New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-30

but and q, could read and spell seventy words
| cou,d raod fortv.fve sentences and explain their
| meaning. and ask at table such questions as May
| have some bread p These cases seem TO snow tha1
there are no insurmountable difficulties in the way
~ teaching the deaf to talk 1t is possible that the
Is too tedious and the expense too great for
the great body of the deaf mutes, but certainly the
idea should be Hospitality entertained.
Tbo constitutional Amendment still hangs fire at
the State House, but suppose the committee Will
soon report upon it, Mr. Phillips addressed the COM
mittee and large number of members who had gath
cred in the hall of the House to hear him. last lhur
day His principal points werc, first, that the amend
ments cOncede that this Is white mans Government
by admitting that the States may exclude colored
men from suffrage and, second, that they are u
nality or basis of settlement, and will be necessa-
rly followed by the admission OF Southern members
to Congress If the amendment Is rejected or post
poned, q result which do not consider PROBABLE
it will DO mainly for these two reasons, viz: be-
cause it is regarded as dead by reason of the refusal
of the Southern States to ray it, and because OF the
Radical demand for something which shall really
be settlement, which this is not, and be-
cause there are objections to it altogether
aside from those connected with suffrage at the
South have IN former letter limited at certain OBJ
ections which are beginning to be talked Of even by
conservative men. which have relation to the bear
ngs of the amendment upon our own basis OF repre-
sentation in Congress. The proposition is that
"when the right to vote is In any way
abridged, except for participation in rebellion or
other crime the basis of representation shall be re-
duced" &c. Now. Massachusetts, "abndges" the
right of suffrage of her male citizens q years
of age, in various ways. First, she demands resi-
dencea year in the State and half year in the city
or town second, the payment Of tax within two
wears; and. third the alphabetical Know-NOthing
test ability to read the Constitution in the English
language The abridgment intended by the words
of the article is no doubt such abridgment as is
insurmountable like the color qualification, and
probably this common-sense rendering would pre-
vail Some of these Massachusetts abridgments
might be got rid of to advantage II necessary,
but the qualification of residence seems necessary TO
prevent colonization, and the presentation of a
receipted tax-bill is very good wGy of proving
citizenship and residence. And even If the view
should prevail that there are abridgments
within the meaning of the language used,
we should only suffer in common with other
States and not seriously some Others, Connect
lent, for example, where requirement OF good
moral character in voters must Tor shOuld cut off
large part of the population. The Boston Post has
nonsensical argument to the effect that MaSsachu-
sets win be reduced to Representative in Con-
gress unless she changes her system as to elect
judicial officers. "When the right TO vote at any
election for the executive or judicial officers
| of State 9 is denied, . or abrged," &c., If
the language. The Post says we don't elect judges,
so we shall be wholly deprived Of representation
Such frivolous points only tend to weaken the
stronger Ones Mrs. Stanton and Others have sent IN
memorial in which they object to the proposed
amendment if understand them, because it per-
manently disfranchises women. 1t does no such
thing It only does not encourage their enfranchlse
ment Massachusetts, may give the night of suffrage
TO females "a soon as she likes, under the amend
ment She wiz not increase her representation In
the ratio of increase of her number of voters that
all. and don't see why she should