Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-17
Negro Suffrage in District Columbia
Speeches of Messrs, Davis Julian Randall L. Thomas
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is.

Speeches Of MeSsrS Davis Julian Randall L. Tboma
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is.
SENATE.
| PETITION FROM CITIZENS OF DISTRICT OF corr-upr,
Mr.. sumner presented the petition of certain citi
zehS OF the District of Columbia asking Congress tc
declare null and void all existing laws making dis
rlHelon on account of color; Referred to the Com
hlttee on the District OF Columbia
PETITION FOR INCREASE OF PENSIONS
mr.; Chandler presented the petition of soldier,
VINO nave lost lin bs during the last war asking an
Pensions VI
=, THE RECIPROCITY TREATY.
Also, petition from citizens of Michigan against
me renewal OF the reciprocity treaty Referred Ia
the Committee on Foreign Relations -
=, FOREIGN ENLISTMENT ACT.
hr. Chandler gave notice that at some other fime
ne would read the British foreign enlistment act
and move to abolish all existing neutrality laws.
4 SPECK OF WAR.
Mr.. Chandler called up his resolution daoIorir, ,
non-lntercourse with Great Britain, on account Of
her refusal to make reparation for damages inflicted
Mr. johnson moved to lay the resolution on the
table and called for the yeas and nays He was cx-
ceedngy deslrous that this question should be dis
Mr. Wade hoped the resolution would be referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations and
land to allow this resolution to take the usual course
Mig ohnS0n refused to withdraw his motion and
the call Tor the yeas and nays being sustained re-
p Ayes.-,3Messrs. Anthony, Buckalew. Cowan, Davis,
Dixon, tesSenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Guthrie
Norton, Riddle Salisbury, Stewart, Stockton sum
ner, Van Winke, Wiley. Williamsand Wilson. Is.
II Nays-AesSrS. Chandler, Hendricks, Howard,
man, Sprague, Trumbull Wade r.
SO the motion to lay upon the table was agreed to.
Mr. rro,,.li THE o,fIai TFIAI OF PAyIs AND CLAY:
in regard to the trial of Davis and Clay and at The
suggestion of Mr. Sumner changed it from Joint to
tlp Il s.I
printed and laid on the table which was agreed to-
~ EAT2NAL ASYLTM Sy W. ToR DISABLED SOLDIERS.
tiona Asylum for disabled soldiers and scanen of the
country was taken up and after the adoption of the
amendments Of Mr. Grimes. excluding seamen from
participation III its benefits it was passed
Mr. Anthony called up the resolution for the refer
ence of all papers relating to representation of the
on Reconstruction.
Mr.. Doolitte moved to amend by inserting the
words except credentials" after the words " all
Pending discussion on this subject, the unfinished
business OF Yesterday which the bill for the reg
Tiatlon OF the right OF suffrage in the District Of
Columbia, was called up.
MIR. Morrill, offered an amendment, including
among those eXccpted from the right of suffrage
all who voluntarily left the District to give aid and
comfort to the rebels
Mr.. Davis took the floor and after thanking other
Senators for the courtesy extended TO him 9IIuded
to the ronlca remark made yesterday by the Senator
from Massachusetts, (Mr. Sumner) to the effect that
ms speech could be delivered upon the freedmen $
/
courtesy from that gentleman No Senator upon this
noor appealed Oftener to the kindness and forbear
2nce OF this body, and none SO slow to extend it,
MI d. then proceeded to contend in forcible man
ner against the justice and prOpriety of extending
the right OF suffrage to the negro race, and main
tanned that the result of 1t would show that instead
OF entallng benefits further degradation would eusue
Congress had no right to impose this act on the Dis
tlct OF Columbia, as 1t was intended that the people
should not be ntertered with N their local govern
mcnt.
Mr.. Davis brought forward an immense array of
statistics to prove the inferiority of the negro and
the disadvantages resulting to him from freedom
He referred at length to the depravity Ignorance
and idlenesS' at present holding sway among the
emancipated slaves of the British colonies as com
pared to the thrift and happiness existing among
them, while in condition Of slavery.
lie SAID that the difference between the negroes of
Africa sunk III barbariSm and those of the United
States. vas due tC slavery alone It had L5en aid
there that slavery was the greatest of ali human vii
lalnleS; but there yillainy greater still and
that was the manner in which slavery was broken up
He believed this wrong had been most fouly done
but he would not now undo it. To accomplish it the
laws of the States had been suhyered and rGote IN
W 18th the rebellion now subducd, magnanimity should
pc extended to the southern states but the radical
faction now IN CONTROL drunk with their success en-
tertalned no such idea.
He compared the course of Massachusetts, and.South
Carolina. The former wanted slavery destrnved bv
force, the latter wished to secede in peace and that
restored State to-day could be more depended on to
maintain the national honor and dignity than Mas
sachuSetS. South Carolina has always been loyal to
the Government Of our fathers, Massachusetts neyor
lie referred TO the acts of the Legislature Of Massa
CHuScttS III luS war OF lolE, Inc dominant
now look t" the negro and with their aid hope always
to hold the rens OF power and that is the reason why
thIS 3ald ,, and desperate IT.; game is being played.
the country, they viii, without doubt b6 Omuiy0-
ten fn"aycr, and the South would always be held in
its present state 0t ;T.s@a!age. The Freedmens BILL
this bill and other measures introduced here are all
part OF one huge system OF niquity and oppression
An insane desire Tor vengeance upon the Southern
people, mixed up with an insane desire for office are
driving ON this party: They wish to reduce the
South TO such condition that shall be incapable
Of shaking off the shackles of selfgovernlnent-
1t is alarming state of affairs. These odious and
unconstitutional acts to be forced by this aboIi
ton radical party upon eleven States while not one
single voice in their behalf can be raised here
The remedy is for the people of the United States
to go INTO sovereign convention and rebuild this
STRUCTURE among other things 10 reorganizo New
has 75OOOO more inhabitants than the whole of New
England, and has only two Senators on this floor
while NeT England has twelve. How much more
vicious, garng, and opposed to all principle of re-
publican government will this become, when the
great v est nils up with her T teening millions.
which occupied two hours and half, the Senate ad-
Journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RE-EsrABLIsHMENT OF FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE SOCTH.
Mr.. Conkling. of New York, on leave offered the
following:
Resolyed. That in establishing federal relation
ships the communities lately in rebellion so as to
permit them again to participate in administering
Government-the following are necessary
and proper requirements on the part of the United
States and ought to be secured bv such measures as
Will render them, as far as possible, immutabIe.
lst. The absolute renunciation of all the prctcn-
SONS and evaslons of secession, doctrine and as
q practice.
ID. The reputation, both by the State and by the
national Governments of all public debts and obiga-
tons including State and municipal liabilities CON
tracted or assured IN aid of the late rebellion and in
cludng also all claims by or on behalf of those who
were in the military or naval service of the insur-
gents for bounty, pay pensions and all claims hy
not loyal to the United States for damages or
losses suffered by reason of the rebellion and for ad
vanceS made in its aid.
3D.. The assurance of human rights to all persons
within their borders, regardless Of race creed or
color and the adoption of such provisions against
barbarlsm, disorder, and oppression, as will relieve
the general Government from the necessity of stand
ing guard over any portion of country to protect
the people from domestic violence and outrage
4th. The impartial distribution of political mower
among all sections of the country, that four mil
hon people shall no longer be represented in Con-
gress in the interests of sectional aggrandZement:
and at the same time be excluded from political
privileges and rights.
9TH. The election of Senators and REPRESENTATIVES.
in truth loyal to the United States and never ring
leaders in the late revolt guilty of dastardly be-
trayals which preceded the war; of atrocities which
Mr. Raymond, of New York wanted to know if
these resolutions indicated any instructions of the
House to the Joint Committee on Reconstruction?
Mr.; Conk!lng said that they went to that committee
just the same as any resolution went there There
was no instruction about It. He offered the resolu
tion on his own responsibility 1t was mere indi-
cation OF his own opinion on the subject contained
therein.
Mr. Raymond said as his colleague was a member
of the Joint committee he did not see why he could
not express his opinion in committee.
Mr. COnkng said he offered the resolution that
they might he referred. He simply asked the House
to vote to refer them He supposed that member
of the committee could express his opinion in the
House as well as in the committee
Mr. Finck, of Ohio. objected to their reception,
and they were withdrawn.
NATIONAL HOMESTEAD COMPANY.
Mr. Boutwell,, from the Committee on the Judi
ciaTy reported bill to incorporate the United States
Protective National Homestead Company Hestated
that 1t provided for capital of three millions of
dollars for company to be located in the District of
Columbia, to encourage emigration to the States
lately in rebellion. Among the corporators was the
name Of Joshua Hill, of Georgia, which the commit
tee had stricken out,
Mr.. Dawes, Of Mass, hoped it would be restored.
He testified to the unimpeachable loyalty of Mr..
Hill during the war. He was not the Senator Hill
from Georgia in the Rebel Congress.
Mir. Bingham, of Ohio stated that Mr. Hill declined
to withdraw with the delegation from Georgia from
this House, but remained some time and made a
PATRIOTIC speech begging them to return and then
resigned his seat like man.
Mr. Boutwell, said after what had been stated be
would restore Mr.. Hills name 1t was first omitted
because the Judiciary Committee had no information
relative to Mr.. Hill, Other objections were made
The morning hour here expired and the bill went
over. ~
Mr.: Deming. of Connecticut from the Committee
on Military Affairs, reported bill reviying the grade
of general IN the army and asked that it be printed
and recOmmitted, 80 ordered
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts, introduced a hill 10
increase the duties on imports. Referred