Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-16
LOCAL NEWS.
The District in Congress.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.

NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
SESATE.-After the close of our report YES.
terday-
Mr.. Morrill, moved TO take up the bill TO reg
ulate the elective franchise in the District Of
Columbia.
The bill confers the right Of suffrage upon all
male persons OF twenty -one wears and over
VINO have resided one year in the District
before the elecIon, and prescribes punish
ment for interfering with the exercise of the
elective franchise in the case OF any person or
persons.
Mr.. Davis said he proposed to debate the
above, and asked that 1t be postponed till to-
day.
HoUsR.-The House resumed the considera
ton OF the bill proposing to extend suffrage in
the District Of Columbia by striking out the
word white" wherever it itappears in the laws
and ordinances.
Mr.; KassOn, Of Iowa, replied to the speech Of
MI Kelley, heretofore made, arguing that the
language of Mr.. Madison, as quoted by the
gentleman, did not allow the teaching that Con-
gress have the right TO regulate the qualifica-
tlon OF voters IN the States. He repudiated this
as the declaration Of Mr. Madison Mr. Kas-
son caused TO be read from the Federdlist the
views OF Mr.. Madison, to show that this dan
gerous power was not conceded 10 the General
Government He repeated that il was never
intended by MIR. Madison and the trainers of
the Constitution that Congress should prescribe
the qualifications OF voters for members of the
Legislature or of Congress.
Mr.. Kelley, OF Pennsylvania, in reply, quo
ted from the language of Mr. Madison, to show
that should the people of any State by any
"
was judged proper the evil should be remedied
by the General Government, etc.
Mr.. kasson replied that was the repetition of
the assertion the gentleman made the other
day; and he would say, prina fdcie, it was
absurd TO declare that the Constitution, under
the word manner had the right to prescribe
the qualification OF electors, when it said the
qualifications TO vote for members of the House
shall be those required for voting for members
OF the most numerous branch of the State Legis-
latures.
Mr. Rallav nromisa6 20 ,roa,,.. A.. --.A-
ity to show Madison did maintain that Con-
gress has the right to determine the question
MT kasson was glad the issue had taken
shape and was well defined
Mr. Kelley replied, then you take issue with
Mr. Madison
Mr.. Kasson asked why the gentleman quoted
Madison, unless he intended 10 indorse that
Mr. Kelley said he was for the Constitution
in all its length and breadth, as understood by
washington and Madison, and for it with all
ns powers, which they maintained were essen
ual to its perpetuity; knewas for the Constitu-
non, with the power inhering in Congress TO
SO regulate suffrage as TO give every citizen OF
tne country the right TO exercise IL within the
limitation Of twenty -one years of age, and a
citizen, either by birth or naturalization.
MT Kasson, in reply, said he was for the
Congress has no right to prescribe who, IN
Iowa, shall vote for members of the most nu-
merous branch Of the Legislature. II suffrage
were made universal, In some portions OF the
country there weuld be no security for the per-
manence Of our institutions. Look at conn.,
tries where mixed races have exercised the
right of suffrage. Look at Mexico and the
South American republics, where revolutions
are as frequent almost as the return of the sea-
sons. The Anglo Saxon race only had shown
the power of governing itself, and TO preserve
fishing it As to the District Of Columbia.
there are two classes Of blackstone the old
residents, and the other the new corners. Suf-
frage ought TO be given TO them by degrees,
based on intelligence. He was in favor Of the
Jeffereonian and Lncolnonian principle that
spnrage should be based on intelligence and