The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-02-02
.heQntelliQeurer:
TUENDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 2.


She New COnHtiG utiOnnI a mendIn eTt.
Slavery in the United States WAS a
tiIsease that had to run it's course, and
we are lust now seeing the last VestlSes
of il in the amendment passed by tne
Lower House OF Congress last Satur-
day, abolishing all distinctions between
male citizens of the United States over
u years of age, on account OF race,
color or previous condition, as respects
their right 10 vote. The joint resOlu-
ton proposing TO the States an amend
ment establishing impartial manhood
suffrage" ns IL has been called, passed
the House by Il twO-thirds vote, and
will no doubt go through the Sen
nte by an equally strong vote,
ard then the State Legislatures
now In session, our own among
the rest, will commence ratifying it..
West Virginia was among the earliest
States TO raiify the amendmen; abolish
ing slavery in the Union, and also to
rHtify tho Fourteenth Article, ana now
the question comes up for its last grand
decision Mt our hands. Are we ready
for the question We trust 80, for
most likely We will DO called TO net npon
il before the adjournment Of the pres
ent Legislature. There are those, we
presume, among th" members VIII" have
not hmd their attention particularly
turned to the consideration of tho ma
tu:e Of this proposed amendment. For
their benefit we reproduce it, Hs follows:
AKIICLE-. SECTION l. The right of
any citizen of the United States to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by tho
United States or any State, by reason OF
race or color, or previous condition OF
any citizen or any class OF cltiZens OF
tie United States.
SEQ. =. The Congress shall haV0 pow
er to enforce, by appropriate legislation.
the provisions of this article.
1t will be seen that this amendment
does not interfere with the laws Of any
STATE that may have DISTINGUISHED any
of its citizens FOR crime or for paTticipa-
ton in the rebellion, but undertakes
simply to do away with all laws max
ing distinction between voters on ac-
count OF race, color or previous condi-
ton, meaning slavery.
Before the adoption OF this amend
ment in tho precise form in which it
passed tho House, two substitutes
therefor, one by Mr.. Shellabarger and
the other by Mr.. Bingham, OF Ohio.
we're voted down. The former was as
fnllowt:
No State shall make or enforce any
law which shall deny or abridge to any
male citizen of the United States, OF the
age Ot2l years or over, and who Is OF
sound mind, an equal vote at all cleo
lions in the State in which he shall
have his actual residence, such right to
vote, and bs under such regulations as
shall he prescribed by law, except TO
such AZ have engaged or may hereafter
engage in insurreCtiOn or rebellion
against the United States, aud to such
as shall DO duly convicted OF Infamous
crime.
Mr.. Binghnm's proposition was ns
follows:
No State shall make or enforce any
law which shall abridge or deny to any
male citizen of the United States, of
sound mind, and twenty-one years OF
age or upward, the equal exercises,
subject to such registration laws AS the
Stale may exact, or the elective fran
chise at all elections In the State where
in he shall have actually resided for
period OF one year next preceding such
shall engage in rebellion or insurrec-
ton, or who may have been or shall be
convicted oil treason or other infamous
crime.
1t will be seen that the above provi-
sion contemplated wiping out of old
scores and a starting off on new sheet
of paper. Somewhat after the plan OF
Mr.. Greeley whose voice Is for Univer-
sal Amnesty and Universal Suffrage.
AS the proposition now stands the
States can make or continue whatever
distinctions they please as regards
educational, religious or other tests that
do not involve race, color or the previ
Gus condition OF slavery.
There were AZ votes in the House
against the amendment as finally
passed, among them Republicans,
Messrs. Baker, of Illinois; Bingham, OF
Ohio. and Polsley, OF West Va. The
vote in the affirmative has not been
given 80 far as we have yet seen.