The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-19


Of government;
Therefore, belt enqctgd. &c. that all
provisions and enaetments in the
State Constitution and laws. which
make a distinction In political and
civil rights among citizens of the
q United States, or deny such rights to
any sach citizens on account of par
entage, race or color, are hereby de-
clared to he void and of no effect.
SEC. 2. And be II further enncteH.
/ That if any person shall prevent any
I qualified citizens Of the United States
f from exercising the right Of suffrage
/ at any election in any State under the
pretense that such citizen Is disquali-
/ fed by the constitution and laws Of
such State on account Of his parent
+ age. race, lineage. or color, such per-
son shall be deemed guilty of misde-
meanOr, and on conviction thereof. in
a proper court, shall be sentenced to
pay tne not exceeding s. 900, and
undergo an Imprisonment not exceed
ing five years, or both, at the discre-
ton Of the court.
BroOmall spoke in support Of the
bill, and political discussion sprung
up between Woodward, Kelly, Broom
all and others, as to whether Penn
sylvan has a republican form of
government, her constitution contain
ing the words white freemen there
by prohibiting negro suffrage. Knott
and Woodward subsequently spoke
against the bill, and Lawrence, of
Pennsylvania, in favor Of it.
Schenck, in a remark, assailed the
position of the Democracy on negro
suffrage.
Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, made an
argument in favor Of universal and
impartial suffrage, as the only foun-
datiOn on which the government can
stand. lie said you must build all
your science of government on that,
and when you attempt to depart from
it you forget that you are a man, that !
you become tyrant, and you deserve /
the execration of the human race. |
There is no other way but by uuiver- |
sal suffrage, in which you, and |, aud |
every man can protect ourselves |
against the injustice, the inhumanity |
and the wrongs which would other |
wise be inflicted on the United States. |
We have got to a point in this nation /
when we can adopt that great and /
glorious principle which no man dares /
to say we shall not adopt; henceforth /
let US understand that universal suf- |
frage, operating in the face Of every |
man who is to be governed by the /
votes cast, IS Que Of those doctrines /
planted deeper than granite in which !
our fathers laid the foundation Of !
their immortal work-the work Of
universal liberty, Which will last just |
as long as that immortal doctrine shall /
last ana no longer.
Stevens having announced his pro- |
positions, asked the Clerk Of the /
House to read his prepared speech in /
advocacy Of them, which was done
Stevens own remarks wge deliver |
ed with a clearness and strength of !
voice not before manifested this ses- |
siOG. He closed BY offering the fol- +.
lowing as a substitute for the bill:
Be Il enacted. &C., that every male 4
citizen of the Uhited States above the I
age Of q years, who was boraeOr nat /
uralized in the Uaited States, or who /
has declared his intentions to become /
naturalized, shall be entitled TO vote I
upon all national questions that may +
arise in any State Of the Union where I
he shall have resided for the tilns Of /
30 days, and no distinction shall be I
made between such citizens on any /
account, except for treason, felony or |
other infamous crime not below the .
grade Of felony at common law
Beaman addressed the House in (
support of the BILL
While he was speaking. Br0omalI +
intimated that his intention was to .
withdraw the motion to reconsider,
and let the bin 60 to the judiciary
Committee
5palding also spoke against the bill,
which he regarded as uacon st.tu-
tioual.
Kelly advocated and Kerr opposcd
the bill.
Broomall Withdrew his motion. and
the bill and amendments remain with
the judiciary Committee.
FarnsW0rth, from the Committee
on Reconstruction, reported a bill to
admit She State OF Alabama to repre-
sentatiOn in Congress, which was or
dered printed He would ask to have
il considered aud passed to-morr8w. 4
The bill is follows:
WHEREAS, The people Of Alabama,
IN pursuance OF the provisions Of an
act Of Congress entitled an act for the
more efficient government OF the rebel
Sta .es, passed March I'd, 1867, and
the acts supplementary thereto, have
framed Constitution and State Gov
ernment, which is republican ia form
AMI
WHEREAS, At an election COM :
mencing on the 4th day Of February,
1868, a large majority OF the legal
voters Of said State voting at said eiee