The national Republican., 1869-02-08
FoRusYH CoNGREss..-rHlRp SESSION.
SATURDAY. FssauAsr q, 1850.
-RlNATE.

sArunpAr, fnsnuAnr O. 1850.
- SENATE.
Mr.. Harlan, from the Committee on the
District Of Columbia, reported bill In rela-
tlon 70 the elective franchise In Georgetown,
and asked Ne Immediate consideration, but
Mr.. Edmunds objected, and Il went over.
Mr.. Sumner, from the Committee on For
eiRn Relations, reported q Joint resolution
authoriiing Commander Charles II. Bald
win, Of the United States navy, 20 accept a
gold medal from the King Of the Neither
landsj and similar one authorizing Lieut..
W. A. Clarke, Of the navy, to accept gold
medal from the Emperor Of the French.
On motion Of Mr.. Edmunds, the Senate
took up the bill to repeal the tenurc-of-ofice
law.
Mr.. Edmuuds said TINT the bill as Il had
come from the House proposed to remoy. all
restrictions from the President 10 the exer-
else OF the power Of appointment and re.
moyal. The Senate Judiciary Committee
had not thought Il wise to do that, and had
therefore reported an amendment modifying
the bill so as to permit the President TO sus,
pend q civil officer whenever, In his IudR-
ment, the public good may require II, subject
to the approval OF tho Senate, without Civ
ing specific reasons for such Suspension.
The majority Of the COMMITTEES (of which
he was not one) had also thought Il ft that
the heads Of the departments should be sub
ject to removal at the will Of the President
alone, and had reported an amendment TO
that effect.
Mr.. Morton was In favor Of the total repeal
Of the law. He believed that Il was mis-
take In the beginnings and he did not believe
that the public service had been In any way
benefited by IL, but, on the contrary, felt sat
isfed that the law had been used TO some ex-
tent to put thieves In office, and to throw
upon the Senate the odlum OF putting and
keeping them there. He liked the amend
ment proposed by the committee so far as II
allowed the President to choose che members
Of his Cabinet, and thought the idea Of even
depriving President Of that power absurd;
but the part Of an amendment which would
allow the President TO suspend an officer
during the vacation Of Congress, without
giving reason for such suspension, would
make the bill worse than the law II proposed
to repeal.
Mr.. Howe did not think Ii wise to except
Cabinet officers from the general provisions
Of the law. He could not see any reason
why a President should be allowed to dismiss
Cabinet officer at pleasure, which would
not also bo reason for allowing him to dis
miss the head Of tho Internal Revenue Do
partment, or any military, naval or judicial
officer. He could not agree With the Senator
Of the tenure-of-office bill upon the public
service, and he believed that an honest Pres
ident could Just as readily dispose Of dis
honest officer under that act as he could be-
fore Its enactment.
Mr.. Thaycr expressed the hope that the
Senator from Vermont Mr.. Edmunds would
press the bill upon the attention Of the Son.
ate every day until II should pass /; and The
was In favor OF passing 1t In the form Il had
! Fr0r hA
pealing the law.
The discussion continued until the explra-
tion Of the morning hour, when the Senate
resumed the consideration Of the constitu-
tlonal amendment.
Mr.. Davis was entitled to the floor but said
he felt too unwell to speak, and
| Mr.. Doolittlc addressed the Senate at
length upon the subject, and cited tho sue
cessiyo platforms and acts Of the Republican
party, showing, as he claimed, q ste1dy ad-
vance towards Capitalization.
| Mr. Bayard followed. He denied that the
General Government could properly, under
any circumstances, assume the right to con-
tract suffrage In the States, because he re-
garded ours as q Government Of specially
delegated powers, all powers not so delegated
being reserved to the States. But even II
Congress should insist upon submitting this
amendment, the submission, II good faith
| WNit w bo obotiNCut buouiu Dt ulhuc 70 con
ventions or Legislatures elected with special
reference to the ratification or rejection OF
the amendment; and, II II were SO made, he
felt confident the people Of the several States
would never consent to surrender their State
rights. As to the special object Of the amend
ment-the enfranchisement Of the negro-he
regarded II as IN experiment, which, II car
ried out, must result dlsastrously to the black
race; because he held 1t TO be O well-establish-
! al a, sl..k L.. -. l.
country are so different In organization rs to
prevent their fusion, equality OF political
power must result In o conflict between the
races. To woman suffrage, Mr.. Bayard de.
clared himself opposed upon general princi.
pies.
Mr.. Corbett then briefly addressed the
Senate In advocacy Of his amendment eI.
Guiding Cinnamon and Indians, which he
said he had proposed because he thought II
would be most unwise to admit to citizen
ship race OF pagans who worship wooden
gods, and who, II allowed to vote, could
come over from China In vast numbers and
take possession Of the whole Pacific coast.
Mr.. Salisbury (who had large paekag,
upon his desk) said he intended 10 address
the Senate upon the proposed amendment
but preferred not to do so now.
Mr.. Drake asked him II the package or
his desk contained his speech, because II II
uiu NC l"f' bfuAel Woulu move 10 nu
journ.
Mr.. Salisbury. I will say to my friend
from Missouri that this Is q question of such
magnitude, that find 1t unnecessary to com
nit to writing anything that have to say
on the discussion Of 1t. shall trust to the
inspiration Of the hour. Laughter
Mr.. Wilson submitted the following form
Of amendment
"There shall be no discrimination In nny
State among the citizens Of the United statei
In the exercise Of the elective franchise IL
any election therein, or In the Qualification
for Office In any State, on account Of race
color, birth, religious faith, education, O
property"
: Mr.. sumner moved to go into executiv,
session.
AT p. M, the Senate adjourned till /:
o'clock on Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Julian presented memorial Of con
yention from all parts Of New England Ii
favor Of granting the right Of suffrage Il
women. Referred to Judiciary Committee.
1t recltes In q preamble that all humal
beings are created equal, aud that womei
are deprived Of their natural equality, whicl
Is given to oil men. II 10 signed by Jane
Freeman Clarke, president, and Charles X
Whipple and George II. yibbert, secretaries
| large number of private bills, reporte