Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-02-10


: the voters Of the state, would be excluded froI
the enumeration, and thus the representation
contend that ID would be utterly iupoSsibl
for the census tazer 70 ascertain the exact nun
Der OF those really entitled 20 the right Of su
fraee; and thus the injustice Of the prOpOsitio
fs still further aggravated
Nr. stevens. Mr.. speaker all shall attemT
on this occasion is 20 place before the Hous
distinctly, and hope intelliglbly, the tru
meaning OF the proposition submitted by m
D Comlnlttee, noticing slightly the objection
I which have been made
u o. true we have been informed bv high al
thurity al the other end Of the avenue, intro
dueed through sn unusual conduit, that n
/ amendment is Necessary TO the Constitution a
our fathers made It. and that il is better 10 let
l stand as IL il. Now. sir ] think very diferen
I myself for one Individual. I believe there
intrusted 20 this Congress o high duty. no les
Important and no less fraught with the veal o
woe OF iuture ages, than was intrusted 10 tn
august body That made the Declaration Of Inde
pehuchce. peueNe now, II we omit 70 eNelcls
mat nlEh duty OF abuse it, we shall be held Y
account 1y iuture generations OF America, ahe
10y the whole civilized world that is IN favor o
freedom. and that our names wlll go down tt
posterity with some applause, or with olach
contemplation If We do not treat Tie suelec
thoroughly, honestly and justly, in reference .
eyerv human being on this continent
Sir. our fathers made the Declaration OF Inde-
/ penoeuce. and that is what they lnlendea 70 %
| the foundation Of our Government II tney
had baau able 10 base their Constitution on the
! principles of that Declaration, II would nave
needed no amendment during al the TIME, 10Y
Z
D every human being would have been equal De-
fore the law. and no oppression could nave peei
effected except thr0ugn usurpation against the
principles OF that Government
/ But it 30 happened that when our fathers
! came TO reduce the principles ON which they
! founded this Government into order, IN Shaping
I the organic law. an institution hot nom hell
D appeared among them. which has been increas-
l ius IN volume and guilt ever since. II OBJ
] structed all their movements and all their ac-
] tious. aud precluded them from carrying out
I their own principles into the organic law OF
] This Jniou. But rather thau not have harmony
among those thirteen colonies iheN poslpeheu
Z and Compromised. They compromised thelr
principles FOR what they deemed greater good,
pe-ieY ing short tlrne would Work : cure anu
! purify the institution which they admitted 70
be clozgad by ir.
Atrnat dav ninety bales OF cotton left the
! United states IN one year, and now We have
millions OF bales eN ported then but few slaves
comparatively, existed, there being only three
black population has risen above the whole
p0pula lion Of that day 10 four millions, VINO
are eilneF . o treated as our lalLe4s ee-laIed
10y ol-l4n declaration they ought 70 pc ugaleo
or % be oppressed by us a. iusolent tyrants by
which We will deserve the eXe-rauon- oi the
human race IL bas coine TO that. The liiie
has come when we can make the Constitution
what our fathers desired 10 make H. The time
has come when through blood every stain has
lish IT,
God forbid that I should so adopt the princi-
ple= OF the genlleman from New York, Mr.
raymond, tlaJ this Constitution needs no
amendment. wCuld rather not live than live
and be So dl>graced By such a sentiment. Vow,
when everything j. in our power, when the
reDeIs have gffted their paricidal hands against
the country, and cut themselves on nom every
right under the laws Of the Union, ana every
right under "a rep undated Constitution, snail we
50 recall this desire Of our fathers as 10 place II
upon the broad foundation Of human rights, or
saau we SIN cut on portion OF these nights
ana silll crush Deneatn our leeL lruI llllllous
immortal men9 This is the question presented
10 us and yet we are told that no Amendments
IS necessary. SIT, let me tell the gentleman VINO
~ W a n
Information now, and for the lniOrmaupn OF
philauthrOpisJs and the friends OF freedom ana
Il the human race, tnat do not envy the posi-
iion in which this and only this, viii put them.
Excuse me Sir. Tor going SO far in my remarks
a. this time.
TO remark that II the gentleman understood Ine
60 say no amendments whatever We're needed
TO the Constitution; and the JonsututlOn was
better without them, he misunderstood me, for
7 expressly said on this very point or repre-
seniau0n, that some amendment was neces-
Mr. Stevens 7 refer not only TO the gentle
man from New York, but to what take 20 be
an authorized utterance Of oneal the olher ehd
- the avenue J am glad the gentleman mas
explained IL in LLat way.
Now. sir, since have referred 10 that, ! be-
ueye I am right, for have no doubt That TINS Is
fne proclamation. he command Of the PreS-
dent of the United States, made and put forth
by authority IN advance, aud at time when
this Congress was leg-slatlug on this very ques-
ton made, in my Judgment, In violation o.
privileges OF this House: made IN such "a way
meut by a British KING, II would nave COST nm
his head. But, SIR we pass that by We are toll
Grant OF uSurpaiion Ia this tolerant Govern
NOW, sir. let me consider what is the meaning
Of the proposition made by the. Committee;
how FAR lI ought 70 be effected by any m Udlrca-
ti0ns. 10 has been amended by the COMMITTEES
Iu obedience 10 what is supposed 70 DE the
sense Ofthe House. The Committee have re-
ported back the simple proposition that rep
reseutatlon shall be apporuone1 among 5he
states IN proportion 10 Jheir mum bers, provided
that when the elective franchise shall De denied
OF abridged ll any state on account oI race OF
color. al ut-s8us therein OF such race or color
shall be excluded from the basis OF representa-
ton.
this is an implied permission 20 the States 10
regulate TIE elective franchise within the states
Now. SIR I venture 20 say that there is no good
pll-ologlsI VINO, upon reading llls pIopoet9
ameudmGuI, VIII for a single moment pretend
that lt either grants privilege or takes away a
privilege fram any STATE on lAsi subject. III
dos however. punish the abuse Uf thai privi-
Iege Do exists. Now, I hold that the states
have the right, and always have had lt, 70 nN
ege elective franchise within their own states.
And ] h0lJ Jnat lLis dOes not take II rom
tneu Ought il 20 take % from them Ought !
The domestic affairs Of the states U pc lnlrlnsel
upon 10y CongIess 30 Iar as TO rg6llale lhe re-
st'rictiuus and qualifications Of their voters I
How many states would adopt such proposi- 1
loua How many would allow congress " Z
-11l within their furtsicf ION 70 fix The quail
hcaIl0n OF th-lr rOter2 Would NeW lOrks t
Would Peuusylyaula' Would tne northwest I
Therefore If ygu should take away tie right 3
which now Is and wGys has been exercised by /
the States. by fixing the qualn@uou OF their
electors. instead Of getting Nineteen slale,f Z
which IS necessary 20 ratt5 liils amendment
you migEI possibly gel nNe. ! venture 70 say
Won could not get i've In this Union AND ihat
= au answer Ia the opinion Of the COMMITTEES,
20 all that has bsBu said on TINS SUBJECT Bul 10
grants no right. Il says, however 70 me Slale
III south Carolina ana other saEs Statts- true, I
y.e I.ye where Il has been Left fer eighty years
the r.rlsg 10 uN the elective franchise but you
must not abuse IL; II you 40, tne Conslltutloh
VII impose upon you penalty, ana VIII con
tinUe % lEllcl IL until you shall nave corrected
wow. snv man who knows anything about
The condition OF aspiration and ambition Tor /
power which exists in the slave states knows
lhat one OF their chief Objects is 70 rule tbl' 1
country. It was 90 ruin @ d 10 could nOt rue
Ia Thev have not been able TO ruin it. and now
their great ambition VIII be 70 rule H. At q
state aou-es the elective franchise and takes 81
from those "a no are ile oulN lDs o.. tepllle lLyLy
me Constitution saws 10 such State yuu shall
lose power pa the halls OF the nation, ana you
shall remain where you are, shuveied ana
dried up uoueHtity- instead OF being the lords
OF Great su as you uaTe been, so far as America
is concerned, for years past
Now, sir say no more strong aHNGceinenls
could ever be he.a out 10 tneinr no more s.EeIe
punishment could ever DE inflicted upon them
..s states III they exclude the coioreu pop
uIarlUu they glL lose aJ least lulfiy-nYe KEEP
re-5uEatlyes "a th.S hall II they adopt IL they
Will haYs eiVhty-tLree votes. Take II away
from them and tlay will have only from forty
five 10 fOrty-elEut yolls az TOLD, ia this hall
and then. sir, lai jheIl have R- fhe Cop
perhead assistance they can get and Lb-
rrty VIII Still Doe triumphant. NOw, 1 prefer
that - an immediate declaration lnat az
shaIl be represented, ioE ~ ; you make them
all voters and lst LleiL into TINS han, not one
beneficial aeL Tor The Geuent OF the freedmen ui
for the neuCuI of the country could ever nt
passed. Their ei ighty-three votes with the Lsei-
rs-a1itgtiyes Of . he Five PoiuJs and other dsTE
corners. would Jr sufficient - overrule the
friends Of progress here, and this nation Woud
be ia The hauCs Of seceSsiOnlsts ~ the very next
Congressional election and ei the Ners neAt
PEe=ileuIlal election. 10 NOT, t4erelOte- MAAl
10 grant them this privilege at least loF some
years = want, in the meantime, tnat oar Onils,
Jlan men snaii S. among the Ireedmen aLl
teach them Whist tneir unries are e. citizens
thew know them much better lual tislr mt--
-ers ana i hone tnelr masters win lake notice ul
wnai they earn. 7 say 4 want our Christian
men TO 80 among them, the phllauihrOpisia OF
rhs Norih. The honest Mefnouists, my llenos,
the Hsrisnel Bautists, and az Others ana then
four or fve years hence. when me freedmen
shall have been made free indeeo, when Shey
shall have been made intelligent enough sne
there are sufficient loyal men there % colttoi
- lepreseulats0 on from thoss States shall *
glad 70 ses them admitted here but 40 uoi
want them o. laTs representation say y
ulsfulv-I do NOT want them 70 have the rghi
af suffrage before tbif Congress .slas d1ue the
zreat work 0T regeu ueratlng the Constitution ana
laws OF tls country according 10 tle principles
! oE the Declaration u tndependence-
Hence I object 70 the amendusaf u my
friend from OHIO. Mr.. schenckl lie says thai
If We allow these people repueseiilalleh 10 PLo-
4 IN
courage them n extend II 70 the Sololeq, rae &
] Well. that is the very pmecuon. 1nt.y VIII slNe
/ the suffrage 10 their meulais, tLFF lolhe seI-
| vautz those they can control, ana eieci eAOiu
tbev pIesse 10 make our laws That ls not tne
kind ri increase OF suffrage want. 4 want ~
such fneu CT on from 10. But Wnen luey nave
said 70 an the freedmen 70 the former slaves
e. You are men and you shall ie represented
then let them come here. shah noi De heie 20
see Them - ] did the-r masters, VINO lev
! wears silas drew pistols and oaggers upon me
when 4 was making srct speecn ~ luls yer
q free people viii De here represe.l.s-l ai-u tileg
viii take care OF Lhemzelyes-
Put have another objection 70 the amend
met Of my friend from ohio. dis proposlloh
I is 10 abpgtslcn representation acc9fdlne 70 ne
male elt-zens oi lts- sies. " y! Ia-s 15 ~. & ~
stlIutson of tue United Ststes beioEe. Mhy
I rsaZe q crussee FR3l lnst women IN The Consltu-
flo1 a. the nFtiOnf tLaLslter-l u my irlenu
A. much afrrid oi their rltally = tle setlt4s-
81 ~ rivalry Of the negrOf LalknLtEs 10
moi ihink we ought 10 dishgure the Oohs.ltu-
don with such 3 provision. nna tnat zee
unmarried man N opp so % lhe Hioposllloil.
T=6efaer married ufeu heye particular reason
,,,r drsadfpg interference from trar qAaHer ,
know not. fLaughterl certainty .nall LeN ~
80 10 insert the word " male" OF the word
white" ia the national CONSTITUTION ~ File9|
fhinl,s ba attended 90 by the states
Nrr sir there IS another fatal objection TO
no r,fof,osifiCn Of my friend nom OHIO n 1
have been rightly inlor-nli rs - the number,
there are from fifteen 70 tWenly Repre- eltailyes
I ar uat citizens OF the United States. In View
YORK think there are three or four Represent
ativ,s f,uudei upon the foreign population
three certainly ana 81 y 7 lil Y l,oolHl5
Z Teen Ur twenty Northern Representatives thal
/ would be lost 1y that amendment ana gwen %
TIE south whenever they grant the elective
10 q .-' -. 49,. % $50 ,,. i..rs1e- r,-