Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-24
XXXIxTH CONGRESS.
Impartial Suffrage i'm the District
Sale of U, S. Property at Point Lookout.
THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU BILL.
NEW BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. January % 1866
W OHENu IUNl q
RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE IN THE

4 Columbia.
Mr. Riddle presented sent the petition of large num-
her of citizens of Wilmington, Delaware asking that
eight hours may be established legal day 8 work
for all laborers end artzans in the employ of the
United States. Referred to the Committee on Naval
Affairs
Mr.. Harris presented petition of the citizens o,
ST. lawrence county, New Ork. against the renewal
of the Reciprocity treaty. Referred to the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations.
| =, THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
MI lane OF Kansas. presented the petition of eiti
zens zen OF galveston, Texas, praying that branch OF
wants of the people of that State Referred to the
Committee on Pacific Railroad.
Mr; Trqmbull presented the petition of R. NJ.
Smith and two thousand Others citizens, officers and
soldiers OF the volunteer army, praying that those
who enlisted lin in 1851 and 62 may be paid the same
oountles as those who enlisted at subsequent dates
| - w PROPERTY ON POINT LOOKOUT,
Mr.. Wilson; from the Committee On Military At
the Secretary of War to suspend the sale of governs
| ment property at Point Lookout. with the recon-
mendatlon t6at It be not passed. and asked for its
Mr. Cresswl said he had no objection to the
present condition OF the resolution but would like
| TO Know from the honorable Senator upon what
| grounds the committee had so decided. Mr. Wilson
sad. upon consultation with the proper department.
the committee had come to the conclusion, that no
order should be had on the subject It was thought
that Point Lookout would not be proper place for
thought the whole matter should be left in the hands
OF OF the Secretary of War. for such action as might
| At the suggestion of Mr. CressWell the report was
| then laid over for the present.
MT. wilson, from the same committee, asked to be
discharged from the further consideration of the pc
tion, asking the donation of the government build
lngs at Point Lookout for national asylum. which
| was granted.
| Mr. Dixon. by unanimous consent, introduced a
b Il aauh9ng an increase Of the clerical force of
:.t the postot4ee Department Referred to the Com
mlttee on Postothces and Post Roads,
NOTICE OF AN AMENDMENT.
III. Ne Sumner gave notice that tomorrow. when the
| up he would offer an amendment providing that, by
the constitution of the State. person shall be
account of color and making it necessary for the
Legislature to give its formal sanction thereto.
THE FREEDMENs BUREAU.
The unfinished business of yesterday, being the
bill 10 enlarge the powers Of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, was then taken up.
Mr.. Salisbury, of Del, addressed the Senate at
some length in opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Fessenden, of Maine, Mr.. McDougall, of Cali
tueky Mr Johnson and Mr. CressWe of Maryland hed
and Mr.. Hendricks, of Indiana also spoke upon the
Striking out from o the iii by M MIS-
ssslppi so that unoccupied lands can be selected in
any Of the States for the refugees.
without dlsposing of the BILL motion to adjourn
was made by Mr.. Harris, but withdrawn at the re-
quest Of Mr. Henderson, who introduced joint
several States as an amendment to the Constitution
providing that no State shall prescribe qualifca-
tons Tor electors account of color Referred To
JOINT Committee on Reconstruction.
Mr. Harris renewed his motion. and at ten minutes
to five the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
CENSUS OF 1866.
Mr Grinnell, of Iowa; offered resolution that the
select committee on reconstruction be instructed to
taking the census of the United States during the
year 1861 and to report by bill or otherwise which
Mr.. Henderson of Oregon, offered a long series of
resolutions declaring that the Government was not
mat the doctrine OF secession pernicous that no
State had right to withdraw from the Union, while
at the same time could forfeit its rights by adherng
TO the enemies of the Government in time of war.
and hat the Government could not lose its control
ade ssa o 5s and that Of Texas be set
ton committee.
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION
Mr. stevens, OF Pa, here demanded the regular
ORDER being the amendment to the Constitution of
the United States providing for basis of represen-
oo by I saes the Re
elective franchise, The pending question was to
sustain M 1.-The the demand for m the previous question
would be the effect of this amendment if South Car
oina chose to disfranchise some of her population
BY property qualification? Mr. Stevens replied
that would be case where this amendment would
operate.
Coolies in the Pacific States He would ask what
would Wl se their status m under this amendment?
by the amendment. as California did not include
them IN her voting population.
Several gentlemen here. appealed to Mr. Stevens
to Withdraw the demand for the previous question.
In order that they might consider the amendment
Mr.. Stevens declined to Withdraw it.
Mr.. Baker, of Illinois, then said it was entirely
through the House without proper consideration
f9T one ne earnestly protested against this
best. He only submitted it to the House, if they
were, ready to vote upon it. He believed that it
should should pas pass at once Everybody understood the
Several gentlemen here insisted that there might
De DEBATE OF ten minutes for each speaker on the
amendment.
Mr.; Voorhees, of Indiana. said ironically that ten
minutes were too much time for debate on Con-
sttutional amendment! He suggested that two
minutes would be enough Considerable confusion
mere ensued. Several members said that they hoped
the demand for the previous question would not be
sustained The amendment should be open to de-
Mr.. Stevens then sad-I am so much astonished
at at the exhibition made on this side of the House.
that withdraw the demand for the previous ques-
ton. The amendment was then open to debate,
Mr.. Blaine. of Maine favored the proposition
WHICH he said was originally introduced by him. He
ment would give net gain of five members to New
York. He addressed the House briefly in support of
the amendment and against the basis of suffrage for
Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania offered an amendment
70 the pending measure, which, in effect provides
That there shall be no abridgement of the right of
Congress to decide the qualification of electors for
the popular branch of the State Legislatures.
in s' itr S.oan, oi Wisconsin opposed the amendment
representation should be separated from taxation
and that representation should be founded on the
basis oasls OF suffrage He trusted that the amendment
would not pass as it was now before the House. He
indicated an amendment to be offered by him, in ac
cordance with his views.
Mr.. Donney, of Minnesota spoke in favor of the
amendment It would do away. he said with the
rotten borough system of the country: it would
duce IN Congress to basis of perfect
equality. II mon have no voice in the Government
other men should not sit in Congress pretending to re-
present them IAN oppressed should not be repre-
sented by their oppressors and it mockery to say
that a mans enemy should be his agent and be Sc
lected by his enemies, would be the case if the
white men of the South represented black men in
Congress. without the blacks being allowed to vote
he could not see how Northern could refuse to
vote Tor this BILL as 1t of justice for the
North, and would increase its power without doing
Injustice to any one It was claimed that this meas
pre would induce the South TO let the negroes vote
but he did not believe this. The hope of future po
lltiea power with them was very remote and vague
feeling and the antpathy to the negro was direct and
pressing. Moreover to give the negro suffrage in the
hope OF power would defeat itself. He would insist
that every security be given for the prosperity and
development o. all of the people of the South for in
mat only could the peace and safety of the nation be
found
-, Mr.. Brooks, of New York. said he did not think
the pending amendment needed much discussion,
unless 1t was for the purpose of agitation He did
not believe that there was gentleman the floor
VINO believed that this amendment would become
the fundamental law of the land. The amendment
certainly would require twenty seven States for its
ratification. and he did not see how these could be
obtained under the theory of the gentleman from
rennsylTanla EMr Steyen that some of the States
amendment was simply for agitation for the constt
ueney OF bunkum. He would ask why not in justice,
recognize women-ffteen millions of them-in this
amendment. They were certainly entitled to repre-
sentation in this amendment.
Mr.. Stevens said that the amendment did not say
MIR. Brooks sent to the Chair letter and petition
Iom susan 3. Anthony and others, asking that the
House might extend the right Of suffrage to women
by constitutional amendment The letter states
that the petition had been sent to Mr.. Stevens some
nme SINCE but that ao had not presented it to the
HouseD On resuming, Mr.. Brooks said he hoped
some member on the other side would move to amend
the right of suffrage.
Mr.. Stevens asked Mr.. Brooks if he favored such
an amendment. ~
Mr.. Brooks-I prefer my own color first in all legs-
lation. ~ sAS
Mr. Stevens-I ask the gentlemen if he fayors the
amendment. 0-' 'A'
Mr.. Brooks.I prefer that the white women of this
country should vote before the negroes are allowed
to vote: (Great applause in the gaileries)
Ihe speaker said that the rules of the House must
be enforced. II applause were permitted kissing or
other marks OF dsapprobation were equally in place
Both were out OF order and would not be permitted
by the Chair.
Mr.. 0rth. of Indiana briefly addressed the House
IN favor OF an amendment. He would propose sepa-
rating taxation from representation and placing the
| latter on the basis of suffrage.
Mr.. Chanler, of New York, spoke for an hour
against the amendment, contending that this Gov
eminent was for the white man. To exclude the
emigrant he believed, was of the motives of this
proposition. lie elaborated the social and political
aspects of the amendment. and claimed that one of
| South in the hands of the black men.
Mr.. Farnsworth, of Illinois, did not approve of
| the amendment as it was now pending He denied
that now State had the right disfranchise the
majority or minority Of their population. Congress
now guaranteed every State renuhican form &c