Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-02-23

are " IliHS W CoHCtuc W llieiil cttnaHty ,ou
not superiority. 1t would, therefore, as
have said, and as has been argued-be-
cause this matter has been thoroughly dis
cussed in the other House, and is perfectly
familiar to everybody-produce an Unequal
ity, and very inconsiderable an striking
one. go far as some of the States are con.
cerned.
But again it would hold out an induce
ment to run the ballot to an unreasonable
extent. A State being possessed of po-
litical power, naturally desiring mere
might look around to see how it could
make itself equal with another State, and
thus might extend its franchise; and the
other might see that it is likely to be over.
balanced, and extend its franchise in tht
same way, and perhaps the result might
crease their political power by increasing
the number of their voters. Therefore, il
you propose to do anything of that sort
OIL must limit yourselves. mah. :.r,apr pro
vision, and say how far it shall go.
1t would operate badly. the committee
thought, in some other particulars. Take
for instance. the State of Missouri. | I'M
derstand that in that State rebels have been
disfranchised, substantially they are moi
allowed to vote. That may he necessa-
nv and wise policy there. lam certain it
would be wise to do it in a number of 9th.
er States Will you cut off from these
States the power to do so! No, you dc
not cut off the power; but you wish to
hold out an indncemcnt to them to repeal
their law or to change their cons itutions,
4, .n,,stifutinnnj prnyision o,,,1
low rebels to vote, bccatlse YOU punish
them with the loss of political power nh
.ss they do %! | do not know but that
it would lead to a repeal Of the test oath
and certain registry laws and il great man,
things of that description. which are yer,
beneficial safe guards with regard to til,
elective franchise anywhere and every
where.
These in general We're the objection;
which the committee had to basing this
amendment of the Constitution, or this
limitation, or whatever you may call it.
upon voters; and if You extend it tt
citizens, or narrow it to citizens. You make
it worse so far as many of tue States ar,
concerned; for my honorable friends from
the Pacific coast, where there is II larg,
willing To have them cut of; aud they
have no benefit Of political power i'll the
legislation of the country arising from til,
number Of those foreigners who make ii
portion of their population. The difficulty
is that vou meet with tronhles of this kind
everywhere the moment YOU depart from
the principle Of hasiag representation upon
population and population alone, lon
meet with inequalities, with difficulties.
with troubles, either i'll one section of the
country or the other. and vnu are inevita
hlv thrown back upon the original princi-
plr of the Constitution. That is the iaca
Of the committee. How far the committee
is right about it, and how far the views
which | have submitted, and which pre-
scented themselves to them. may b. CON
sidcred as after all of very small account
in the consideration of question So im-
portant, it is for the Senate to Judge.
Then. sir when we get beyond that
there is only one proposition left. and thai
IS the proposition which the committee ha;
adopted and recomne lled 70 Congress.
will rcadit:
ARTICLE. Representatives shall be
apportiuned among the several States
which may be included within this nioI
according to their respective numbers
counting the whole number of persons il
each State, excluding Indians not taxed
Provided, That Whenever the elective
franchise shall be denied or abridged IL
any State on account of race or color
all persons therein of such race CT colo
shall be excluded from the basis Of repre-
sentation.
twill e noticed that the amendmen
which we have thus represented has on,
good quality it preserves the origina
bass of representation it leaves tina
matter preeis ly where the Cons tutiol
placed it in the first instance it makes II
changes i'll that respect; it violates II
prejudice: it violates no feeling, Ever.
! State is Represented according to its pop
ulation with this distinction: that if
State says that it has a portion, class
which is not fit to be rcprcscntel-and i
is for the State to deciae-it shall not b
represented; that is all. 1t has anothc
good point; it is equal i'll its operation
all persons in every State are to be cennt
ed nobody Is to be rejected. With til
very triiling exception fixed by the origin
al Constitution, all races. colols, nations
languages, and denominations from th
basis.
But. sir. the great excellence of it-ail
| | think it is m excelience-is, that it nc
complishes indirectly what we may no
have the power to accomplish directly
If We cannot put into the Constitution, o"
ing to existing prcjudlces and existing III
stitutions, IA entire exclusion OF all elias