New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-20

4 THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
Il Mr.. HOWARD submitted the following amendment 70
! the pcnding House resolution; 800
"knd tie ish Il voting for lcos Of Pre'ijen and Vice
President Of the United States tor nobrs o. the House Of
Representative sud lor members Of the most numerous
brnch Of the stat. Legislature 10 hereby granted 70 the lo
Hsd saie vr An ss Of the Se Of tSnt7 years
army OF navy of he United States all males Of the like
sbe to read and write the English French Spanish lsn
guage oil ries Of the like rosession snd enjoyment
persons to hyo been dom:ed ~ her proper Election dis
cts Mt esst r months next before election al when
they claim gnt bat such person be allowed
to who OF unsouud mind paupcr under conslc
ton Q! an INFAMOUS crime snd conrr,ss .a in default Of
State egs,atio ave full power to cary into elect ht pro
vision by legislation applicable to all the States"
| REPRESENTATION.
! Mr. YATES having the floor upon the PENDING House
resolution fixing the basis OF representation said that
the duty Of Congress in TIC present crisis one u
/ gIeai responsibility; that its action mast be timely;
that mistakes would be fatal ard that delays would
breed danger. Then let not freedom Lie in the house
II lis friends and by their hands. Let - also egislste
for the whole Union Let DO the TigLt thing IN the
right place and at the right time. Congress has the
power to fix the basis OF harr onlous adjustment oi
our difficulties. We cannot wait for amendments 10
the Constitution and it is doubtful If such amendments
would be adopted IL would DO bis aim 70 prove that
COngrC has power under the Constitution to fix the
cOnGit Ons which the late rebell0us states might he
restored TO the Union, and to show that II tho dominant
| party should fail 90 perform its plain consiitG'
tional duty IN the matter power wonld pass INTO
| the halCs Of party whose sympathles ana acts
have been sgainst the war, wlo opposed the
| Proclamation of Emancipation, the armlng OF the
negrOcz and the amendment sboishing Slavery VINO
are upon the record IN hostility the protection of the
frC edmen. and who would pardon jeff Davis and open
the doors Of Congress TO men vLo had Inbred thelr
hands in the blood Of loyal cOuntrymeD. The work
Of reconstruction Is difficult one 1t encounters deep
seated prejudice and divergent opinions. II ~ more
difficult even than the worG Of the iathers Inc ehd
th-y had ia view was simple: II ives freedom 10 all
men. There was 10 be class legislation. They
found institution IN the States Which was IN conflict
with this principle This embarrassed their actt n ana
| cfmnntied them 10 make cOrlruUi7c WIN ~ winch
marred the beauty aud symmetry Of their wofs. Ihey
| hoped this institution would be temporary. UnioI'
| tlnatrly IL was not 80. and has proved the idtal
rook on which the ship OF State was nearly
rent assunder This institution was in conflict
with thoir great SYSTEM II embarrassed them ana 70
secure the adoption of the Constitution 10 eed
that the Sye States should have representation OF
three fths of their slaves -nd also provision FOR the
rendition " their flsitlyes But IN time Slavery grew
from a mere germ 10 a great Cpas tree which poisoned
the legislation of the country, and all the fountains Of
its prosperity II became. in fact alno't the Govern
mcit Whom Abraham Lincoln uttered the sentiment,
The country cannot exist half slave and talf free,
he was only prOphetcay ntering for the whole people
that which they believed IN their hearts. so tie Free
States determined 10 resist and the Slave states 20
upon tie Whole people. And what was the war which
resulted tie armed contest OF the opposing sections
abOui State lights. And see this question already re-
susct4ed and showing itself IN political maniesioes
In high quarters ntepoined without proper correction
IN funeral ornton. and heard IN threats Of tsati ion
al revolution II State rights are tramped upon.
God forbid that We should have another attempt at dis
union Bot be would say that Illinois had sent 90 900
mon 10 put doGn this Rebellion, and would furnish bali
~ Dilion 70 suppress the next II the war had es'ab
lished any fact u that had a Constitution and
Goyernment-noi a consolidated government but one
which leaves tie states free 10 act as respects all the
functions Of local legislation. hy throw this question
of tho status OF the freedmen into the States II uni
vera eedo.n end equality imposed by On outside
pOs Agao right &" control srors "ut oi me cGsti
tuition all win submit. But If thiriy-sY States
| shall decide tho fundamental question OF cit
5sn'hp. Inequalities Of rights, wraBgling and
bitter. n not fatal legislation may be expected.
NJ Yates took the ground that the States were rot
out ofthc Unon 1hey may he out OF u In fact, but
they are In II in law. They bad not h,en treated as
States m irll fellowship neitler as territories. The
case was anomalous and the policy pursued necessity.
II is left 10 ieorganize the Sta.c' a basis which viii
guarantee security Tor The future ii no, indemnity Tor
the pasi Both of tho Wisconsin Senators agree tina,
the pow 20 declare conditions of the return belongs "a
! Congress This shows the question whether these
states In ont Of he Union Is an attraction Tho
only question y one Of fact wheihe the States ge ~
condition for restoration He could agree with tho
senator from Wisconsin Mr. Doot,le) that they are.
Mr. Yates then referred 10 the opinion of state end
gsn.ru that these States IN condition for imme
dine admission He appealed 20 the Senate by the tears
Of the orphan and the blood OF the slave that t wOud
plant the Government upon he foundations Of feterno
Justice and The undyInR principles Of human liberty
The only basis OF restoration found In return 70
the principles Of tho Declaration OF Independence
exact Justice 70 all men, especial privileges TO none He
considered all the Constitutional amendments impract
cah.c only po5iponing the period Of restoration too
for the uiufe security and peace OF the country
|
Government, whose srong arm whipped them into ODE
dionce the time will be mr. in tho future. He would
not expect to do that but would settle all differences
uQou principle which would remove all cause Of quar-
re COngre lad nll power 70 pats the bill which be
| Mr. Yates Presented few days ago. prohibit
| iug tho enforcement Of any law recognizing In
state or Territory any distinction on account
OF race or color or previou' condition Of race
or color. Under the Coustitution heretofore. /
slavery belonged 10 the States and not 10 Con. !
gress. But we now have new Constitution. which |
or constitution ilKs and regulations
state relative 70 Slavery Now II is made The express
duy of Congress TO enforce s abolition in all Oi them.
And howi by appropriate legislation that viii mako
freedmen free indeed II was not Pretended mat Con
gress ever meant 20 set 50OOD0 OF men iroe without
the civil and political rights which attach 20 free chi
zen The bill OF s colleague (Mr TrumbuD provided FOR
the security Of the person and property Of freedmen lie
cgplended that they could he projected In thor liberty
| and rights under The amendment Mr. Yates cited
Bllck,Ono aud tie Fathers to show that civil and 20
litical rights ale SynOnymOus and Grgned that the
bred Scott decision was founded the fact that tho
negro was maze by Slavery subject race. and that
decision in such case now would be decided IN |
favor OF nrcd Scott and negro citizenship. Nhat /
power makes q citiIeR-ConUess or thc states
Neither Tho citizens We the people 90 /
oras'n 0ni establish c Constitution When the Con.
sututou abolshcs The status Of slavery the former
slave becomes oi the people and tho act OF omanol
nation imposing restrictions he IL one OF the sOver
egn people with oil the privileges Of every other eti
iho Constitution citizenship only be conferred on
aliens showing that there is Inherent right o SOY
eregnty in the people themselves The state has no
pow or 10 make citizen uor has the ned sateH Ihe
reaqon h. lilo people arc sovereign Ivy nherrcnt right
D,ny nny this right and be Is deprived, not only
of The privileges and mmuntcs Of sovereignty Dut IS
placed outside of the pale OF the Constitution win no
night bat that of reIolutiondriyen iron the ballot to
the bayonet. Judge 1eney himself said that people anu
| citizens are Synonymous. Now II freedmen are not
made citizens under the act OF cmancpation eie s
10 nover in Congress or State governments 70 make
them So Mr. Yates also deduced nom the Dred scott
opinion that II the negro bad not been III saVery a. the