Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-02
gress, advocated the substitute
which he had offered a few days
previous, which is as follows

II
previous, which is as follows:
mo State shall make or enforce any
law which shall deny or abridge TO aIy
male citizen Of the United States OF the
age of twenty>one years or over, and who
is of sound mind, an equal vote In ali
elections in the State In which he shall
have such actual residence as shall De
prescribed by law, except to sucn as
have engaged or may hereafter engage IN
instruction or rebellion against the
United States, and to such as shall be
duly convicted of treason, felony, or other
infamous crime.
Mr.. Shella5arger stated that the
substitute allows the disfranehise-
ment of those who have been en-
gagged in rebellion, while the |
original resolution does not; and
also that the original resolution
would allow the establishment of
property or educational qualifca-
tions. In connection with this
latter provision, Mr.. Shellabarger
said sit would dishonor in Congress
to insist on retaining policy IN
the reconstructed States which 1t
refused to inculcate against the
other States" This was thrust
at those Northern States which
have a property and educational
qualification as to negro voters.
Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio, conceded
with Mr.. Shellabarger touching
this feature of the Boutwell, amend
ment; but as to the substitute ofMr.
Shellabarger leaving the rightto the
States to disqualify those who had
participated in the rebellion, he de-
clared that he "never would vote for
q proposition which so shocked and
outraged the common sense OF man
kind :" that "the amendment should
be framed SO as to carry out the
humble prayer Of Grant, Let us
have peace" and that "they would
have peace so soon as they had
clothed all the people with the
right to vote, leaving the disquali-
ications To hold Office where they
now are" "Let us have peace" he
said, "by an act of peace, that we
may restore the broken fabric OF
| American enterprise After con-
siderable debate, Mr.. Boutwell, of
| fered an amendment TO the first
section of his amendment as fol.
| lows: "Nor shall educational at
tainmeRts or the possession Oh
ownership of property ever be made
a test of the right of any citizen te
| vote" This amendment was re.
jected by a majority of SO, The
vote being ayes 40, noes 50, Mr.
Bingham then moved to amend the
first section of the Boutwell, amend
ment SO as to make it read as fol
lows:
"No State shall make or enforce an!
law which shall abridge or deny to an.
male citizen of the United States, o
sound mind, and twenty-one years of age
or upwards, the equal exercise (su6Jec
TO such registration laws as the Stat
may enact) of the elective franchise a
all elections in the State wherein he shall
actually have resided for period OF on
year next preceding such election, e1cep
such of said citizens as shall engage Il
rebellion or instruction, or who ma.
have been, or shall be, duly convicted 0
treason, or other infamous crime.
On the 3Oth ult., Mr.. Shellabar
. gers amendment was rejected b.
ayes 81, noes 127. Mr.. Bingham
} amendment was also rejected b.
t ayes 26, noes 158, The Origina
! amendment, as first reported b,
Mr.. Boutwell, from the Judiciar.
Committee, was then adopted b,
. ayes $50, noes AZ.
1 Two facts are noticeable in con
2 nectiOn with the action Of the Hous
of Representatives on the Boutwell,
: amendment: First, that body stead
L lily refused to engraft on the amend
q ment authority to disfranchise thos
who were engaged in the rebellion
c it even refused to confer authorlt
4 to disfranchise those who shall en-
gage in rebellion. And secondly
a the House refused by very declslV
y vote to prohibit the adoption OF
| property or education qualifcatio
= for voters. 1t is clear from the dc
' bates in the House of Represents
tiyes. that the ratification of TIL
: amendment by the State Legisla
$ lures will sweep away the barrier
y to the ballot-bo which the Rad
IS Gals have erected in West Virgins
n Tennessee and Missouri. In Othe
W words, it will confer the right
t suffrage on every white man in thes
q States who has not been convicte
e of an Infamous crime.