Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-05-20
CONGRESSlONAL PROCEEDINGS
Perly-llr.l Cenarcss -seeend err.Ion.
THrRSPyA,r! MAJ Ar 10, 1870,


hundred citizens Of Rhode leland, represent
Ing that there IL distinction betweou white
male citizens as 10 the right 10 vote; that natu-
rallied citizens are denied the ballot unless
possessed Of s1bO worth Of real estate
Mr.. Pomcroy expressed the opinion that
Rhode Island should amend her legislation In
this respect. He dld not sec however, how
Congress could remedy the matter, unless by
Virtue Of the fourteenth amendment her basis
Of representation was reduced He should
Introduce bill on the subject to 20 to the
Judiciary Committee, 70 correct n possible,
this enormlty, as there certainly should not
exist any inequality "a respects The right 10
vote between white citizens.
Mr.. Pomeroy offered resplution, which
was ordered TO be printed and laid upon the
table, requesting the President TO open nego-
uations with the Government of Great Britain,
with view Of ascertalnlng whether union
Gao be effected Of the British North American
Provinces with the United States, on forms
alike honorable TO hll .1' I'm.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bin anthoriEing
free Of duty. Referred TO Committee on FL
Mr. Cole introduced bill 10 authorize the
eale Of coal lands and other mineral lands IN
the public domain, Referred to Committee on
Public Lands. a.Ts. 70 . fH..H.
The fifteenth amendment bill vps taken up
Mr.. Hamilton. Of Maryland, resumed his
reinarka. lie compared the HOUSE with the
Senate bill. The Senate I'LL could not he I'M
derstood. There was no necessity for n bill
at all, but II We must have bill, let us have
fair and Just one, one that can be under
stood. BY II the registry laws OF the States
viii be entirely subverted. In his State MARY
LAM they had most complete system OF re-
glstratlon, the last Legislature had amended
u 10 conform to the present political condl-
ton, and Il that system to DC overthrowni
lie had no objection to the bill, but, that II
should be amended so as 10 be Just and fair
II opens the door wide " fraud and perjury
section.
Il goes far beyond the meaning Of the worda
OF the fifteenth amendment Look at other
sections q the bill repeating all State laws
against bribery aud force. Il Is the glory Of
the common law Of England, handed down TO
Us, that man is tried In his own vicarage
tried by persons who are known 10 him; con-
fronted by Witnesses whom he knows But
you provide In this bin that an Innocent regis
terror Judge Of election by mere mistake In
Judgment perhaps may be dragged OH by o
United States marshal t0a distant part Of Inc
State, tried by strangers and strangers as wilt
nesses against him.
Mr.. II, alluded 10 those measures designed
TO protect the black man In his newly
acquired rights ~ evidence Of his ability 10
maintain them unasssted, and ~ proof that
thoae who were making efforts 10 place the
negro on an equality with the white man,
confess by their action that Il l. impossible for
himto cope with the white man. lie had lived
among the unfortunate race, and Wns lholr
friend. He desired that they should have cyefy
advantage Of education; that all means should
be taken 10 advance them In civilization and
IN the pursuit OF happiness, he would 90 a.
lar as any one to protect them in their rights
but he did Insist that all dictates Of sound
policy and OF humanity forbid any COM
mingling OF races; that TO keep them separate
and apart was the only safety Of tho weaker
When they came In contact with the Anglo
Saxon, they would 700 down as surely az the
sun shone The Anglo Saxon race was fcro-
cious race when anything stood In the way of
the accomplishment Of their purposes. What
did they do when they frst landed ON this con
tlnenL they knelt down and asked the bless
Ing of God, ard then possessed themselves OF
the whole country and people. Now wero
they not driving that same people from the
reservations In the West secured 10 them by
the most solemn treaties. tt
Mr.. Schurz In reply TO the charges made by
Democratic Senators, said Il was true, and he
presumed no Republican would deny Ii, that
we had passed through revolutionary scenes,
that revolutionary measures had been euacted;
that this was one Of them, and that the con-
stltution had been materially changed.
Mr.. l. then gave an account Of the political
and social system Of the United States, and OF
the two sectional dlvislons Of tho country,
and sald that under the plea Of State rights
and state Sovereignty, States had denied TO a
large portion of their population sometimes
majority any and all rights. l.IsIII
A social and political system had prevailed
which had deprayed the conscience Of the
American people, and II was surprising that
such theories and practices as prevailed should
have existed for one day, Then came thai
great revolution which tore down the Whole
Of the structure aud In succession have come
the measures which have, 80 far as possible,
turtles.
The Democratic Senators insisted that there
was no necessity for the bill, but the very fact
that they attacked the legality Of the fifteenth
amendment showed the necessity. They said
there was no opposition 10 the enforcement Of
the amendment but can this be soP The
sudden and instant freeing OF the eolored race
made II necessary 70 enact legislation TO &C.
cure them from tho oppression OF their fofAier
The Democratic speeches which had been
made here were revival OF the old pro-
slavery logic. The time had gone by when
this cry Of State rights had effect. lie be-
heyed In local pelf-goyernment. aud would
give 70 the States uvery pOsshle no 4 a. 81 gov
ernInenl which was not dcssrncilto II Inc In
teresta Of the Republic, aud was alrenuOusly
opposed 20 all unduq concentration OF power
III NtutNh nDNtIHIlltut, ana ne MOllIuI
now warn his party associates against too
frequent excuse OF arbitrary powersto correct
abuses. IL Is called radlcallsm, but Il Is very
poop Kind Of nadlcallam. IL l. wrong, too
" aecustom The people Of the United States
TO look TO- the National Government foEthe
correction OF their homo grievances W ]
Hocondemned the hap-hazard constructions
which had been placed on the guarantee
clause Of the Consultation. He considered
that guarantee to every State Of a republican
form OF government was most sacred trust;
but he denied that II conferred upon Congress
Of the human Imagination. He thought that
Congress had established goYemmenls In me
South more republican and more democratic
than had ever existed before, and In doing
this they had invaded the proper, reserved
rights Of the States, but II would not do 10 20
much further and he would say that any al
tempt ~ additional Capitalization would run
against a popular instinct much more power
full than party allegiance; and he would say
TO their Democratic associates that the people
would never eountenance any party which
did not recognize the great results df the war
or which attempted 70 obstrnct the great
measures Of right and liberty which had grown
out Of the war, and II resistance was made IN
the South the people Of the country would APP
prove Of much more stringent measures.
Our Democratic friends say this measure b
odlous. They and their friends have Il In
lntlf power 10 so act Us 10 make this and SLIM
liar provialons entirely superiuOus. Yes, gem
uemen, acknowledge that your old Ideas are
exploded that they have been cruehed BY the
Irresistible logic OF events. Cease uie cry thai
self-goyenment Is destroyed because now one
man has not the right 10 do with another man
as he pleases, and because the time Is over
when certain men have no rights which other
mon are bound to respect.
Cease the vain and lmpotont attempts 10
restore state Of Affairs which can never re-
turn. They must see that The black man who
has been admitted 20 the polls cannot be
driven away, and that the decree cannot III
reversed. 1.-THE Democratic party wants mai
peace and harmony for which they call 40
frequently, let them accept the situation; let
the dark hints that have 20 often been ut
tered On the floor, that the great amendments
are illegal, and that the day may come when
they will be 80 decided, cease
Mr.. Pool said the bin was proposed as q
means Of securing the right oil an election
under the fifteenth amendment, where those
rights were denied BY the omission Of a State
10 make laws to protect The amendment
might be infrlnged upon by one citizen COM
polling another, under threat or lnducement
TO dlscharce or employ him, 10 vote In par