Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-12-28
Ghe 3ree press.
G. G. * II. L. BENEDICT.
EDITORS AND PRoPREroRs.
FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER Is. 1sss
The Case OF Nebraska.

Senator Wade tried hard TO press to it
passage the bill admitting Nebraska with
constitution expressly restricting suffrage tt
the whites but failed, the Senate adjourn
ing over the recess without action on the bill
An interesting debate took place on II
IN which Senator Edmunds took leading
part, maintaining the principles of freedom
and equal rights asserted by him in hi.
speech on the Colorado bill We copy from
the proceedings Of Thursday:
The bill TO admit Nebraska was then taken up.
Mr.. Eimunds Of Vermont took the floor in
support Of the amendment Of Mr.. Brown, at
taching the condition Of impartial suffrage upon
the admission Of the State. He maintained that
Congress had the right to make conditions pre-
cedent to the admission Of State, and thar it
would be retrograding from the principle Of
equal rights asserted IN the District Suffrage
bill, to permit an incoming State to deny suf-
frage on account Of color. Neither the Congress
Of 1854 nor that Of 1864 had any right to fore
stall the action of this body but the Enabling
act Of 1864 had net contained anything incon-
s,s;ent with the proposed requirement Of strik-
ing out the word white" 1t was the right as
we'll as the duty Of Congress to scan closely any
new constitution proposed. There was no in
hereht right in the people Of this Territory to
come on their own terms The Senator from
Ohio. who had alSavs been in the front ranks
Of liberty, would not deny that IN q republic all
men guiltless Of crime had the right Of franchise
irrespective Of race that the right Of voice in
selecting law makers belonged as much to the
Ignorant man as to the intelligent, was ths
DsmocTatIc theory.
Mr. Wade asked whether, if Congress could
establish such permanent conditions. there Wonld
be ans rights reserved to States.
Alr. Eimunds-If we cannot admit State
uQCn a condition, then what becomes Of our con-
d.tion that the people Of Kansas or Nebrssks
sLail never Get up slavery! II We have power to
lo that. why Lot set up any other arbitrary
condition. lie supposed that the Senator. like
RUFUS ChoAte. supposed that the Declaration Of
Iuiel endeuee was only glttering generality,
and 'hst the rights Of humanity were Of little
account. He regretted TO see that Senator's
e,ul.e on this bill They never could have any
permanent prosperity in departure from JUS
tce.
Mr. Wade denied that ne bad receded from
Ii position as an advocate Of liberty. He was
not. however, an extremist, losing sight Of prac-
tioa.ty, 50 as to fail in accomplishing good. He
vas De-, 10 be frightened by red rag.
Mt Elmuuds asked whether 1t was right to
deny suffrage 10 a class.
Mr.. Wade thought not, but said be never
grasp.l % the ghost Of principle when it Was
luapI.cstle. He had always shown by bis acts
that be- i.d not consider the Declaration Of Indc-
peniercc a glItteriBg generality. lie thought
u was lot 10 the power Of Congress TO force an
Interchangeable law on a territory.
Mr. Sumner called the Senator's attentior n
the fact tlat IN the enabling act there were three
lTrlv9carle conditions.
Nr. PomeroY. Of Kansas, argued that il the
Constitution Was to have any validity al all, il
must b satmItted to the people. He thought
the ti.l could be amended in 10 other way. He
would vote for the bill.
Mr.. Howard, ofMicbigan, combstted the pro-
Position hat Congress had a right to impose
irreyo-atle conditions upon new States, and ar
gued that there must be perfect equality between
the States. Ii such a thing we're possible, BY
the same rule Congress could form a complete
code of state laws and make them irrevoeable.
j would deny all the reserved rights Of States.
He could net vote for it nor did he believe it Z
would ever beet the sanction Of the people.
Mr.. Eimuuls replied that it had always been !
he'd il DIS State, which was older in Republic |
acism than Michigan, that the avs Of Congress |.
were above the State laws. and were the su-
Vr-me .aWs Of the land
Mr.. Howard said Michigan had the preee- |
deuce uf Vermont in joining the Republican par
iy, by a week.
Mr. Eimuuis would say TO the Senator that
before the gallant little State Of Michigan was
born the Legislature Of Vermont had affirmed |
this principle. This was no new power proposed |
TO be exercised hy Congress.