The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-23
Negro Suffrage in the District and the
Ststes-COngress and the President.

Negro Suffrage in the District and the
StateS-COngresS and the President
From The Times.
AS our readers are aware, the bill establish ng
universal neero suffrage in the District of Co.
iumbia passed the House of Representatives on
Thursday last by a vote Of 116 yeas to 81 NAYS.
1t will probably also pass the Senate by de-
cided majority. 1t is generally assumed that il
will receive the Presidents signature and thus
become law; but we regard this as by no means
certain. 1t is said to have been asserted by
Judge Kelley on the floor of the House, while
the bill was upon its passage, that he bae11 the
President would sign it, and this statement pro-
badly had some effect in swelling the vote in its
favor. Whether Judge Kelley pretended to
speak from positive persona! knowledge OF the
Presidents intentioG, or only by way of inter-
ence from his position and presumed opinions
we are not aware.
The passage OF the bill in the House Is claimed
by the Tribune as a decided triumph of the
radical majority" The claim is perfectly Just.
But whether that triumph was achieved 0r q
tair exercise of ITS strength, or by an adroit
and somewhat INSCRIPTIONS alliance with the
Democratic minority, may be open TO serious
doubt. The bill was originally introduced by
Judge Ke ley, OF Pennsylvania, and was referred
to the judiciary Committee, Of which Mr.. Will
son, OF Iowa, is chairman. 1t provided for uni.
versal negro suffrage in the District. MIR. VIII
son reported it back, and the House entered
upon its discussion. After this had gone on for
few Gays, conference of the Union members
of the House was called TO consult as to the
proper course to be pursued.
Alter full discussion it was decided, by vote
OF more than two to one, that the bill should be
recommitted to the Judiciary Committee, with
instructions 70 amend it so as to require all per-
sons both white and black, who should here.
after be admitted to vote in the District to be
able to read the Constitution Of the United States,
n a N a Tnh in hn
taxes on personal or real estate. This was dis
tinctly understood by all parties to be the deci-
sion of the Union Iarty, and by none more dis
tincty than by Mr.. Wilson himself. No one pre-
tended that it bound any one to vote IN any par
ticular way; but 1t was supposed that it would
have weight with Mr.. Wilson and his associates
as to the form in which the question should be
submitted to the action OF the House.
very large majority of the Union members
desired the vote to be taken upon granting to
the colored men of the District suffrage quail
tied by the ability to read; and they supposed
that, in Difference to their wishes, thus distinctly
expressed, this would be done. They were mis-
taken. Mr. Wilson and his associates voted with
the Democrats against the recommitment, and
thus brought the vote directly upon the ques-
ton OF universal negro suffrage in the District;
and the great body OF the Union majority pre-
terred to vote together rather than separate
upon this issue thus forced upon them. Whether
they acted wisely or not will be determined by
results; but we know that they acted from q
dssension and disruption. If they had been
met in this effort by corresponding desire on
the part OF Mr. Wilson and his associates, the
prospects OF ultimate success would have been
more hopeful than they seem at present
II this question were confined to the District of
Columbia il would be OF less Importance than it
is. Congress has within that district the un-
questioned power OF exclusive legislation, and
however oppressively and un wisely that power
may be exercised, the injury inflicted is confined
within narrow limits. But this step is but an
entering wedge to general system Of Legislation
conc ernlng the negro race. The avoWal has
repeatedly been made by those known as radi-
Gals in the Union ranks, that its main purpose
was to establish principle IN the district which
should afterwards be applied to the several
States. The admission OF the recently emanci-
pated slaves TO the right of unqualified univer-
sal suffrage in the Rebel States, Is put for ward
by them as an indispensable condition to the re-
admission OF these States 10 the Union.
Judge Kelley, of Pennsylvania, the author of
this bill, declared recently in debate with Mr..
Kasson, of Iowa, that Congress had the right to
prescribe the qualification of voters for the
most numerous branch OF the Legislature in
every State IN the Union-in other words, that
notwithstanding the explicit language of the
Constitution, Congress had supreme power over
this whole subject, and he Is prepared to intro
duce bill for its assertion and exercise. Dir.
Stephens has gwen notice OF a bill TO give every
emancpated negro a homestead, either from
the confiscated estates of Southern Rebels, or
from lands in the South owned by the Govern
ment bill is already before the House ignor-
ing utterly everything done by the President
towards the restoration of peace and Federal
relations in the Southern States, ana proposing
TO organize territorial governments for them all.
And the same tactics are to be employed to
force each and every one OF these measures upon
| the Union party in the House which proved 50
successful on this District of Columbia bill. The
| same use Will be made OF the machinery OF
caucus. Decisions will be sustained and enforced
when favorable to these projects, and dlsregarded
and oyerthrown, by alliance with the Democrats
| when adverse, And as the Democrats themselves
are simply playing their own partisan game
| they must naturally be expected to aid, by such
| acton as these alliances may offer, IN iaStenina
| upon, the Union Administration whatever mea
sures may be most obnoxious TO the public ludg
ment, and thus offer them the best chance of
speedy return to power
IL may fairly be presumed that Preslden
Johnson will not overlook these considerations