Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-03-16
GJlattbmau & Stair 5uurnal.
ny Z. P. WALTON
MONTPELIER. MARCH 16. 1868
THE APPORTIONMENT AMENDMENT
DEFEATED.

The APPORIIONMENT AMENDMENT
DEFEATED.
On Friday, March 9, the Senate acted upon the
amendment Of the Constitution proposed by the
House, for the purpose Of apportioning members
Of Congress among the several states according to
population, deducting such portion of the popula-
ton as shall be excluded from the right Of suffrage
by any tate on account Of race or color; and the
amendment was defeated for want Of two-thirds
vote The vote was as follows:
/ YEAs-Nicssrs Anthony. Chandler, Clark, Con-
ness, Cragn Creswel Fesscnden, Foster, Grimes,
Harris, Howe Kirkwood. Lane Of Indiana, Nc
DougdH, Morgan, Morrill,. I'VE, Poland, Ramsey,
Sherman, Sprague, Trumbull, Wade, Williams
and Wilson-25
NAYs-Mcssrs. Broion Buckalew, Cotoan, Da-
Wis, Diron, Dooiittie, Guthrie, Henderson, Hend-
ricks, johnson, Lam Of Kansas, Nesmith, Nor
ton, Pomeroy, Riddle, salisbury, Stc,oart, Stock
ton, sumner, Van Hinkie, Wiley and Yates
%
Among the yeas we put Mr.. McDougall in
Itao, for the reason that he was drunk, and voted
right by mistake. Had il been necessary to de-
feat the Amendment his brother Democrats would
have secured a change Of that vote Among the
nays, were thirteen Republicans (names in Italic)
Of whom six are usually counted as Radicals The
absentees were Messrs Foot. Howard and Wright
all for good cause two for the amendment
and one against. Had all the Republicans voted
yea the amendment would have been carried
Could the amendment be carried with the votes Of
the Radicals, who voted nay under the lead Of Mr..
sumner Deduct from the % yeas, and add s.
80. Add ? to the % nays, (McDougall and
Wngh) and deduct G-lS Thus il viii be seen
that two voses more were wanted TO secure the
amendment. These of course could have been
had only from the extremely Conservative Repub-
lcau Senators--Cowan, Dixon, or Doolitte It
win not be just therefore, to charge the failure Of
the amendment to Mr.. Summer and other Radicals
They must only share the responsibility of the
defeat of this measure with the extremely conser-
yatiye gentlemen. We have, however, one com
plant to make Of Mr.. Sumner and Mr. Dixon
They have helped to defeat the only proposition
for an apportionment that is just to New England,
and just as between the old states and the new -
An ap1ortonment by roters as proposed by Mr..
Doolittle will create a disproporton in favor Of
the states and against the old, and a vast dis
proportion between representation on the one
side, and taxation and military service on the
other, and all at heavy expense to New England.
Mr.. Sumner spoke thrice on this question, two
Of his speeches having been very elaborate and
carefully prepared but they are not satisfactory
to u.s. lie stated his point very distinctly in
his last speech-thus;
There is--said Mr.. Sumner familiar story
Of shield, with inscriptions on it, which was sus-
pended in a highway. Two travellers approached
it from opposite quarters, and, standing face 10
face, each read the inscription as he saw it.
Sraightway there was difference and a contest.
Each insisted that the inscription was as he read
it. At last, on looking at both sides 1t ascer-
tanned that each was right the inscriptions on
the two sides were different. So il is on this oc-
casion The measure now before the Senate has
two sides. The Senator from Maine, as be APP
proaches, only the side which limits the rep
resentation as ! approach it | see the recognition
of a caste and the Acknowledgement Of race. He
defends n ! condemn it but he defends only
what he sees | condemn only what l see. II is
the misfortune of the measure"
But did not Mr. Sumner see az the recognition
of caste and the Acknowledgement Of race in
the constitution as it is, and moreover a premium
for the perptuation of that injustice by counting
the disfranchised race, in the apportionment Of
representation for the benefit Of those who disfran-
ehise them2 OF course he saw that, and Of course
he wants to get rid of it and get something better
than the proposed amendment. So did Mr.. Fes-
sender; did a majority of the Republican sena-
tors who voted with Mr.. Fessenden so do we
but they deemed it impracticable to attempt any
thing better, and dangerous to defeat the advan-
tage that might be gained by the proposed amend
ment. We think they were right and Mr. Sumner
wrong. We much fear nothing will be done, by
reason Of disagreements such as this.
THE FREEMAN Justly remarks that the rebel
states 1--WE do not now say late rebel states) can
not be expected to vote for Senator Poland's pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution No more
can we expect them to vote for the propositions Of
Senators Sumner and Wilson, which we give to-
day. These exclude rebels, and to-day the rebels
constitute majority in nearly every Southern
state, and will do so Just as long as the freedmen
are excluded from suffrage
BuRGLARY.-Rumo of burglary and thieving
abound here, and for the latter there have been
numerous arrests, The hardest case of burglary
was the entrance Of the house of George Jacobs.
on Thursday night last when two IT, S. bonds for
800 each, and money TO the amount of $3.50,
were taken Locks and six-shooters are in de
mand.
THE W. METHODIST CONFERENCE will meet
at Montpelier, April 10. Bishop Simpson is to
preside