The New York herald., 1869-01-30


Texas in the construction Of railroad nom the Mis-
Sss e as n
s s military cg sRs De PSafces
\ Mr., Haxlans bill authorizes the construction OF |
railFdQd ana telegraph from Jefferson, Texas 70 san
D nss oi %e Tss
guarantce Y also to be made for the following rail-
Dallas Texas to shrsyepogSt;, \, gtj,tdr Irom
Memphis to Little Rock and from Cairo 10 Fuiton.
15Nss RAILROAD LAND GRANTS:
MI. PoxERpy, Gep) Of Kan. nom the Committee ON
na fas snas 8 @ "a it Ike construetc q the
and Lake geslor Railroad; also on the House on %
a q snas f1at az nay S n aGFanng
lands IDS to ts Siots Ii Minnesota q aid IN Securing
the navigation g the Msaissippi river mmediassly
above the falls Of sc. Anthony. 8
NJ cofs, s srepJ Of csl introduced bin % iur
ferred % the Judiciary Committees. II provides that
aI.er July next no nnl luagmens g circum ai Vs
Court on writ Of error or sppea unless the writ be
snea ont Or appeal be taken Miinm h!ee years assr
ast sSsh Ss sssn g tie ea % eons our w
fn5aer MIts Il is:lSII1ss q shs suPIss 0
correcsle& q various defects a ini|ictments &c.
Mr. Tuxsi, I,i rom anrUs As4tss5 C:,,tee =.
ported adversely on ,e foiowinc 6ils:-Mr. Robert
s0n s, % :, su sxtead che jurisdiction Of the Court Of
during the la, war. ~ M Fowerss 10 Authorize the
payment payment stores furnished the EngIneers' and
to the ompetency Of witnesses; % and authorizing i'm
pi nment with hard labor in certain case; to pro-
cssminal offences; and the House bill remfting PEN
yltes where, through inadvertency, Instruments
have been improperly stamped.
4 PENSION TO MRS. LINCOLN
i Mr. VAN WINKIR, trep) OF W. Va, from the Com
joint resolution granting pension to Mrs. Mary
DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. MORRILL,, (rep) OF Me-, from the Committee on
Appropriations reported the Consular ana DiRlo, s
American missions is stricken out
Mr.. BUcKALEw's CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Mr.. MORTON, from the Committee on Representa-
tive Reform reported favoraby the joint resolution
proposing constitutional Amendments, introduced
THE WEST VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Mr.. WILEY rep o. W. Va, introduced bin pro.
Of the West Virginia Central Railroad 1t authorizes
the Secretary of the Interior to sell to the company
Mississippi. Alabama and Arkansas at rs cents per
acre In preferred stock condition that $4o0 be
expended In improving and settling said lands WITH
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the
order OF the day-the proposed constitutional amend
SPEECH OF SENATOR DIXON.
MIR. DIXON, lden.) OF Conn, being entitled to the
noU, made an argument against IL. Ee insisted
that the power 70 regulate suffrage was an Essential
| OF the constitution OF State having a republican
form OF government, and that therefore. no such
state could divest itself OF that power either volu
tarily or upon compulsi0n, without thereby losing
its republican character. II was for this reason
the constitution, originally formed, avoided all
interference with suffrage In the States. The early
statesmen mad Oil regarded this tender point 10
strictly guarded 10y the state constitutions, and
no State had any more power to renquisli its con-
troll over suffrage within its own limits than il had
| power to abolish q republican form OF government
and set up monarchy. Mr.. Dixon concluded as
MIR. PRrsmENT-I have already said that the ques-
tlon before the Senate = not merely question OF
suffrage, but that It goes to the very founding OF
publican government and strikes at the powers OF
the states to determine and establish each for itself
the qualifications Of its own voters 1t Is important
to bear in mind this distinction. There are in the
State OF Connecticut7and, doubtless In all the
States-many who are m favor OF universal suffrage
without distinction Of race and color who vet cling
to the right Of each State to decide as to the qualid
cations OF its men voters. The pending consntu-
| tional amendment proposes to transfer this right
from the States to the general government BY the
Character Of the government is as much changed
by this mode OF erecting the transfer as
4 were dome ey ), act G o. Congress a All aose see
which do not thus consent VIII be deprived by ex
government as completely as ig the change were
y as wv s sspss rendered syeR "a
loss Of the vital and essential element OF self-gov
ernment In the power OF deciding freely, inde.
lions OF voters. Therefore il win be found that
many advocates OF negro suffrage Will condemn and
ments and reduce them to utter nsignincance by the
establishment OF the principle involved In this
amendment They are unwilling TO see the ancient
Commonwealth which won our national indepen.
dence and formed our national government, to-
gether with the younger sisters who I'LL up the num-
Der OF q United states, reduced from the proud
position OF Independents, sef-g0vernng republics TO
the humble and helpless condition M Of subject pro,
under conditions and regulations imposed by q
central power. For myself can only speak for
Connecticut; Tor brief period may still speak for
her in this Senate Chamber, and for her and her
people protest against this proposal to strip her Of
chief remaining sign and evidence that she Is still
the proud republic which she has been for than
two hundred years, and trust for untold centu-
ries she viii continue to be. In her own good time
and by her own will and pleasure she may, whea
she sees OF. extend, as she has heretofore, In the
exercise OF her undoubied aud unquestioned rights,
fit TO deny, to the coored race the right OF suf
eI consltuton Sorbds tner W voting her sae.
that sooner later II left to the exercise 81 her
own generous and just convictions OF duty. In view
OF the general enranchsepent OF the black race sne
may extend the SANG privilege tQ per oyR SoloEsd
VIII not willingly consent that her ancient laws on
this subject shall be altered by the action OF other
sase " int Sqss and "a rees s rsgssa asa
she acts she must grant or &C least acknowledge
and confer privilege, not Ike galley slave os
scourged 10 the performance of q neglected duty.
For myself, cannot conceive how any true son OF
Connecticut who cnerlshes her stainless honor and
history can consent tnat she should be Compelled,
by the action OF any external power TO strike from
the constitution provisions reiang to suffrage
which she has deliberately established ana persist
entity maintained. trust no such humiliation - IN
| store for that prond and patriotic state. Now, al
ever she II oa for er spirit Of Independence
and for her unyiediDg resolution 10 manage her do
| nestc Affairs civil and religious, In her own way;
for still her gray rocks tower above the sea that
crouches al her feet q conquered wave.
III rough Land Of earth and stone and tree,
| Wh.re oreahes no castlel lord OF cabined slave.
Where thought tongue hands are bold ana free.
And where nops knee rrd saxs wan n Hax &
Nor even then unless in their way
| Mr.. PoMEaoy, (rep.) or Kan, moved to amend
the constitutional amendment BY striking out the
words ION account OF race color or previous condi.
tion OF servituder and 10 inger instead, 'sfor any
/ reasons not equally applicable TO all citzens.v
4 MIR. PoMER0Y then addressed the Senate, COM
mentng upon the statement OF Mr.. Wilson yester-
day. that the advocacy OF equal rights had been and
was stll unpopular everywhere throughout the
country and had cost the republican party many
| votes. He said that II that party were 70 abandon