The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-01-25
Legislative Summary.

In the Senate upon Monday petitions wer
submitted to enable land owner to send t.
school in the school district where his land
situate; to establish law department II
the State University; concerning the convey
ance oftown lots; for the appointment OF {
State Geological Surveyor; and private
claims.
Bills were introduced for the incorporation
of Centerville and the collection Of taxes by
deputy county Treasurers.
There was long discussion over the con
tested seat in the 9th district In the enc
the matter was decided in favor of Captain
Edwards.
In the House resolution was passed in
structing the Ways and Means Committee tc
consider whether any means can be devised
by which counties can be guaranteed against
loss. by the removal of personal property
after it is assessed and before the tax becomes
delinquent.
Little, however, was done, save speech.
making upon matter introduced by the ir-
repressible Ballinger. This young man has
watched with pain, the tendency of Congress
to enfrsnchise the negroes in the District OF
Columbia. 1t grieved him, and forgetting for
the nonee that President Johnson is in favor
of it, he takes legislative aim at Congress,
and discharges himself thus land we give
our readers the benefit of part of the de-
BATE:
Mr.. Ballinger introduced the following:
ReSolced That in our opinion the District
of Columbia is the common property of the
nited States, and that while we recognize
that the Congress has power to make all need
ful laws for the government of the same, we
protest against the passage of any law, in any
manner affecting said district IN contraven-
tion to the known wishes of the people of
said District and the people of the United
States
He argued that Congress had no more right
to confer suffrage upon the blacks of the Dis
trict in opposition tothe wishes of the citizens
thereof than this Legislature has to pass a law
oblging farmers to build fences forty rails
high. Each had the legal right to vote, but
in either case it would be violation of the
spirit of the Constitution of the country which
recognizes the right of the people to govern.
The Congressman who violate by their votes
this fundamental principle OF our government
will be consigned to political intamy. He
said it was impossible to introduce resolu
ton here embodying the spirit of the Consti
tuition without having it voted down, indef-
nitely postponed, &c. A resolution of this
nature was introduced the other day and inn
mediatey sent to kingdom come" He pro-
tested against this. He had once been a Re-
publican, but the party had leftits landmarks
and he remained behind.
Mr.. Bennett moved to amend by adding the
following:
Resolred further That our Representatives
and Senators in Congress be instructed to use
their influence TO have submitted to the col
ored people of sand District, whether the
white population of that District shall vote
Mr. Rogers hoped the gentleman from Lee
felt relieved after having given vent to all his
feelings on this subject. He seemed to have
the District of Columbia on the brain, and if
he was now satisfied, he would move that the
subject be indefinitely postponed.
Mr. Maxwell said that the gentleman from
Lee Mr.. Ballinger) claimed to have once
been Republican. In this respect he Mr.
NJ. differed from him. He used to be a
Democrat The gentleman's position re-
minded him of story. Amesmeriser came
to bet that he could take off the top o ( a man s
head, take out his brains, put them back, and
he would be all right. He succeeded in taking
them, but unfortunately, when out, hog came
along and ate them all up. But being rich in
expedients, he had a sheep killed and sup
piled the place with its brains. He then re-
stored the subject to consciousness, who de-
clared that he felt all right, but had terrible
hdnkeriaq after grass. Just so with the gen
tleman from Lee. he felt all right, but has
a terrible hankering after the darksy.
Mr.. Tracey hoped the amendment would be
voted down, and the resolution voted on ac-
eording to its merits. He said the gentlemen
on the opposite side were bound to vent them
selves of a certain amount of bile. And he
was in favor of giving them a chance now. If
they Il take a thoroughgoing political emetic,
they II feel better, and we too lie would
give them an opportunity to speak their SEN
timents fully.
Mr.. Balinger held that it would be breach
of faith on the part of Congress TO pass law
in contravention of the will of the people of
the District and of the United States.
Mr.. Sapp said it was conceded that Congress
had the Constitutional right to enfranchise
the colored people. The gentleman from Lee
admits this. Does he suppose the minority
in Congress reflect the public will? or the
majority? Do our delegation Congress re-
fleet our views or not in voting on this sub
ject? He believed that this proposition met
with the approval of a large majority of the
people of the country. AS to the condition of
the District, it is a well established fact that
the blacks were to a man loyal while the
whites were constantly giving aid and comfort
to the enemies of their country. 1t is now
proposed to enfranchse these loyal blacks,
and 1t is noble purpose.
The gentleman says it is the habit of the
Republican or Union party to violate the ex-
press requirements of the Constitution. He
thought member of the Opposition might
blush with shame to make such an assertion
in view of the past few years-in view of the
fact that il is the Democrats alone who have
sought to overthrow the Government. The
gentleman had stood still while the Repubi-
can party was marching on, and had fallen
into the arms Of that party which had voted
the experiment of the war to restore the
Union failure. He seemed to have pro
gressed backwards. He had fallen into the
arms of a party which, if it could have en-
grated its principles upon the public mind,
would have given us to-day divided confed
eracy. The Republican party had saved the
mon, and preserved the institutions of our
fathers. The Democracy had brought the
onion to the verge of ruin. He hoped it
Woula progress as it had done for the past four
years 1t would soon come to the point Of
notningness. He never again do sired party
TO rise IN Its stead which should have so much
power for evil. He alluded to the weakness
of the party last fall, not bold enough to oome
up and advocate their principles. They
lodged behind United States uniform and
claimed to be Soldiers party.
After some further debate, the resolution
L. IL ~