The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-09


ficted upon them as States. If they ex-
clude the colored population they will lose
at least tlirty-tive representatives in this
hall If they adopt it they will have
eighty-.hree votes. Take it away from
them and they will have only from ioriy-
five to forty-cight votes, all told, III this
hall And then, sir, let them have ali iiie
cOpperhead assistance they can get. and
liberty will still be triumphant. Now
prefer that to an immediate declaration
that all shall be represented: Tor if you
make them all voters, and let them INTO
the hall, not one beneficial act for the adj
vantage of the freedmen, or for the benefit
of the country, could ever be passed.
Their eighty-three votes, with those of the
representatives of the Five Points and
other dark corners, would be sufficient to
over-rule the friends of progress here, and
this nation would be in the hands of Sc
cessiOnists at the very next congressional
election, and at the very next presidential
election. would therefore move to grant
them this privilege-at least for some
Years. l want in the meantime that our
christians shall 90 among freedmen and
teach them what their duties are as citi-
zens. They will know them much better
than their masters, and hope their mas
tiers will take notice of what they learn.
| say want our christian men 10 90
among them-the philanthropi>ts of the
north-the honest methodist>- friends.
the .hard-shell' baptiSts, and all Others, and
then. four or five years hence, when these
freedmen shall have been made free in
deed, when they shall have become intelli
Gent enough. and there are sufficient loyal
men there to control the representation
from those states. shall Ike glad TO see
them admitted here; but | do not want
them TO have representation. Il say it
plainly do not want 10 give them the
right of suffrage before this congress has
done the real work OF regcner:lting the
constitution and laws of this country. ;,c
cording TO the principles OF the declars.-
ton of independence. Hence | object TO
the amendment OF nv friend from Ohio.
Mr. Schenck.) He saws that if we al
low these people representation i'll proper
ton rs they extend tine suffrage. We shall
encourage them to extend it TO the colorc,i
race. Well. that Is the very objection
They will give the suffrage 10 their mcni-
ai>-their house Servant>-those they can
control. and elect whom they please 10
make our laws. That is not the kind of
increase Of suffrage | want. want all
such men cut off from If. but when they
have said TO all the trecdmcn-to their
former SlaveS-..l on are men and YOU
shall he represented then lei them come
here shall not be here to >ee them t;l~
| did their masters. who a few Years since
drew pistols and dag-cr> upon me when
was making Il SpecciI.) Vet a free people
will be represented and they will take care
of themselves But | have another OH
Lection to the amendment OF NV friend
from Ohio. His proposition il 10 appor-
ton representation according la ihr maic
citizens of the States. Why ha~ h, pat
in the word male 1t WAS never IA the
Constitution of the United States before
Why make crusade against wumcm IN
the constitution of the nation I.u.k-
ter.) l. my friend Us much afraid oi their
rivalry a> the gentlemen OH the oiier side
jof the House are afraid OF the rivalry of
the negro, I.augnter) | do not think
We ought TO di>iigure the constitution with
such a provision. | find thai every IN
married man Is opposed to the proposition
Why married men have particular reasons
for dreading interference from that quar-
tet know not Uaughtcr.) certainly
shall never vote TO insert the word ..malc"
or the word white in the constitution
Let these he attended 10 hv the StatcS
Now. sir. there l. another fatal ubleclinn
TO the proposition of my iliend from Ohio
If have been rightly informed as 10 the
number. there are from fifteen TO twenty
representatives in the northern states
founded upon those who are not citizens
of the nitcd States. I'm New York |
think there are three or four representa-
tivc> founded upon the foreign population
three certainly: and 80 ii is In Wi>con-
sin, Iowa and other northern STATES.
There are fifteen OF twenty northern rep
re>entativeS that would he lost bv that
amendment and given TO the south when
ever they grant the elective franchise 10
the negro. Now. sir. while have not
any particular regard for any foreigner
who goes against me- vet du moi think If
would he wise TO put inio the constitution.
or send 10 the people Il proposition 10
amend the constitution which would take
such representatives from these states. and
which, therefore, they never will adopt |
have no hope that any such proposition
would ever he adopted I.e, LIS Try TO Ia.
practical. Un the 9TH day of December
last | introduced a proposition 70 amend
the constitution, founding representation
upon the voting basis. and excluding the
foreign population. aS the proposition of
nv friend from Ohio does Ii wis dear
to my heart, for had been gc>taiing ii
for three months. daughter But when
| came to consult the committee of fifteen.
and found the states would moi adopt it.
surrendered it Now cannot my friend
from Ohio give up his darling too laugh
ter l had another proposition. which |
hope may again be brought forward. 1t
is this: All national and state laws shall
be equally applicable to every citizen, and
no discrimination shall he made on AZ