The Montana post., 1868-02-29

" sc.uIe Ooeolence on the part of The
Legislature and Governor of Montan.
70 the laws and Congress of the Unitet
States.
Washburne suggested the amendment
that in case the COMMITTEES found the
facts as stated, they should report on the
bill repeating the Organic Act of Mon,
tana. Mr.. cavanaugh, through tn.
courtesy of Mr.. Burr, succeeded in get
ting a motion bofore the House TO table
the resolutions. The yeas ar d nays were
called, resulting in its loss Yeas, Sc
nays, 122; not voting, 80, strict party
vote. We submit it that members c
Congress by their affirmative votes or
this question, virtually recognize the
right of a Territory to make and enforce
laws in direct conflict with, the laws oi
Congress and consider il a grave blundel
or a continued and evil adherence to
the old States rights" belief, that led
to the war of rebellion. On the suggest
ton of Mr.. Ashley, the previous motion
was amended and the matter referred to
the Committee on Territories.
On the goth, Mr.. Taber yielded the
floor to Mr.. Cavanaugh, who made the
following explanation
Mr.. Cayanaugh Mr.. Speaker, as the
gentleman from Kansas (Afr. Clarkel the
other day travelled out of the legitims te
sphere of action here by introducing a
resolution censuring the Territory OF
Montana for passing laws in relation TO
suffrage in opposition to the Legislation
of Congress, desire to say few words.
/ took the trouble of sending telegram
to Hon. Green Clay Smith, Governer of
that Territory, as follows:
WASHINGTON, ID. c. Jan. %, 1868.
To GoUerpor Green Clay Smith, Virginia
City, Montana:
Did the Legislature pass any law in
terfering with the law of Congress re-
lative to negroes voting in the Terrific
riesH Answer. l aadGlE
JAMES NJ. CAVANAUGH.
To that telegram have received the
following reply:
VIRGINIA CITY, N. T. Jan. %, 1863
Hon. James ". CaUdndugh, Washington,
ID. @.
Congress wrongfully informed on Mon
tana election law Have forwarded
copies. GREEN CLAY SMITH
As the gentleman from Kansas, CMr
Clarke) sprung the previous question up
ON me i desire now to say that represen
sixty-five thousand American citizens !;
/ represent Territory nearly twice as
large as the State Of Kansas; represent
a Territory that this year sends $685.
OO0, 900 of gold TO the Treasury of the
United States-thus adding largely 10
the wealth of the nation. Had this attack
upon my Territory come from Massachu-
sets, or New Hampshire. or Vermont, or
Rhode Island, should not have felt it
necessary to say one, word. / have no
fault to find with my friend Governor
Banks, or Mr.. Dawes, or any other gen
who comes from New England,
where negro suffrage is allowed, for
what they may say upon the subject
Had either of them introduced that yeso-
luton, should not have raised my voice
here in regard to il, otherwise than to
correct false Impressions and unfounded
charges. Sos as-.s-. era -t-
But it was introduced by gentleman
whose State at the last election, by
of 9,071 votes, refused the priv
ilege of voting to the colored man
whose State, by majority of over ten
thousand, refused suffrage to the white
women of the United States, and by only
a majority of 2,6S2 carried the PROPOSE
ton to g disfranchise rebels" And yet
he comes here and endeavors to force up
on Montana what Kansas has refused to
allow in her own borders Let the gen
tleman correct the evils in his own State
before he attempts to Legislate for my
Territory. To say the least of it he Ger
tainly has taken impertinent liberties
with the rights of the people of Mon
tana, and has been indeicately obtru-
sive in the matter.
/ merely desire to say that the Legis-
lature of Montana has not done what
has been chargeds and will further say
to the gentleman from Illinois, Mr..
as well as to the gentle
man from Kansas, Mr.. Clarke that the
people of Montana are as loyal as the
people Of Kansas. or the people of llli-
nois, or the people of any other State In
the Union. However much the citizens
of Montana may differ with the political
of the majority of this House
it is due to them to say that they have
ever given ready assent and cordial
support to the laws of Congress. know
the constituency, the people have the
honor to represent; and know them TO
be as true, loyal, patriotic and intelli-
gent as any that are represented on this
floor.