood, that he did not deem any extended remarks
on 1t necessary at this time. He would state to the
Senate briefly what he proposed by this bill. 1t
would be seen that the bill purported to be mea-
sure to regulate the elective franchise in the Dis
only regulates the franchise 1t extends il and en-
larges 1t. The principal feature of the bill, and
the country, and which probably challenges all
attention, is that it embraces the colored citizens of
the District of Columbia, In this particular il is q
novelty To describe the bill in single phrase, he
would say it was measure for impartial re-
strcted suffrage. That is TO say, it proposed to be
impartial among all the male citizens of the United
States resident in the District; and 1t is RESTRICT We
in that is confined to the male SEX and that it
confined to persons above certain age, and that it
excludes paupers and insane persons, and persons
guilty of felony and other Infamous offences. 1t
rs impartial, restricted suffrage, as distinguished
from universal or manhood suffrage, of which the
country has heard SO much of late. . =.
Mr.. Morrill, then alluded to the position of the
Senate in this measure. That position had been
studiously mIsrepresened by the press OF the coun
try. The writings of the press on this subject
were dIsgraceful TO American journalism. The
Senate had been accused of failure TO co.operats
with the House during the last session this