The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-02-22
HOUsE................wAsHrsoToN.F Feb. 20

HOUSE................W AsHnGToN. Feb. 20.
Twenty of last nights absentees
were brought to the bar of the House
by the Sergeant at Arms, when it was
resolved that further proceedings un-
der the call of the House be sus-
nendad Mt a4aa4A sisss4
The New Mexican contested cleo,
tion case was debated and decided by
giving the seat 10 Mr.. Chaves, the
contestant. 1Ms Etlza - .zIt =.
Schenck, By unanimous consent,
reported a joint resolution postponing
the time for the first meeting of the
House .aoflr Representative for the
Forty. First Congress. from noon of
the 4th of March next, to 3 o'clock In
the afternoon. Passed.
On motion of Boutwell,, and under
a su pension of the rules. the Senate
amendment to the Joint resolution
proposing an amendment to the Con-
stit1tion, was taken from the Speak
er's table and read as follows:
/ Article XIV. Section /. The right
of citizens of the United States to vote
and hold Office shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States, or
/ by any State, on account of race or
color, or previous condition Of servi-
tude. NAr.s1es g@4,astfas.a
| SEC. 2. The Congress shall have
the power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Woodward asked Boutwell, to allow
him to offer an amendment providing
that the proposed amendment to the
Constitution shall be Submitted to
the Legislatures to be elected here
after.
/ Boutwell, declined to let the amend
ment be offered, remarking that Con
gress had no right to select the Leg
islatures to which an amendment
should be submitted.
Bingham desired 10 offer as an
| amendment the amendment hereto
fore agreed to, by the Senate by vote
| of 40 to Is, as-follows: lt4ffs
1.-The right of citizens of the United
States to vote or hold Office shall not
be denied or abridged by any State on
account of race, color, nativity, prop.
erty, creed, or previous condition of
servitude."
T Boutwell, at first refused to allow
| any amendments to be offered, but
subsequently consented to the offer
ing of the above amendment by Bing-
ham, and to other amendments by
/ Shellabarger and Logan, not admit
ting. however, that amendment pro-
posed by Woodward.
Shellabarger amendment Is as fol-
lows: Neither the United States nor
anv State shall abridge or deny to any
maie citizen of the United States, of
the age of twenty-oDe years or over,
and who is of sound mind, an equal
vote In all elections In the State in
| which he shall have such actual resi-
dance, as shall be prescribed by law,
except such as have engaged. or may
hereafter engages in siBsurrectiOn or
rebellion against the United States,
and such as shall be duly convicted
of treason, felony, or other infamous
crime; but such right to vote shall
be subject to such regulations in form
in their application 10 all elections as
may be provided by law for preserv-
, ing the purity of the elections and pre-
scribing the times, places and manner
for holding the same
The amendment offered by Logan is
, to strike out the words in the Senate
! amendment "and to hold Office. He
contended thatit was unnecessary
, that there was nothing in the Consti-
, tuition of the United States restrain
ing the right to hold ofhee. except as
to the Presidency and Vice Presi-
dency, and that the embodiment oil
, these words in the constitutional
/ amendment would endanger Its
chances of adoption.
Butler, of Massachusetts, expressed
| similar views, but still announced his
intention to vote for the amendment,
, in order to save this great measure of
{ Justice. ..t.-s-.e. -.
him to offer the following amendment:
I" No State shall enforce any law
/ which shall deny sor abridge to any
male citizen of the United States OF
tie age of twenty-one or over, who is
. of sound mind, and who has resided
: in such State one year, and has com
: piled With such regulations, equally
applicable to all electors, as to regis
> tration and local residence, not greater
) than one year, as may be prescribd by
: law, an. equal right to vote by ballot
in all elections in such State, except
; only to such as have aided or partici.