Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-03-14

but one homogeneous whole, united TO-
gelher by the fundamental law, the Con-
stitulion established by or fathers. did
not anticipate the necessity of debating sub
jec,s of this description, because | could
not foresee either the passions or interests
of party which precipitaie upon ms The ques-
! tions out of which these debates arise. Bat,
sir, these subJscis are here, and they are TO
be met, and il is because with reference TO
some OF these questions I have not heard
my own ideas presented By others, that l
now trespsss upon the attention of The
Senate and pray their attention for brief
time.
Among the other subjects which are
Brought before Us by this celebrated
committee OF fifteen, which seems to
have taken charge TO great extent of the
affairs OF the Government, which seems to
have assumed 10 itself the functions OF
Congress and the functions also of an adyi-
sory body to ,he Executive-among the
other subjects thrown into Congress for The
operation OF the previous question in the
House of Representatives and for the
pronpi lash OF party discipline in the Sem
ate, is The subjecr Of representation in this
Government, one thai has undergone no
consideration, OF very slight consideration,
from the year 1889, when the Constitution
of the United States went into operation, 10
this day We have talk ed about everything
else, We have considered everything else
except this great subject, because We sup
posed that representation in this Govern
menl had been es,a blished upon just and
proper foundations by our fathers. We were
content with their work. We took il for
granted that they had made proper ar
rangement in tha portion OF the Cons.iiu-
lion which relared TO this suhject. But The
cornmi,ree of fifteen have introduced 10
our attention resolution proposing linn
iIaIion upon The representation of The States
Of this Union in the House OF Representa-
iives in all cases here the right of suffrage
shall be abridged by such State as 10 any
class OF its inhabitants on account of race
or color
Tie resolution OF the committee raises
one OF The questions which We are now 10
consider. That resolution bad a swift pas
sage through The House of Representatives,
but here it mas had a somewhat prolonged
consideration, AID il is well that ii has
been considered, because as the debale has
progressed more and more OF opp osi,ion TO
II has been manifested, and more and more
plainly have appeared 10 the Senate and
The people OF The country who read our
debates the imperlections of the plan OF
amendment proposed by that resolution.
Mr. President, shall speak to-day upon
the subiecI of representation of States in
this Senate, and OF the people OF States 10
the House of Representatives and the par.
ticular questions examined will be-
l. The senatorial representation o! the
eastern States;
2. The presen, admission OF Senators and
Representatives from the South;
8. The proposed amendment OF the Con-
Stilulion, limiting representation in the
House Of Representatives in future.
The provisions o. The Constitution OF the
United Slales which will come under re-
'isw in our present inquiry, are the three
Iicle:
"The Senate of the United Sla'es shall be
composed OF two Senators from each State
chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six
years; and each Senator shall have one
e."-Section 3, clause l.
The House oil Representatives shall be
composed of members chosen every Sec
ond year by The people OF the. several
States. and the electors in each State ehA
have The qualifications requisite for electors
Of the most numerous branch of the State
Legislature. ."-SectlOn 2, clause I.
Representatives and dIrec, taxes shall
be spporiioned among The several States
which may be included within this Union,
according 10 their respective numbers,
which shall be determined by adding 10
the whole number OF Tree persons, inclu-
ding those bounc 10 services for q term OF
years, and excluding indians not taxed,
three tifihs of all other persons. s."-Sdne
secfion clause 8.
These provisions, regulating representa-
ton 10 the Government of The United States.
have remained unchanged from The forma
ion OF The Constitution down 10 this day,
or for more than seventy-Gve years. Shall
they continue TO stand, or shall they be
chapgeds That question must now be net
and answered, for the committee OF ffieen
has proposed, and The House of Represent
Iatives has passed, resolution proposing
a material change in one of these clauses
and other changes have been proposed, in
both Houses, and are now pending; and
for the time being Congress declines or de
lays 10 execute these clauses of the Con-
siiiuiion so far as they relate 10 the repre-
sentalion Of southern Sales.
shall speak, iu The first place, of he