The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-19
The --latest Phases Of the Suffrage Ques-

ton. n f"L
1t is expected, not without good degree of
probability, that the administration Of Gen.
Grant, during the existence of the 41st Con-
gress which assemblies on the 4th of March,
will lay the ghost of the suffrage question
which has hitherto broken up the most pleas
ant and in other respects festive banquets by
its untimely appearance. In what condition
will the fortieth Congress leave this matter
when it gives it into the hands of its sue
cessor? ..a. H. -- ..
In both Houses the innumerable resolutions
for amendments to the constitution and the
bills for the regulation of suffrage by law
were referred to their respective judiciary
committees. In both Houses those committees
have reported. The committee on the part of
the Representatives has reported in such
way as to embrace the propositions of both the
advocates of impartial suffrage through a
change in the organic law, and those who are
not willing to risk the contingency of posi-
Bile defeat of constitutional amendment by
more than fourth of the State legislatures,
and hold that it is competent for Congress to
proceed i'll the matter under the grant of pow
ers made to it by the constitution as it now ex-
lists. The first measure reported by Mr. Bout 4
well of the House Judiciary committee is res.
olution submitting to the States an amend
ment to the constitution which provides that
no State shall abridge the rights of citizens of
the United States on account of race, color or
previous condition, and provides that Congress
may enforce this articls by appropriate legis- |
lation. The second measure is bill providing |
by act of Congress for impartial suffrage in the
election of electors of President and Vice. |
President and members of Congress. Both
these measures will come up for the action of
the House, it is understood, some time this
week. fI -.Gf F. De-.
In the Senate the judiciary committee has
reported through Mr.. Stewart OF Nevada SIM
ply an amendment to be known as the fifteenth
article of the constitution, which provides
that "the right of the citizens of the United
States to vote and hold Office shall not be de-
MED by the United States or by any State on
account of race, color or previous condition of
servitude, and Congress shall have power to
enforce this provision by appropriate legisla-
ton"
The amendments proposed in the Senate
and House are substantially indentical and
one of them, with or without verbal altera-
ton, is sure to pass. The question will then
remain, can such an amendment secure the
ratification of three-fourths of the States? IF
not, will Congress regard itself as author
lied to legislate on the matter on the basis of
such constitutional provisions as exist A
year ago a negative answer to the last ques-
ton would have met with little dissent. Mr.
Sumner and few others in che Senate and
Judge Kelley and a small minority in the
House would have answered in the afirma-
tive. But it is useless to ignore the fact that
growing conviction of the impossibility of
getting the amendment ratified has brought |
members to sorutinize the grant of powers to
the legislative branch of The government
with the greatest care, and that, as conse-
quence Of this scrutiny conviction has |
sprung up in many minds that Congress |
would not transcend its authority by estab- |
fishing impartial suffrage by law, especially if
it restricted the provisions of that law to cleo
tors of officers of the general government.
Moreover, there is strong feeling outside of
Congress that nothing but clear constitu-
tional difficulty should stand in the way of Sc
curing equal rights TO the people. Indeed, it
is not bad rule of political action to give to
freedom and justice the benefit of all doubts
on delicate questions OF constitutional con-
struction, as Senator Wilson said that he did
in the impeachment trial. Pamphlets and
speeches OF much ingenuity have been written
by radical Republicans in different parts of
of the country, arguing that there would not
even be a straining Of the legitimate functions
of Congress if this course should be decided |
upon.
Whether law is passed or not, the people |
will not rest secure in the full possession of
their rights until the amendment places them |
beyond the reach of the temporary vascilla- |
tons of feeling and prejudice in State or ma
ton. The time will come ele long when not |
only three fourths but all of the States will |
ratify such an amendment, and until there is |
such ratification it is yet too early to yoke i'm
partial suffrage for loyal men with universal
amnesty for traitors, as the delegation of Vir-
ginia ex-Contelerates now in Washi ngton
propose.