The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-30

restore the broken fabric of American
| Empire Let have peace, py an acs OF
! paaea co that the 5aud which but yeSter-
| dav was stained with frateInal blood may
| grow Green and beautiful under the hand
i 5f honest toll. Let Us have peace, that
we may perfect the holy temple OF
| our liberties until il shall MI The
| whole earth with its glory, and draw
| ali nations into 1t. Let us have peace,
| thathy sublime example We may teach
/ the whole world OF men how good and
how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell
Jones, OF Kentucky, addressed the House
in opposition to the proposed Constttu-
Lional a fnendmeut and the bill, the object
OF which was to dIvest the people of power
over the regulation of suffrage and elec-
tions, and vest that power In i,t, ine congress
only a right reserved to the states, Dub IL
was encouraged in the States by the Fed
eraI Constitution itself.
Mr. Ward addressed the House in favor
OF the substitute he had offered TO the pro-
posed constitutional amendment The pro-
position OF the gentleman from OHIO tBlng-
Eam.) was in substance to hand over the
State governments 10 traitors and rebels.
He was opposed 70 that He was Wiling 70
be mereiful and just. ne was Wiling 10
give to the erring men OF the Soutn bhelr
lives their liberty and their property, bub
was not willing 10 Danish from the statute
books the last sunbeam for the punish-
Butler. of Massachusetts, spoke against
the substitute offered by Bingham, and
said when he could see every man, Whlte
or black, free TO offer any sentiments he
pleased within the bounds o. pfOpIlStS,
any ywhere Inthe Republic, W men that safe
Is and that peace were Sc cured. he wonld
be ready to relieve each Dody from All
Pile addressed the House five minutes in
support OF the Constitutional amendment
aud bill.
Scofiefd also occupied five minutes On
the argumentin favor of the pending Hnea-
sures and against Ringhams 5 amendment
Boutwell, proposed TO alter the proposed
Constitutional Amendment so as 10 make
it Teac: 'rne right OF any uz4n OF the
United States TO vote at any eleetiOn IN
the state in which he shall have actually
resided for n period OF one year next pre-
ceding such election, shall not be denied
or abridged, by the United States or any
State thereof. by reason OF race or color
or prev condition of slavery, OF any
citizen or class of citizens OF the UNITED
States or on account oil his want of prop
eTtV or education"
After fnItuer discussion, Boutwell, offer
eel an amendment to add To The first sec
tion the following: Nor shall educa-
tionaI attachments or possession or owner
ship OF properly, ever be MADE test OF
the right of any citizen TO vote"
ugham argued against the Amend
ment on the legal principle that the ex-
cIuSion of certain things was the admis-
sion OF all other things, and that religious
or other tests might under that Amend
ment be established
Discussion on this point was carried on
by Bingham, Eldridge, Boutwell,, SheIla-
barger, Wilson of Iowa, and Jencks.
Boutwell, moved the previous question
on MS amendment which was seconded.
The amendment was rejected without q
vote by cas- ana nayS-tne count on Ill
vision being A to 80.
Bingham moved to amend the first sec
tion 10 make il read: = No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall
abridgas deny to any male citizen OF the
uited states, of sound mind, and twenty
one years of age or upwards, the equal eX-
ereise subject To such registration laws as
the State may enact of elective franchise,
at all elections ia the State wherein he
shall have actually resided for period of
one ear next preceding such election, ex-
cept such of said citizens as shall engage in
rebellion insurrection. or who may
have been, or shall be duly convicted or
treason orother infamous crime"
SheIlabarger offered the following as a
substitute: No State shall make or eufOrce
any law which shall deny or abridge to
any male citizen of the United States, OF
the age OF q years or over, who is of sound
mind, an equal vote in all elections in the
state in which he shall have his actual
residence, such right to vote under such
legiSlatfOns as shall be prescribed by law,
except to such as have engaged, or may
hereafter engage in insulrectio1 or rebel
lion against the United States. or such as
shall be duly convicted of infamous
crimes. This Is known as the Ohio amend
meut, it being agreed upon by the Repub
lican delegation from that State-H to ],
the minority being Bingham.
Burr moved to lay the joint resolution
and amendment on the table WIthOut
voting.
ON motion the House, at 4:lO, adjourned.