Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-02

elect as his advisers and assistants
n the administration of the gov
.rnment.
rHE BOUTWELL, AMENDMENT
WHAT 1T MEANS.
The Press and Times says the
object of Boutwelrs amendment
is to make suffrage as national
md uniform as citizenship" and in
another paragraph it says:
at is questioned by some whether
the Boutwell, amendment extends to per-
sons DISTINGUISHED by the States in which
they reside for rebellion, or whether 1t Is
limited to the removal of disabilities OF
race or color. There seems to be reason
10 donbt that it applies to persons dis
franchised for rebellion, as well as to
those who are denied suffrage on account
Of race or color. 1t not only removes
this disability, but also that imposed by
the "preEious condition of any citizen or
is a comprehensive and sweeping one,
1t is defined by Webster as case or
Those who are disfran~
ehised consider their case hard one
and their predicament distressing. The
amendment is designed to take the cons
troll of suffrage out of the power of the
States"
The Press and Times takes the
accepted view of the pro
posed amendment. 1t is certainly
the Interpretation which Mr.. Bout
well himselfplaced upon his amend
ment. This amendment was DIS
cussed at great length by Mr.. Bout
we'll in the House of Representa-
tives on the Odd of January. During
the discussion Mr.. Niblack, Of In
diana, inquired, "Will not the posi-
ton which he BoutwelD assumes
require us, in order to make State
government republican in form, to
confer suffrage also on females to
the same extent that we do upon
males ?" To which Mr.. Boutwell,
responded
am willing, for one, that the gentle
man from Indiana Mr.. Niblack for the
present should maintain the doctrine
which he suggests in the question he puts
tome, because | suppose it carries with
it as an incident the result which seek
by this bill. If he will 90 with me IN
granting suffrage to all male citizens Of
this country twenty~One years OF age
without regard to race or color, VIII
listen most attentively to any argument
he shall make here, or anywhere else
within nv reach, in favor Of the right OF
women to vote.
Mr., Eldridge. The question is, will
YOU vote for it2 We are doing precisely
The same thing for you-listenIng toyour
argument; but we DO not propose to SC
with YOU on this question, and we do moi
expect you will 60 with US on the other
question. :.
Mr.. Boutwell,. was proceeding tC
consider the distinction between an ar
istccracy and a republic. | say without
hesitation that none Of those States II
which men are denied the elective fran
chise for themselves and for all then
rosterity are republican.
In reply TO a question OF Mr.
Eldridge, Mr. Boutwell, said, "WheT
one man in the State of Kentucky
votes for President, or for a Repre-
sentative in Congress, or for mem
bers of the State Legislature, yol
have proved that every MAJ
having like qualifications of edu
cation and property has the sam
right" Mr.. Eldridge asked: " II
view of The gentleman's position,
ask him how is it possible that
| State can disfranchise any citizen?
10 which Mr.. Boutwell, replied "
| think they cannot properly or law
| fully" Mr.. Boutwell, subsequent.
said:
Our object il to secure universal SUI
frace to all adult male citizens of thi
country. The power is in our hands
| first, as Congress, and secondly as
Marty responsible for what this Congress
does If we submit constitutions
amendment alone, we in a certain sens
admit that the power for which | am no
contending is wanting More than tina
there are but twenty-five States to whic
we at the present time could look tor To
ratification of this amendment W
have then TO secure three other States
support Of the proposition. We are
enter upon that work with certal
amount Of prejudice against and trad
| fionqTy OppOsiti0n to negro suffrage. SIR,
doubt not that nine tenths of the Republ
can party of the country are IN favor
manhood suffrage One-tenth Of the pal
ty are not in favor of it, and they cOnsti
tute the great obstacle in the way of pei
Cecting this benign measure For one,
am in favor Of taking the responsible
Of the position we occupy. We are re
snonsib!e for universal suffrage as one
the GROWING measures of an admin
tration of eight years duration, to
continued for four years by the JudsmeI
| of the people already pronounced. III
great majority of the people-and IN tn
connection j will say that by the pee
ME" | mean those who on the Sd of NJ
yember last supported Gen. Grant for Il
Prssjdencv-the great majority of the
exppct of us the contamination of tn
plan. The amendment ".i'
we propose secures the people again
any ahridcmcnt of their electoral powe
either by the United States or by Il
States. In that alone there Is suthe'e
5 reason TO Justify the amendment
Exercising the power which we posses
Nc proyide that members of the Sta
3 LEGISLATURES shall be elected by all Il
admit male citizens Of the several State
Mr.. Bingham. lf | have heard Il
gentleman Alright. in the progress OF b
remarks he has said repeatedly that q
j drift of this proposition was TO s9cu
political power 10 the male adult cllze
; Of the United States Now, | would a
the gentleman if the proposed amen
ment as printed contains any such pr
vision at all? Dol understand the gcntl
man Alright as saying that the object is
secure the political power IN the sever
states of this Union to che adalt ma
citizens of the United States?
Az Boutwell,. That is the purpose
the amendment
p Mr. BoutweIl's language can
....-,,,,t;l,Io ONO other cODstTuctO