New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-11
SUFFRAGE AT THE CAPITAL-MR. NOR

The Suffrage bill for the District Of Columbia got
hearing yesterday in tho Senste-better late than
never. If 1t be true that tho Committee intended to
report bill with literary qualification, they aban
doned that intention and presented measure more
truly democratic than the one hitherto understood 10
have been adopted. They propose to enact
that all males of 81 except paupers and persons under
guardianship, not feions Rebels, being citizens,
and having resided six months in the District shall
have VOTE without any distinction Of color or race
That is good bill Mr. Wiley tried 10 restrict It's
grant of suffrage by requiring that voters otherwise
qualified shall also be able TO read and WRITE but,
with unanimity that surprises and delights us, tho
Senate declared for Manhood Suffrage. The vote
on Mr.. Willeys amendment was al TO l.
the ono being presumably Mr.. Wiley himself,
who emulates the attitude in which tho orator
drew the first Napoleon and stands alone,
grand, gloomy, and peculiar. If wo have done
any injustice to the Senate by suspecting 1t of
unsoundness on this question Of clerical tesla for
suffrage. we beg TO express our regret and
our great rejoicing over its sudden access
OF virtue. We aro however. quite at
a loss 20 know what Mr.. Morrill, has 10 complain Of
in tho criticism Of the press upon the hesitation Of
the Senate last session 10 act on the Suffrage Bill
Mr.. Morrill, says the position Of the Senate has been
studiously misreprcsented. We sgrco TO that, If it
shall DO shown that any journal has yenured to acqut
the Scnate,of persistent and proracted neglect during
last session TO push this TO avoe. But VIC sus
poet that il is for telling too much truth that Mr. Nor
rll has taken the press 10 task. He will obge us By
taking either tho affirmative or negative Of the two
following propositions; First: That tho Senate had
ample tmo TO pass of the several suffrage bills on
its calendar last session. Second: That it did not
pass any one of them. II he denies either of
these propositions, we shall confute him by the
journals Of that body Of which he is an honored NOM
Der II no admits them he convicts himself Of an IN.
just attack upon the press for calling attention to an
admitted iaOt-whch. in dscharging its duty TO the
public it was bound to do. But Mr. Morrill, in either
case shall not provoke us 20 utter any. harsh
word in respect to himself. for we never
doubted, but have often applauded, bis honest
devotion TO the cause Of Equal Rights for All Men,
which We in our way also strive 10 defend We still
think, and Mr.. Morrill, must permit us TO reassert,
that thero was delay last session perilous TO great
public interests. and well deserving more than
all tho rcbuko hitherto cast upon Il. How
Gar the Senator from hsine was RESPONSE
bic for that delay wo will not undertake
70 inquire We shall only remind him and his col
leagues that we know as IL is well known by them,
what personal and party reasons urged for postpone
mont awaited 60 influence tho consent Of men always
radical and seldom otherwise than earnest in pursuing
their convictions
bill was not passed yesterday, but we trust
there IL no 10 doubt that it will DO pressed
to q vote to-day, and that a two-thrds msjority
may go upon record in favor of measure which
il just that it may bs in danger Of Presidential
yoto