The national Republican., 1867-12-19


Mr.. Inger,oIl gave notice that he would move
to have tho bill printed II the previous question
was not seconded,
Mr. Stevens said there va. always some OBJ
lection to everything he had heard Of, either on
earth or In Heaven. Here 10 q bill which he
had supposed every member woald be willing 70
vote for. II Is one Of tho simplest bill, In me
world. and no man can possibly misundsrssAnd
II. In the nrst section II simply restores the
majority principle 10 tho adoption Of the State
constitution; the second section simply empowers
the people Of tho Southern States 10 vote for
Representatives in Congress at the snme timo
that they vote upon the question Of ratifying
tho constitutionj and when the States are sd-
mitted their Representatives shall be entitled to
admission In the Congress o. the United ststse;
That Is the whole Of the bill except the third
section, which the gentleman from Ohio Mr..
Bingham) proposed to strike out. That third
section has simply fixed the representation, aud
declared how many Representatives tho States
named should be entitled 10 until . further ap-
portionment she'll be made. This representation
had been increased, as It was believed, to the
number they would be entitled to n the result
Of the liberation Of the slaves. He could not
accept the amendment Of Mr. Maynard, because
II proposes TO substitute civil authority speedily
for military authority. Hs did not think the
time had yet arrived for the Substitution Of civil
authority, As there were still accounts coming
up here Of the most atrocious robberies and
murders In the South. II was only this morn.
ing that he had received letter from New Or
leans showing . terrible condition Of affair,
especially since Hancock has boon In command.
and he was satisfied that an equally painful
state Of affairs existed In Texas and Arkansas.
He was, therefore, opposed to an absolute with
drawal OF the military until thsss outlaw State,
shall all be brought Into the Union.
Mr.. Bingham, Of Ohio. said he had no objso
tion to the frst and second sections Of the bill
The frst section Was intended 10 restore the ma.
jority principle in elections, and II would bs re-
membered that he had advocated this measure
whom the original reconstruotion bill was under
consideration. Tho second section might BE-
deemed surplussgo and unnecessary, a the peo.
pie have already the power under the Constitu.
tion to elect Representatives. The second SEQ
tion is therefore In aid Of the Law, and there
need be no objection to II. But the third sec.
tion Is clearly violative Of the Constitution oi
the United States and Of tho legislation Of Con
gress The power Of Congress over the appor
tionment Of members 10 very clearly defined. II
recognise the right Of every succeeding Con
gress to change the basis Of representation whsr
once 6xed. With himself that objection woult
be all sufficient, and he had therefore moved Il
strike out that section; but II tho House refused
to strike II out he could not vote for the bill
with that clause In. Take the State Of South
Carolina, for instance Under the apportion
ment Of 1861 that State was allowed four Repre-.
sentatives In Congress, and 1t was not the i'm.
preston then that South Carolina would In.
crease so rapidly that she could possibly be On.
titled to six Representatives at this time. South
Carolina has not more than 800, 900 Inhabitants,
and II she Ia entitled TO six Representative,
then Ohio, with her three millions of inbab-
itants, should have thirty Representatives. II
any change Of apportionment 10 to be made lot II
be general and extend to all the States.
Mr.. Eldridge, Of Wis, suggested that the rea.
son Ohio was not included was that II did not
have so many blacks.
Mr.. Bingham said that was no argument.
Mr.. Stevens said as there seemed TO be 60
much opposition he would withdraw that part oi
the bill which provided for representation from
the State at large.
Mr.. Bingham insisted, that under the circum
stances, the third section WAS not at all nscss-
sary, as the people nov had tho right TO elect
Representatives
Mr.. Stevens then withdrew the whole section.
Mr.. Brooks, Of N. Y. said he was glad the
bill had aroused some opposition among Rspubli-
cans for 1t was evident that they we're fearful Of
tho effect out West II they passed such bill rs
this. He referred to the several reconstruction
acts, and contended that their whole object MAS
to enfranchise the blacks, and disfranchise the
whites Of the South. The object was to snslavs
eight millions OF white people by putting an in.
ferior race 10 rule over them.
| Mr.. Brooks then pro eeedsd to argue that the
full blooded negro could never be the equal Of
the ADglo-Saxon race. and that nature never
intended him 10 be so His very anatomica
formation was different, from his head to hi
foot. He had no hair upon his head, but wool
It was true no instrument had yet been invsntet
10 weave the wool Of the negro, but he had nj
doubt that 1t could be done. The negro's skull
10 Different from that Of the white man, and
difference Is noted In his nose, mouth, legs, feet
md every part Of his body. He has nothing I,
denote that he 10 the equal Of the Anglo-SAxon
and 1t was never intended by nature that h
should be called upon to cooperate In a gres
Government, or to be considered as the brother o
the white man. These remarks did not apply 10 tn
.,ulatto, who did evipco Intelligence when whit
blood coursed through his veins; but the Cong
negro was never intended as man and brother
Referring to ancient history, Mr.. Brooks men
toned the Arabs, the Turks, and otber,, as na
tions that had been prosperous aud thrivip
until they admitted the negro to 4 share In thei
government and commenced with the work Q
miscegsnation.
In continuation, Mr.. Bro oks referred to th
history Of the Mexican race, and attributed thsi
effeminaoy and degradation to the admixtur
with colored races. This might be the last tim
that he would address a white audience upo
this floor, for 1t seemed to be n fixed fact this
s,groes were to be brought down from the ga
ieres I'D brousht 20 seats MS Representative
upon this floor But he gave notice that tn
white people Of the NORTH would never submi
to the insult. And II the DOMINANT marty no,
blackened the halls with negro Rspresentatiye
the Democratic party Of the North would, at ii
next election, whiten them again.
Mr.. Farnsworth, Of ILL.,, addressed the Houi
in advocacy Of the bill.
Mr.. Stevens replied to Mr.. Brooks, and sal
ho seemed to forget the language Of the Bibl
which declared that the Creator made Of OF
blood all nations Of the earth. The gentlema
says he made them Of several bIoods lie hi
gone into q lengthy history Of the negro rae,
but will he dare to say they have not souls |
be saved? The same God who will judge th
negro will also damn the gentleman from Ne
York, II he deserves 1t. He had no doubt Of Ii
geptlsmsn's great ability, and that be WI
superior in intellect to all in the House, but
Mr. Stevens) would like to have contest Il
the championship Of America, and he woul
put the gentleman from New York against Ere
Douglass and Langston. The gentleman Nj
Brooks might choose two Of the judges for
discussion on any subject except negroes shin
and II the gentleman Mr.. Brooksl did not thro
up the sponge, he (Mr. Stevens) would col
cede him to bo superior in intellect and attaiI
ments to every gentleman in the House. N
Stevens then demanded the previous question.
Ehs previous question was then seconded, an
MI Boy demanded the yeas and nays upo
the passage oil u. eiil. pending which