New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-09
ey were Of the African race.

such power under that clause OF the CONSTITUTION
s liz %ss sesd to that the
Naturalization" might be fairly regarded and con
strued as implying and including power To intro
duce into citizenship those excluded from II,
whether native born or alien. But independent OF tnas
he did not see where Congress got any authority
blood from the general rule OF the awlaw OF every
nation that all persons born on the soil are subjects or
citizens of the Government. Ihat wa: the rule 10
power Of exception had been conferred on Congress,
and no such power had been exercised II tins blI
should fail to become law and II the SUBSTITUTE wnlcn
he had offered should be reported back by the Judiciary
Committee as he understood it would be, ne woa,d
take pleasure in discussing that point furtner: ne
supposed he need not declare here the great
ness to this class Of persons Of having conferred upon
them the great, lnestmeble and priceless boon Oh
liberty. He thought the fact Of comforting upon ionr
millions Of people absolute liberty and freedom tha
highest boon that it IN the power Of any Govern
ment to confer enslaved race. Having gone SO
, ,t fasthe Se' snd to lift then IN ali respects
| so far as their nature would allow ana our
power permit TO the level OF any otner citizen.
He desired as the next step in the process OF eievans
that race to give them the rights OF citizenship he
hoped that would be prepared or inclined 10 say
that that q triing boom for, II so, ne ieared lno
the great questions coming before it. He for one was
neither prepared nor inclined TO disparage American
! citizenship. Make the oolored man citizen OF the
United States and be would have every right That any
other citizen had under the laws and Constitution OK
the United States. 1t was not among the least OF ING
advantages of comforting upon him citizenship tnat IL
would constantly exercise upon him an educatnR pro-
cess it would teach people Of all other races-his fel'
low citzensto respect him and aid him IN bls enorts
Every would concede that it was OF the highest pos
country receive from the Government the status OF
American citizenship BE presented these consldera-
reasons which induced him to offer substitute for the
bill now pending. This bill was intended 10 preVehs
UNEQUAL legislation. That was high and proper OBJ
jeet and no would cordially cooperate In securngl II.
His colleague Mr. Davis had also declared his purpose
10 vote for any constitutional law aiming at ana calcu,
lated 70 secure this beet and he had been little geved
TO hear the point made against him (Mr DAVIS that ne
required law to be constitutional before he would
give il his vote not in terms but In tone InaI point
had certainly been made He (RaymOnd) could not on
his conscience and OATH however much be might tDink
an object desirable vote for attaining it by means
which seemed 10 him unconstitutional. Acting mere on
his responsibility legislator not under the stress Oh
the necessities OF but calmly he conld not ana
would not vote for any bill except his judgment salts.
fed him that il was constitutional. Even on GROUNDS
of expediency the House ought well to consider this
matter He desired the House should not pass any Dln
that should be intercepted on Its way to the statute
book by well grounded complaints Of unconstitutional
ty from any other department Of the Government Inc
second section Of the bill providing for the punishment
by fine and imprisonment OF Judges Of state Courts Tor
enforcing State laws be could not justify TO his own
Judgment He saw the gentleman from OHIO Ding.
bam) took the same view Of it, for he had suggested an
amendment TO that section. That ameDdmene
seemed to attain the object, and he (RaymonD
would vote for it. Referring TO the reports
OF outrages committed in the Southern States M Ray.
mond thought there good deal Of exaggeration IN
them and thought such violations OF law the natural
effects of war, demoralizing whole community: The
House would recoect the extraordinary bit of evidence
introduced here the other day BY the gentleman nom
Ohio mt Bingham) in the shape OF that celebrated
extract from The Norfolk Post which was represented
as Secession organ. 1t had been read to show the
annus Of the South. He had not himself attached
much importance TO II at the moment, for he knew
something about the character of the paper but he
was not that If vote had been taken on the con.
sttutioual amendment 1t would have been carried by
reclamation on the strength OF that article
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE desired to state that the editor OF
| that paper was Ve-monter and thoroughly loyal
man. That article expression OF his sentiments
but was doubtless intended as burlesque he quo not
doubt however. that the article was faithful repre-.
sentaon Of the sentiment Of very large portion OK
the South and hence the necessity OF such bill as has
! been reported from the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. ScHENCK thought the point OF the burlesque con-
sisted in the close resemblance OF the sentiment ex
pressed In it that actually uttered and entertained
there as shown by the testimony laid before the Re
Mr. RAYMOND did not think 1t all like the general
utterances of the South II the gentleman from Ohio
(Schenck) has had opportunity 70 peruse the tes
mony as to the condition Of the Southern States il
more than he (Raymond) had He should like 70 have
opportunity to read that testimony before voting on
this bill and be suggested whether II was not worth
while TO wait till that testimony printed. so that
the House could see on what groundsit had TO act.
Mr.. DRIAso next addressed the House. He con.
ssed that while be IN favor OF the object OF the
bill he serious doubts in his mind as to the power
of Congress to pass IT, he should vote for 1t If be could
be brought to believe that there was reasonable prob
ability of its constuonality that be could justify
his conscience but without some further light on the
question he felt that there were certain difficulties In
the way hich called for careful examination In con-
stutonal point Of view. He considered that the Dill
would be very much improved, II amended IN accord
ance with the proposition suggested BY his colleague
(Bugham) The first section provided that ell citizens
shall have the same civil rights as are enjoyed oy wmte
citizens He would ask the Chairman OF the Judiciary
Committee whether that conferred upon lie emane+
paed race the right Of sitting as jurors.
Mr. WILSON, do not believe that It confers the
Of the Citizens OF the United States who not qua
fed BY the laws Of the several States to act as
| Mr. DELANo without doubling the sincerity OF the
Chairman Of the Judiciary Committee considered tnat
the bill would necessarily confer on negroes the night
Of being jurors He inquired further whether the gem
tlemsn found the constitutional right for Congresst TO
say the testimony Of colored people should b. taken
in court
Mr. WILSON replied that he placed the power Of Cor
gress in that respect on the basis that on which
be placed its power 10 provide protection Tor them H.
their civil rights as citizens.
Mr. DELASo did feel that that was any answer to
his question He would not say the gentieman's re-
marks were gttering generalities" because be did
not wish to be offensive but he would like the gentle
10 point out the clause OF the Constitution giving
that power.
Mr. WILSON replied that in his opening remarks on
reporting the BILL he had distinctly averred that Con-
gress derived this power from the constitutional amend
ment sbolishing Slavery an boomerang on Congress
the broader ground that those people being entitled
to certain rights citizens Of the United States were
entitled be protected In those rights and that tho
power thus TO protect them was necessarily Implied
from the entire body Of the Constitution.
Mr.. DELANo remarked that the duty Of Government
rested its powers and that the duty Of Congress-
rested its constitutional privilege The powers Of
Congress specific powers, and beyond those spe
cifc powers Congress could not 60 without violating
the Constitution. He could not how be could sus-