The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-22
The Marfelk 2ost.
MONDAY, JANUARY %, 1856.
G SUFFRAGE.

ing business, tne cONSlueratiou Vi the
bill to extend suffrage in the District o.
Columbia by striking from all laws and
ordinances in force therein the word
white wasIesumed. aaa.
Mr.. Clarke Kansas, refuted what
he termed the fallacy that this is q white
mans government, and at some length
argued that colored men were always
included within the term citizens of the
Republic. He advocated impartial suf-
frage in this District, and said that the
passage of this bill would be hailed by
the friends of freedom everywhere az IA
return to national justice. #tsI5H5b
Mr.. Johnson, of Pennsylvania, said
that now, for tire first time, it was
sought to confer upon negroes a part In
the management, direction, and control
of the Government. For this there was
no foundation In right and justice.
Never yet, on the face of the earth, has
a popular government been organized
and maintained by the African race.
When q black man becomes a voter he
becomes a part of the Government. The
right of suffrage belongs only to whom
the Government belongs. Aud hemain-
tanned that we can have a republic with
out conceding to all the privilege of the
elective fraAchise. The man who votes
is eligible to be voted for, and this 10 the
very foundation Of popular government.
Machine voting was to be introduced
here, such as prevailed in Baltimore In
Know-nOthing times, when y certain
amount of money was placed In a pre-
cinct to procure q certain number of
votes, and If votes enough were not fur
nished they supplied by return day.
And the comforting Of suffrage on the
negroes here looked very much like the
continuation of the substitute system
not, however, under the CONSUMPTION
law. There was a large floating popula-
ton here, having no permanent resi-
dence, being clerks in the public de-
partments, who go home Oncea year to
renew their allegiance to the candidates
of their districts, In order that the can
didates, If elected, shall keep them in
office all the time. Therefore, they seek
negro voters as substitutes, just as they
used negroes for substitutes during the
war. sfsa
Mr.. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,, was
opposed to all dilatory motions oil this
bin and to the instructions moved by
the gentleman from New York, because
he saw in them no advantage to any
body, and because he unprecedented from
them much evil t the country. II
should be borne In mind that when we
emancipated the black people, we not
only relieved ourselves of the institution
of slavery, and not only conferred free
dom upon them, but we did .mOre-we
recognized the manhood of these people
| which, by the old Constitution and gen.
eral policy and usage of the country,
from the time of the adoption of the
Constitution Of the United States until
the emancipation proclamation had been
denied to them. AS a consequence OF
the recognition Of their manhood, Ger.
tain results followed in accordance with
the principles of the Government; and
those who believe in the Government
are forced to accept the results of eman.
cipation; aud to say now, having given
freedom to these people, they shall moi
enjoy the essential rights and privileges
| of men, Is to abandon the principles Of
the emancipation and tacitly to admit
that the whole emancipation policy il
| erroneous. We are bound to treat the
black as we do the white nan in the
matter of voting. The restoration of the
eleven rebellious states should be coupled
or preceded by a condition that the ne
groes of the South should vote, without
| which we open a way from which there
is no escape for the destruction of this
| Government. The rebels are still hos
tile, and only seek an opportunity ia
strike the blow. They were massing in
Virginia, South Carolina, aud Louisiana,
| claims to the amount of thousands oil
millions of dollars, on account of depre.
dations committed by our armies, and
now Senators and Representatives were
invited from those states to enforce these
claims. This Congress was in%corrupti-
BILE, but we do not know what may bt
the character of their successors.
In conclusion, he opposed the putting
of property qualifications on voters
With voting, everything which a mar
ought to have comes to him. Without
voting he secures nothing. The negroes,
by their services in the field, have q right
to a share in the Government. If the
| not how the cOlored people were to bt
protected, unless 1t be such protection a.
\ is given to the lamb when 1t is handed
over to the wolf.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, said the firstmo
ton to be acted upon by the House wa.
that of the gentleman from New Yori
| Mr. Darling) to postpone the furtheI
consideration Of the bill until April
I This motion vas placed by the gentle
man in antagonism to the exercise of tn,
elective franchise by any person. Ii
order that a decision between then
might be made, he demanded the previ
Gus question.
Mr.. Niblack, of Indiana, moved tina
the whole subject be laid upon the table
and this was determined in the mega
tive-yeas 46, nays 123.
Mr.Darling modified his motion. 81
as to postpone the consideration of tin
bill till the first Tuesday in March
This was disagreed to-34 against 134
Mr. Wilson, of Iowa, when he hereto
fore reportedthis bill from the Commit
tee on the Judiciary, at the same tim
moved that it be recommitted.
Mr.. Hale, of New York, had moved
as an amendment to the motion, tina
the bill be recommitted for amendment
so as to extend the suffrage In the Dis
trict to all persons coming within eithe
of the following classes, irrespective {
caste or color, but subject only to exist
ing provisions and qualifications. TO wi
First, those who can read Second thos
who are assessed for and pay taxes O
real or personal property within til
District; Third, those who have serve
in and been honorably discharged fror
the military or naval service of th
United States; and to restrict such rigi
of suffrage to the classes named, and
include proper provision excluding frol
the right of suffrage those who ha,
borne arms against the United Stat