Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-11
LOCAL NEWS.
The District i'm Congress.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE IN WASHINGTON


In the Senate yesterday, Mr Morrill, asked
to take up nate bill No. I, to repeal the cleo
i've franchise in the District of Columbia
The bill was read. 1t provides that each and
every male person of the age of twenty-one
years and upward, who has not been con yicted
OF an infamous crime or offence, and w no shall
nave resided in the District for the period of
franchise.
Section second provides that if any person
or persons shall wilfully interrupt OF disturb
any such elector in the exercise Of such fran
chlse, he or they shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor. and on conviction thereof shall
oe nned In any sum not to exceed one thousand
dollars, or be imprisoned in the cell or dun
geon OF the Jail of the District, and fed on
bread and water only for a period not to ex-
ceed thirty days, ar both, at tine dfscrctfon Of
Mr.. Riddle asked as a member of the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia, that the
DILL be made the special order for Thursday
Mr.. Morrill, suggested that the amendments
of the committee be acted upon o-day, and Mr.
Riddle withdrew his motion.
The first amendment was taken up Insert
AFTER the word "person," >" in the first section,
the words "eXceptlng paupers and persons
under guardianship" Adopted.
The second amendment was then taken nm
Insert after "citizens of the United States, {" In
the hrst section, ''and who shall be able to read
the Constitution of the United States in the
English language and write his name'
Mr. Pomeroy objected to this amendment
He was opposed to an educational qualification
and especially to one requiring the voter TO
read IN the English language. The amendment
was laid over.
The following was inserted as the third sec
uon: "That any person whose duty ii shall be
TO receive votes at any election within the Dis
ulct OF Columbia who shall willfully refuse to
receive, or who shall willfully reject the vote
" any person entitled to such right under this
act, shall be liable TO an action of tort by the
person injured, and shall be liable, on indict-
ment and conviction, if such act was done
knowingly, To fine not exceeding five thou
sand dollars, or TO imprisonment for term not
exceeding one year in the Jail Of said District,
to both.'
An amendment striking out the words "celI
or dungeon of, before the words "the Jail Of
the District" was adopted. Also, an amend
ment striking out the words land fed on bread
and water only" in the same section.
Mr.. Morrill, offered the following additional
sections as amendments, which were ordered
to be printed:
Sec. S. The Mayor and Aldermen of the cities
of Washin gton and Georgetown, respectiyeIy
on or before the first day of March, in each
year, shall prepare a list of the persons they
Judge TO be qualified to vote in the several
wards of said cities in any election; and said
Mayors and Aldermen shall be in open session
TO receive evidence of the qualification of per-
sons claiming the right TO vote in any election
therein, and for correcting said list on two days
In each year, not exceeding five days from the
annual election for the choice of city officers,
giving previous notice of the time and place of
District.
sec %. Ou OF De1Ore the - 0aV Of, the
Mayors and Aldermen of said cities shall post
up list of voters TINS prepared in one or more
public places in said cities, respectively, at
least ten days prior to said annual election.
Sec. 2. The officers presiding at any election
shall keep and use the check list herein re-
quired, at the polls, during the election of all
officers, and no vote shall be received unless
delivered by the voter in person, and not until
the presiding officer has had opportunity 70 be
satisfied OF his identity, and shall find his name
on the list, and mark it, and ascertain that his
vote ie single.
The bill was then committed to the Com
mittee on the District, on motion of Mr. Yates
In the House, the bill heretofore introduced
by Mr.. Wilson. of Iowa, extending the right of
out from all laws and municipal statutes the
word "white," was taken mp.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, moved to recofhmit the
bill TO the Committee on the Judiciary He
said exclusive jurisdiction of Congress over
this District was unquestioned, and It was
their right to exercise IT, The language in that
instrument was broad and comprehensive
grant Of power to pass this bill He expressed
the hope that the example now to be set will
induce the States Of the Union to so legislate as
to develop perfect Republic. The Constitu-
ton OF the United States seemed 10 invite the
passage OF this bill, and that instrument disre-
CARDS distinctions entirely. Therefore let us
breathe the breath Of life into, at least the laws
OF this District. Why should the color of
mans skin deprive him of the nght Of defencel
The national law made no distinct and WHY
should the civili Were not mems rights as
sacred in CIVIL government as in the absence of
it9 Hence, to exclude negroes from civil rights
finds no warrant in reason or Justice. Was
there ne asked, worse governed city in the
country than Washington Where Were the
Union defenders here at the breaking ont OF
the rebellion Fidelity to the Government
was then at low ebb, and sympathy was ex-
pressed with the rebellion-freedom was no
more hated elsewhere than here, and emanci-
patton opposed. The social element in this
District fostered band OF traitors. j..
a few days ago special election was held
asl nj fou m, test he Of kax
on the subject Of negro suffrage. The friends
of equal suffrage did not vote. Between six
and seven thousand votes were given against
the extension of suffrage-how many Of them
were fraudulent he could not tell. He had
no doubt q large majority Of those voters
loved slavery and hated freedom. They loved
to vote themselves, but were not willing TO
extend the privilege TO others: Some Of the