Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-19
LOCAL NEWS,
The n;....-..o o-.xre,,

PASSAGE OF THE NEGRO SUFFRAGE BILI
The House of Representatives yesterday re-
sumed the consideration Of the bill to extend
suffrage in the District of Columbia, by striking
from all laws and ordinances in force therein
the word white"
Mr.. Clarke, of Kansas, refuted what he
termed the fallacy that this is a white mans
Government, and at some length argued that
colored men were always included within the
term citizens OF the Republic. He advocated
impartial suffrage in this District, and said thai
the passage of this bill would be hailed by the
friends OF freedom everywhere as a return to
national justice.
Mr.. johnson, of Pa, said that now, for the
first time, ii was sought to confer upon negroes
part in the management, direction and con trol
OF TINS Government. For this there was no
foundation IN right and justice. Never yet, on
the face OF the earth, has a popular govern
ment been organized and maintained by the
African race. When black man becomes
voter ne becomes part of the Government
The right Of suffrage belongs only to whom the
Government belongs; annd he main tanned that
we can have republic without conceding TO
ali the privilege of the elective franchise. The
man who votes is eligible TO be voted for; and
this is the very foundation Of popular govern
ment.
such as prevailed in Baltimore in Know-Noth-
ing times, when a certain amount of money
was placed In precinct to procure a certain
number OF votes, and if votes enough were not
furnished, they were supplied by return day
And the conferring Of suffrage on the negroes
here looked very much like the contin uation
OF the substitute system-not however, under
the conscripton law. There was large float
ing population here, having no permanent
residence, being clerks in the public depart
ments, who go home once year to renew their
allegiance TO the candidates of their districts,
in order that the candidates, if elected, shall
keep them in office all the time. Therefore
they seek negro voters, as substitutes, Just
as they used negro substitutes during the war
MIR. Boutwell,, of Mass, was opposed to all
dilatory motions on this bill, and TO the instruc.
tions moved by the gentleman from New Y ork,
because he saw in them no advantage to any
body, and because he apprehended from them
much evil to the country. 1t should be borne
in mind that when we emancipated the black
people we not only relieved ourselves of the
institution OF slavery, and not only conferred
freedom upon them, but we did more; we re-
cognized the manhood Of these people, which.
by the old Constitution and general policy and
usage Of the country, from the time OF the adop
ton of the Constitution of the United states
until the emancipation proclamation, had been
denied to them. As a consequence of the recog-
i hltlon OF thelr manhood, certain results fol-
lowed in accordance with the principles
OF the Government and those who believe
In this Government are forced TO accept the
results OF emancipation, and to say now,
they shall not enjoy the essential rights and
privileges OF men Is TO abandon the principles
OF the emancipation, and tacitly to admit that
the whole emancipation policy is erroneous
We are bound to treat the black as we do the
white man in the matter Of voting. The resto
ration OF the eleven rebellious States should
pc Soupieu OF pTtceueQ Dy Il condition that the
negroes of the South should vote, without
which we open a way from which there is no
escape OF the destruction Of this Government
Inc rebels are stlll hostile, and only seek an
opportunity to strike the blow. They are mas.
sing in Virginia, South Carolina, and Louisi-
ana claims to the amount OF thousands of mil
mons OF dollars on account Of depredations
conmitted by onr armies, and now Senators
and Representatives We're invited from these
States TO enforce these claims. This Congress-
were mcorruptible, but we do not know what
may be the character Of their successors.
In conclusion, he opposed the putting of
property qualifications on voters. With vot.
Ing, everything which a man ought to have
comes TO him. Without voting, he secures
nothing. The negroes, by their services In the
neld, nave right to share in the Govern
ment. If the elective franchise We're denied.
ne Knew not how the colored people were 10 be
protected, unless il be such protection as is
wolf y ~ 0
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa said the first motion to
be acted upon by the House was that Of the
gentlemen from New York. fMr Darling 10
postpone the further consideration OF the bill
until April. This motion was placed by the
gentleman in antagonism to the exercise OF the
eiecuve franchise by any person. In order
that decision between them might be made,
ne demanded the previous question -
Mr. Nihlack, Of Indiana, moved that the
whole subject be laid upon the table, and this
123.s Ta& z8E -
Mr. Schenck suggested that the following
clause be stricken from the proposed instrua-
tons, namely: Those who are sS9lssd for