Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-01-18

so mapgled by, errors In the printing as 10
make nonsense. He therefore wished to
say that the purpose of the amendment was
not at all to restrict the basis OF representa-
tion to citizenss The word "persons" dis
posed of that question. The purpose of tue
amendment was to get rid of the present
injustice and inequality of representation,
arising from the fact that four million of
the people who have no political rights are
not represented In Congress, and the entire
object Is to propose mode to adjust the
representation SO that whenever in any
State the elective franchise shall be denied
or abridged, on account of race. or color,
all persons of such race or color shall be
excluded from the basis of representation.
Mr.. Blaine said that unless he was mis-
taken, the resolution read "whole number
of citizens of the United States.n &
MIR. Conkling said the term should be
persons" although the resolution read
"citiZens." M - q -@rw E
The House resumed consideration OF the
bill to extend suffrage In the District Of
Columbia, by striking from all laws and
ordinances on the subject the word
"white.p %, %. rget.lre,, ,-'t,,t- ~.
Mr.. Darling, Of New York, believed the
negro had a right to life, liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness, and yet he Believed
that before they conferred upon them the
political right of suffrage, as contemplated
by the bill reconsideration, they should
seek TO elevate their social condition and
lift them up from the depths of degrada-
ton and Ignorance In which many of them
are kept by the receding waves Of the sea
of rebellion. There was proposition be-
fore the House to create Commission for
the government Of this city, and in order to
give them an opportunity Of maturing
bill for that purpose, aud presenting il TO
the consideration Of the House, he moved
that the measure now under discussion be
postponed until the 1st Tuesday ir April.
Mr.. Hale addressed the House In favor Of
extending suffrage to all, without regard to
race or color, who can read the Constitution
OF the United States; to those who are as
sessed for and pay taxes on real or personal
property; to those who have served and
have been honorably discharged from the
military and naval service of the United
States, and to exclude from the right Of suf-
frag9 those who have borne arms against
the United States In the late rebellion. or
give to it aid and comfort. He denied that
this is exclusively a white mans Govern
ment- 1t was founded in behalf of man,
without regard to race or color. .E1
MMr. Thayer said the power to pass this
stitutional power. The question to be
solved was it justice, and was it demanded
by the people Of the United States. Tn adj
vocating the bill he held that equal and i'm
partial justice was the first duty of the,nal
tion. ....-. ...,-..
Mr.. Van Horne, of New York, replied to
the remarks Of the gentleman on the Dem
Ocratic side, who had argued that this was
a white mans Government. lie asked why
not taccept the new order OF things, instead
of defending the hOrrid crime of slavery of
the past? The Government was not ly
for the white man, but for all from whom
itcommands obedience and support, and the
time is now when the black man has rights
which the white man is bound to respect.
He argued in favor Of impartial suffrage in
the District of Columbia, Temarking, in
this connection, that the blacks had been
consistently loyal, and that if il had de-
pended on the white citizens slavery would
have been In existence at the present day.
Mr.. Latham, of West Virginia, introduced
bill granting lands to the Site OF West
Virginia for raihoad purposes. .r..
The House then adjourned.