The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-05

STEwhRs, trep) or New. 10 substitute for the Joint
,eSos.eoh Is II passed the House The report OF the
Juoiciary Committee OF the Senate
The right Of citizens OF the United
once sh not be denied abridged by United States
any state on account Of race color previous condition
Mr.. FERRY, Tep.) OF Conn.,, addressed the Senate
a. iengih upon the subject. lie had intended, when
ne obtained the moor some days ago, 70 direct his
afermtnt 70 the merits Of the proposed amendment
OF tne constitution, but he now saw that such an
argument would be superfuous, because the opp0-
nenls o. the measure had changed ground, and OPP
posed now, not the amendment itself but only the
proposed way OF submitting 1t for ratification The
senator rom Kentucky (Mr. Davis, silent now upon
ton vne right OF Congress to propose any amend
ment atau because certain States were still unrep-
T Tsenres:., The senator rom Indiana mt:
capacity Of the negro for selfgovernment,
was content to cite the Chicago platform as an
during NE last fifteen years committed himself to
the extension ofthe right OF Suffrage to the disran-
caised classes, found himself compelled BY his new
amiiatlois TO turn his back upon his past acts and
professions; yet he did not attack the principle OF
the amendment but c0ntented himself with attempt
ton. Therefore, was one Of expediency. How can
the voice OF the people be best obtained on this
amendmsntf That question was answered BY the
precedens the preceding fourteenth amendment
has been submitted to the State Legislatures for ra
dcation. The suggestion that this amendment ought
conventions called expressly Tor that purpose at an
expense great to each state and enormous In the
aggregate, was nothing but politicians after
ton OF the representative system OF Connecticut
which Mr.. Dixon had spoken Of as q rotten
borough ,,tn system" and insisted that under II the
His colleague had said II that amendment were
adopted Connecticut would cease TO be an inde-
pendent State. That cry coming from that quarter
surprised him. because he had heard it before and
during the war from the rebels or the South and the
reasonable democracy Of Connecticut but the loyal
nf hot rot md A( m
had trampled 1t down.
Mr.. DIXON, (dem.) OF Conn.,, inquired whether he
denied that the state OF Connecticut is an INDIE
pendent republic.
Mr. FERRY-I do. most emphatcally
Mr.. DIxoN-Let us see whether the doctrine is as
my colleague says, politicians afterthought. The
State OF Connecticut provides In her State consttu-
ton that her electors before voting shall each take
sucn an oath as shall Be prescribed by law, and a
A. T., do selenny swear that you will be true and
faithful to the State OF Connecticut and the con-
pendent Sfate.n took that oath and the senator
took it, but he seems to have forgotten It. -~s4
MksSVMNER-what Is the date " that constitu
uonY = sss,---srrv
M FEssv-as colleague fsiefs to the ordnaTs
Onicia oath taken by The citizens OF Connecticut III
when the relations OF Connecticut as State 10 the
.ypublic of the United States not specially ind
Gated, end In which 1t Is clearly made known to
whoever takes the oath that the United States is the
only independent republic here in any appropriate
Nj. DIxoN--what did my colleague mean when he
swore that Connecticut was free and Independent
Mr.. FERRY-My colleague makes mistake about
our official OATH neither nor he ever swore that
the State OF Connecticut was free and independent
State. We swore TO be faithful to the constitution OF
Connecticut and TO the constitution OF the United
States.
Mr.. DIxoN-I ask the Senator whether Connec-
ticut Is u free and independent slater
Mr.. FERRy-ln the sense OF those words as used
by my colleague yesterday the State OF Connecticut
is not and has never been since the adoption of the
constitution OF the United States free aud indie
pendent republic. because sindependence IL limited
by all the provisions VI the constitution Of the United
States which control the exercise OF the functions OF
Mr.. DIxoN--In support of his views OF the State
independence, ana TO show that 1t was not new,
quoted from the constitution or Massachusetts,
adopted In 1880, the Words
The people OF this Commonwealth have the
sve right Of governing themselves as Free sovereign and
He then reiterated his views as to the right OF
each State to regulate suffrage within Its own Dor
ders and said that the Rev. Dr. Bacon, OF New Ha-
ven Conn.,, prominent advocate Of negro suffrage
took the same view.
In answer TO a satirical remark by Mr. Dixon
can party Mr.. morton, rep.j Of Ind, asked nim
whether anybody had charged the democratic party
with making any progress whatever since the begin
Er. Dixcy replied that much AZ 1t might surprise
the senator, the accusation had been made He had
party Of Connecticut had abandoned lis old doctrne
In regard TO payments Of bonds and had declared In
favor OF paying them in gold: Gaughter.y This was
the party was guilty. lLsughserl
Mr.. MORTON thought the party had made progress
his colleague sir Hendricks, nor the senator from
Connecticut CMr. Dixon had ventured to say word
IN this debate against the amendment upon Its
merits, but had confined themselves 10 opposing
the proposal made Of submitting II for ratification
He thought those senators felt the pressure OF
public opinion. Mr. Morton then briefly discussed
no ucSfia oft q hpS n In W na
put the amendment. lie objected to the form re-
ported by the Judiciary Committee because 1t merely
provided mo citizen should be deprived OF the right
10 vote or hold Office on account Of race, color or
previous condition Of servftude leaving II stl In
the power Of the STATES TO dsqualy for other
He liked better the form submitted by Mr.. Howard
yesterday an amendment providing that citizens
OF the United states Of African descent shall have
the same right to vote and mold ONCE g other cti
the States might establish an educational test
which, while II disqualified some white men, would
disquaify most OF the blacks. He preferred, there
fore an Affirmative amendment, declaring who shall
have the right Of suffrage, making II uniform and
leaving nothing on inc subject open TO forced con-
Mr.. WARNER read an argument In favor of an
affirmative amendment.
The Senate took up and passed the bill 10 provide
for the expenses OF the Patent ONCE for January and
February, 1863.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, rep.D OF oregon, offered the fol-
lowing amendment, upon which he VIII speak to
morrow
Congress shall have power 70 abolish or modify any resric.
ton III right hold ONCE prescribed BY the
constitution or laws Of any state.
And then, ut half past four, the Senate took re-
cess until seven +. N.
Evening Seasi0n.
few private bills Of public interest were taken
up and passed.
THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON RAILROAD.
ON motion OF Mr.. WILLIAMS the senate took mp
the bill to amend act granting lands to aid In the
construction or railroad and telegraph line from
the Central Pacific Railroad In California to Portland
Oregon.
Messrs. WILLIAMS and CoRBETT advocated IL and
Mr.. COSKIiNG opposed II.
The bill was rcc0mmtted.
SALE O. THE ST. LOUIS ARSENAL.
On motion OF Mr.. DRAKE, (rep.l Of Mo-, the bill
amendatory OF the act to provide for the sale Of the
Arsenal grounds A. 81. Louis was taken up and
passed.
AGRICULTURAL LAND SCRIP.
On motion OF Mr.. STEWART the bill TO lcgalize
certain land appropriations and agricultural scrip
was taken up.
Mr. CoNxLrNa, (rep.D OF N. ", offered an amend
ment providing that the act shall not be construed
to affect the location OF scrip issued prior TO It's APP
prevail and also mat all such scrip shall be received