The Portland daily press., 1866-12-15
Mr. u..,.,,, ~, ,m,,r,,r, suffrage.

Mr.. Morrill, Om fmpnrsi"i s""r"I"'
The Congressional Globe brings US Senator
MUrrilps excellent remarks, ON GAZING up the
bin.to regulate the elective franchise i'll the
District of Columbia The bill as passed con-
tains no educational requirement, but it will
be observed that Mr.. Morrill, expressly declares
in favor of intelligent suffrage. In the course
OF the debate he endeavored to introduce an
educational test by amendment, but without
success. The question now goes to the House.
where we hope for a better res lit. MIR. Nor
ril said:
The American people favor the rght OF SUI,
irage for the male citizen OF Iull age ;l
IN be based upon the law and usage that at tins
are he becomes free of the tutelage OF famniy
and is free to manage his own AFFAIRS. Inc eX-
ceptions to the rule are of persons non c0np0S
Jae0tis. persons deemed infamous from treason,
felony or other high crimes persons supported
at the public charge, and ignorant persons,
and those of African descent.
The rule is in harmony with the idea of re-
publican government and Christian civilian
ton. Some of the exceptions are ill-timed. il
logical, and unjust Poverty is in no Just
sense disqualifying fact. On the contrary,
society may doubtless protect itself by depriv-
ing those of political power who have proved
fathless to 1T or made war upon it. In a coM's-
try achefe me means Of education are dccesssote
ernmont important, 1t cannot be a gr1eesg.dmoe s
that the State should impose the rule Of snteusgeM
SuUFdge. The exceptional fact winch sIahis
out IN hagrant violation OF the conlinon rue
OF suffrage is that which denies the right 10
the citizen of African descent on account OF
his race.
At the formation OF the national Constitu-
ton in only one of the States was the negro
excluded from the exercise OF the right on ac-
count of his race color. South Carolina
excluded the negro; in other States the ex-
clusion was confined to condition, and the col
ored freeman was an elector. In most of the
States the negro is now excluded; in some of
them he is admitted upon exceptional terms;
in others upon terms of ilnpartiality with the
whites. The proposition of the bill is to restore
the American rule of suffrage at the national
capital to place it upon the republican princi-
pie, to make our legislation conform to the
Constitutions, laws, usages sentiments and
opinions of the people of the States at the rev.
oluionary era of the Republic, when univer-
sal liberty was an aspiration alike Of states
men and people. 4stF I'd
In the early constitutions of the States this
principle was everywhere recognized and en-
forced. In the State of Pennsylvania the lam
guage was this: "All freedmen have a right to
elect officers, and be elected to office" That OF
Delaware was: every freedman hath q right
of suffrage" That OF Maryland: "Al freed
men shall have right of suffrage" New York
every person who is freedman shall be en-
chapter, with the single exception of South
Carolina. The disability which attached to the
African slave was because OF condition, and
not of race or color, and everywhere the adult
freedman was deemed entitled to the exercise
of elective franchise. The disability of condi-
ton now has been abolished. In the progress
of events, the development of free institutions,
the expansion of the principles of popular
rights the abolition OF slavery thy the prOyi-
idence OF God we have become a nation of fire.
man n fact "a in name. The pmancinatnd slava
has become freeman and citizen, belongs to
the body of the American people, and is no
longer the subject of exclusion by either state
or nation. Sir, the constitutional amendment
which emancipated the slave gives Congress the
power to make that freedom ofthe slave COM
plete. In the spirit ofthat provision, Congress
at its last session enacted thot every person
born in the United States is citizen thereof,
and entitled to protection through his civil
rights. 1t remains now to recognize that polit-
ical equality which is the common right of the
American citizen.
Sir, we eXalt the emancipation proclamation
ia the scale of state papers to a place second
only to that OF the great American Declaration
of Independence. To its omnipotent spirit we
require obedience and submission We are as
sured that the grandeur of its conceptions, its
heroism, and elevated patriotism confer imInor-
tai renown on him whose name is most init
mately associated with it; and still, sir, we hes
itate to accept the logic OF its results. We do
not some of US see how it is possible to break
down the partition walls of prejudice which
spring from the relations of master and slave
without disrupting society and introducing vi
olence and anarchy. We do not understand
how a nation can be just to all its people on
principle and expect the support of 'the virtu-
Gus ruling classes" and we do not see how we
can survive without them We have made the
negro slave an American citizen, and we seem
to start back from contact with him as if his
touch were moral add political pollution We
have freed him and we are perplexed to know
how to define him, whether freedman, free
man, citizen, alien, or denizen. BY some of us
the rights incident to American citizen
ship are utterly denied as the result of emanci-
patton. So long held and treated as slave, a
chattel, it is difficult TO realize that he is a
man entitled to the recognition due from man
to man. We are slow to confess this country
his as well as ours, although native-born and
speak of deportation as it the commerce and
navies of the world uniting in our folly and
crime could accomplish it. We are still in our
sins as to the gospel Of one blood for all human
ity and a common brotherhood, and cherish
still the fatal delusion of antagonism of races.
A statement of plain proposition or two
should dissipate our alarm and settle all these
questions. The negro is man now and here
after in American laws, politics. society," and to
be treated rs such. He is citizen, and enti-
tied to the common rights of citizenship and to
protection, We may as well comprehend the
question of tina negro. He will remain here an
inhabitant of this country, our country his
country, and that not at our option but by
force of laws over which we have no control
Political history discloses no folly comparable
with the attempt to rid nation by force and
violence of a numerous race of people indige-
nous to it, as it records no usurpati0n or royal
crime at all equal to it. The negro can
not depart if he would. He is to be a constant
element of American life, civil, political, in
dustrial. He constitutes One-eighth of orr
population now, and in the future his propor-
ton will not probably be much less.
The race numbers four millions at the present
and will soon be thirty millions--too MANY to
be inundated, if it were possible, upon the al
tar OF our pride and our prejudice The bond
of our national unity is not expressed by eni-
thets rights of States,' Estate sovereignty"
community rights" the fruits of such are In
surrection, rebellion, civil war; but in unity of
faith in human rights, unity of spirit and pur-
pose for the development and protection of
individual rights. In such unity there is COM
spleteness and power; it links with the moral
and social forces of the universe and possesses
the attributes of boundless energy All at
tempts in this country to keep alive the old
Idea OF orders of men, distinctions of class, no
Die and lgnOble, superior and inferior, are SO
many efforts at instruction and anarchy.
In nation of protested freemen whose DO
hticai axioms are those of universal liberty
and human rights, no public tranquility is pos
sible while these rights are denied to portions
OF the American people. We have taken into
the bosom of the Republic the diverse ele-
ments of the nationalities of Europe. and are
attempting to mould them into national har-
mony and unity, and are still inviting other
millions to come to us. Let us not despair that
the same mighty energies and regenerating
forces will be able to assign docile and not
uhtractaoie race its appropriate place in our