New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-18

WASHINGTON, May II, 1866.
RAprOAIISM TRIUMPHANT,

but not for the ability displayed, nor for the man
ner in which great questions of public interest
were treated. With due impartiality must
acknowledge that neither party could furnish an
orator who a held Senates spelbOnnd with his
eloaueneer The radicals INDUCED in their staple
eloeution-the abuse militant; while the Demo-
Gratis fought feebly against foregone conclusion,
and the conservative Republicans were engaged
in the undignifed task of political trimming. The
debates were still interesting, and will doubtless
be memorable. According to the half hour rule
established for the occasion, no member could
long impose himself on the House. Many persons
were thus enabled to speak, and, with ordinary
TALENT they could not be very severe infections
on such an interesting topic. The parliamentary
constructions of the Speaker also tended to curtai
the debates, and limit the discussion on subject
which required six months preparation and only
three days consideration.
MIR. N. P. Banks attracted more attention than
any of his compeers. Having once been Speaker
of the House, and possessing an agreeable deliv'
cry the ex.commissary general is usually favored
with an attentive audience. He is ready
speaker, bnt by no means fluent in his utterance,
and spoiled by so much mannerism as to destroy
the effect of his graceful form and courteous man
ner. It would be useless to review the sophisms
which he urged in support Of the committee Is
plan. They were almost Immediately demolished
by member of his own party Bingham, of
| Ohio. During the last days debate the House
was unusually disorderly, The Speakers mallet
was frequently useful in preserving the decorum
of the assembly. Colfax is very quick and
I observant Speaker, but he repeats his lessons
! with such parrot-like quickness as to render il
almost impossible for a reporter to understand
him. The main question, on the adoption of the
amendment proposed by the committee, was put
| by yeas and nays. Each response announced o
strict party vote, until the name of Henry j. Ray
mond was announced by an affirmative.
| This unexpected reinforcement was Immediately
| followed by loud acclamahons, Of which members
n the floor were not wholly guiltless. For severa
minutes ing faaieals ennld not restrain genera
grin several turned in their seats look ut Raw
mond, and make sure of him. Even Thad. Steven
| looked towards the editor of the New Yorl
! Times with an approving SMILE and seemed to i'm
| ply that he was delighted to receive such brigh
little prodiga son back to the bosom of his family
| Raymond seemed to partake of the general salts
faction at his own expense, but it was more of al
irrepressible smile, coming forth spontaneously
| at its cause. The announcementgof the result wa
| followed by scene Of wild confusion and disorder
Mr.. Rodgers, Of New Jersey, moved that til,
negroes in the galleries be allowed to waive thei
handkerchief A Democrat from Wisconsin
moved that order be maintained, and the Niger
heads put down. The House adjourned shortly
after, fortunately for its own reputation. With
the most self satisfed confidence the radicals dis
persed in all parts of the capital and the country
as they are absolyed from further attendance here
until Monday Some of the radical chiefs are very
vainglorious over the prospect of long session
distinguished Senator said to a gentleman from
Maine, We were going to adjourn in April
weren't WEI" accompanying his boast with large
effusion Of inward ehuckling. Whatever their in.
tentions may be they have not interfered with the
executive appointments. Sickles and Smythe have
both been confirmed, notwithstanding the Morgan
Raymond influence.
I THE THIRD SECTION.
This bids fair to become as popular as the Mis-
souri, Compromise or the Wimot Proviso 1t wa
the only point upon which any disagreement
among the radicals existed, and Stevens begge,
the House to give him the third section or nothin,
at all. Now that it has passed one branch of Con
gress and viii probably succeed in the Senate, w
find it more profitable to discuss its effects than the
policy of its enactment | am, happily, enabled
to present yonr readers with the opinion of an
able lawyer on this topic Regarding this amend.
ment as having passed both Houses Of Congress
and being placed before the people, we may in
quire into the reasons which should influence them
in electng legislatures in favor Of or opposed to
the proposed changes in the Constitution. If this
4 a. bsr 1
law we End two classes in direct contradiction
with one another.
The first section referred to rests the control of
the suffrage in the States Of the Union the pro
posed amendment takes the regulation Of the
franchise out Of the hands of the States and con.
fers it on Congress, 1t may be said that Congress
can only exercise its power in the case of disloy-
ally. But with the protecting clause of the Con
stitution annulled, WHAT is there to prevent Con
gress from passing any law--not an amendment,
bnt simple law, limiting or extending the suf
frage even to the negroes if it.sees Git or obtains
the power The great bulwark against the usurpa.
ton Of Congress- control of the States over the
elective franchise-landed by Madison, is not ia
be easily relnquished. Rights which Hamilton de.
olared that the people would march from tile re.
hottest corners Of the land to defend, are not 10
be oheaply bartered away. But there is even a
greater principle than this Involved in the cues.
ton. The radicals have declared that they are tn
be the judges Of the qualifications of the members
Of the next electoral college If an elector is
chosen from State where the disfrancbisina
amendment is neither accepted nor regarded. we
are told that the two Houses are to Judge of the
constitutionality Of their own proceedings in the
organic changes Of the law They are Ia decide