The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-01-23
EQUAL SUFFRAGE

A bil granting Tee igh' Ct suffrage %
Is. negrocs q the Dianes Of Columbia
has passed the House by large majority.
Islas been under discussion ia that body
a,erAl dayl The usual Arguments thvi
th, ia white mans government, and
thai the negro Is unit 10 eIer. ise the rights
q . freeman, have again been urged Nith
al the sarnestnea derived from party,
sectional, and personal prejudice. Not a
i.w Of the members have dissraced The
az, their position, and themselves, by IN
dasiing In brutal and offensive language
ish that ibe eolored race might be de-
. wed not only of this bot Of all the rights
whleb are dear to a human being.
While nearly 81 the Union members
wsrs opposed 10 Withholding the rights Of
suffrage from the negroes as a race, the
proposition developed considerable differ
yase Of opinion as to the sxpcdiency Of
failing any sction upon the question Mt
present, aod the proprieiy Of giving the
b4lI,i TO this class Of citizens without any
qualification. The motion Of Democrat
&c member that tie whole ,suhject be laid
upon tho table was lost by vote Of 46 TO
l2a, the ayes being all Democrats and tie
najs Republican Mr.. Darling, mem
b,a from New York, moved that the fur
Ibyr consideration Of the subject be post
pmcd. This motion was lost by vote of
$50 1874. the ayes being all Republicans
and the Democrats voting with the major
ny VI The Republicans against IT, Mr.
Hall, another member from New York,
m.sed 10 amend the bill so as to restrict
the ballot 10 those who could read the
Constitution Of the United States, 10 those
who paid taxes on real or personal prop
cry, and 10 those who had been honorably
discharged from The military or naval ser
,.ea Of the United States. The second
qualification was struck out, and the House
then refused to reeommii the bill for
amendment in the other two particulars
by vote Of SO TO III, the ayes being all
Republicans and the Democrats voting
my. 0f the Vermont members, Wood
L,idgs voted 10 recommii for amendment,
and Baxter and Morrill, voted against il.
Tie bill was then passrd by vote Of llG
to "a, all the Democrats and few Repub-
iicans voting nay.
The question Of giving the right Of SUI
fagc TO new class of citizens without
any qualification, is one upon which men
who hold the same views in regard TO the
general principle Of equal suffrage might
reasonably be expected to differ, and would
d-t'end somewhat upon the general intel.
ligence and spirit Of the class. Bot il
seems as though The safety Of the commu- ,
nifty required no qualifications in this case, I
when We reflect that the black citizens OF
The District of Columbia, where slavery
ceased TO exist only four years ago, now
own 81 10000 worth Of real estate, have
church property valued at $4,000, !
support twenty one churches at a cost Of
SCI 600, and that 2,549 Of their number
fought in the Union army.
II The attempt 10 postpone the question ]
was, as seems TO be indicated by the or
gan Of Mr. Raymond who was evidently
the leader Of The movement the result OF
desire 10 avoid anything displeasing 10 the
Soulh. we are glad IL did not succeed. - n
We had hoped tina. with the defeat Of the
Shareholders rebellion, the day when Nor
ihern members dared not enunciale the !,
principles Of the Declaration Of Indepen- i
dsnee for fear Of exasperating the South
ern people, had gone forever. OF what
value is our victory unless il enables us
10 carry out The principles Of our govern !,
meni II tenderness TO men who were al. a
ways traitors Is to prevent our dong JUS e.
ice 10 men who were always loyal, we had g
Deller review the history of the past five I
rears and fnd what we have been fight :.
az cor and who are cur friends Think. E,
ng thus We are CAD that Congress has al
uker counsel oflhe right rather than Of
s,uih, Aad taken one step towards Civ .
~ Us what we have claimed 10 have, a !,
spubiicAn government. 10
TROOPS AT THE SOUTH. !