The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-12
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
The following are the Congressional proceed
.uss continued from our Fourth Edition OF yes


teJday -
ny williams then resumed the consideration
Of the subject Of suffrage TO the negro, conending
Ihat the ballot was necessary 70 them 20 enaoie
them TO protect themselves. All the argumehn
against IL were mere preludice, why was aS ~ ;sS'
ton to his sitting in railroad coach or Tldlng IN
steamboat, but when he became free he was not
20 be allowed any such privilegei He would paee
mis- aTg1nient solely ON the right OF protection
which every man has, white or blaek
IL had been said here that the inhapluIhS OF tnls
Dstrict we're the descendants ofproud and naughty
families For that reason ne wanted tnls pilI
Dasaed 40 that all the descendants OF these naughty
nmiHes might have the right to vote, II II was
Gaid that the negroes were not intelligent, ne would
reply tha 'hSS 9fSm werS wrong IN he late rebeon and
70 know the friends from the enemies Of the go
MT COWAN said he had not intended TO again
take the floor on this subject, but it had been said
mat he not in earnest in Offering this amend
ment. This was not correct. He had been op-
posed to any change in the suffrage; but II It was
to be changed, II negroes were TO De entranchlseu
ne was in favor Of still further change, so as to
embrace women, also. II white men could not be
intrusted with political power for the negro, 1hey
could mot be intr1sted Win u Ior 'ns tod nv
their husbands might go to the proceedings OF tne
Women's Rights Convention, recently heiu' 10
learn differently. 1t was time to look facts IN the
face. He was willing to stand upon old consutu-
tione, sancnfied they were by the past but wnen
the time came to make step, II shoulu De mace IN
az right direction. He was surprised that his sin
cerity should be doubted Radicals were not like
time he would be as radical as any OF them
He did not intend to let the juggernaut OF pro,
Eress run over him. He had as many reasons as
Mr. Anthony, and one more, for being in favor OF
this bill; for he had a wife, whereas Mr.. Anthony
was widower. He hoped therefore, that Mr..
Anthony would make an abject apology TO him Tor
having expressed doubt of his sincerity laugh
ter.) This new parsonage who appears on tne poS
HtCal stage TO oppose the Jupeterian system OF
legislation, complains that you have been tyrant
He fMr Cowan) proceeded to read from the pro-
neadnQa Of the Doth annual meeting OF the Penn
sylvania Anti. slavery Society, and the speech OF
Mrs Francis D. Gage during the session ono OF ina tnat
sachusetts (Mr. Wilson) TO express his opinion on
thIs subject, and he felt assured that he would be
hrm on the side of humanity on this question He
could almost see from where he stood the bosom of
his friend from Massachusetts heave in sympathy
with this new issue, (laughterG and now that they
had two negroes in the Massachusetts Legislature,
ne could not doubt that Mr.. Wilson would come
!Tly to his !Mr. Cowans2 position he hoped %
Sumner) would vote right in this proposition, now
that a change had come over his domestic rela-
lions. (Laughter.)
He would not have alluded to this delicate SUBJ
ject, but he found some remarks from Mrs. Gage
in relation to Mr.. Summers great speech Of last
winter to which he was compelled to assent. Mrs.
Gage had discovered that Mr.. Sumner protested
against taxation and male represen taton, and not
word was said by that gentleman against the
tyranny of taxing women without giving them
the right of representation. He would say to gem
tlemen that Mrs Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mrs.
Francis ID. Gage and Mrs Susan b. Anthony were
at their heels with their banners aging, and they
Toward the conclusion of his speech Mr.. Cowan
read a letter from Mr.. Wade TO Mrs. Susan b.
suffrage If his amendment were adopted he (Mr.
Oowan) would vote for the bill. He would not be
with it. He would not be the first to propose any
change on the matter of suffrage, but if any
change was to be made, it ought to be radical and
fundamental one OF this kind. He was in good
earnest in offering this amendment. He was not
so blind as not TO see the signs of the coming
times.
Mr.. MORRILL,, of Maine said he could not be-
lieve that Mr.. CoWan had been arguing to con-
vince the Senate in favor of his proposition
While the majority in the Senate intended to be
radical, they intended to be rational also, and all
the efforts of their enemies to make them ridicu-
lous would be unsuccessful. He would not con-
sent to see Mr.. Cowan pretend to indorse radical
ism for the purpose of breaking it down. 1t was
to defeat it. Mr.. Oowan did not believe in the
principle he urged. He was simply trying to
make mischief, but he would not succeed
Mr. Morrill, in conclusion, replied to the legal
arguments of Mr.. Cowan, that the proposition to
disfranchse those who had participated in the re-
bellion of the right of franchise was on the nature
of eS post fGctO law, and therefore unconstitu-
tional. He contended that no punishment was in
tended or inflicted. 1t was simply proposlton
looking to the future, and taking away trusttrom
those who had shown themselves unworthy of It;
Mr.. COWAN resumed the floor in reply to Mr..
Morrill,, maintaining that to deprive a man of the
right of suffrage was a punishment, and as now
Mr.. WADE, of Ohio, said he had not intended
to take part in this discussions because the first day
Of the last session of Congress he introduced the
several amendments which he supposed suth-
ceRtly demonstrated to all what his views on this
subject were. His views were not Of any sudden
growth.
He had always been of the opinion that the right
TO vote in a Republican government ought to be
limited only by years of discretion. He had always
believed that It would be safe when the laws of the
country had remtted our people to their rights
when they had fixed simply an age of majority,
and Of competency to manage their own affairs as
the qualification for suffrage; He did not believe
any such rule was unsafe; He imagined that the
nnBatetV entirely the other side, Tor lust
proportion you limit this franchise, you create
in some degree an aristocracy or irresponsible go.
Vernment, and gentlemen must be little tInctured
with the fear OF Republican sentiment when they
fear the extended right Of suffrage.
II he (Mr. Wade) believed, as some gentlemen
inteliects of the highest character, the greatest
perspicaoity of mind the greatest discipline from
education and experience II only such persons
should be permitted TO participate in the govern
ment he should know that a republican form of
government could not live. 1t was because he
for the welfare of the community was the plain
simple level of the weakest intellects, that he be-
Ieved this government ought to stand and would
stand for ever. Who is 1t that ought TO be pro-
tected by this republican government Certainly
1t is the weak and the ignorant, who have no other
manner Of defending their rights except through
the ballot-box The argument for aristocracies and
monarchies had ever been that the people did not
Know enough to take care Of any form OF gov
As to the pending amendment, he intended to
vote for it. He might not have introduced it. because
this might not be the best time and place TO agtate
the subject; but as to the right of women to vote
he had no doubt whatever. He was fully con-
70 draw w the line ~ htssn any ny one
male and the male in this respect, while both were
alike subject TO the same law. The time is ap-
the country will be responsible for the just gov
sTnnnent of the country as much as the males.
country will be just as we'll acknowledged as our
own.
AsanQ NARa an fn0