The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-06-08
VIII Est i A " Y DIT.
The Bill To Enforce The Fifteenth
Amendment.
THE LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS
0VERIHRUMM.
Rewards To Perjurers and Inform
erS.
The Federal Amy to Control the
Ballot-box.
REVOLUTION UNDER COVER OF TIE
LAW.

In the Senate, on Monday last,
the bill providing for the enforcement
of the fifteenth amendment came up
for consideration Mr.. Thurman, al
though unweu, and desirous of an
adjournment, was compelled to speak,
the Senate, in its anxiety TO get
through the measure, refusing the
usual courtesy. In commencing his
speech Senator Thurman said he
would 'tfore 90 any argument on the
question whether the so-called tff-
teenth amendment is 4 part Of the
constitution of the United States. l
shall speak for a practical purpose,
and therefore 1 shall not moot ques-
ton upon which know the dominant
party of the Senate is fully commit
ted, and which it would be entirely
useless therefore to discuss; but what
l wish to do Is to try in good faith to
convince the senate, it is willing to
be convinced, that there are pro
visions IN this bill which ought not
to be in it, and that the bill. taken as
whole, Is not one that should receive
the appreciation of the senate" The
remainder of the senator's speech fol
lows:
NO NECESSITY FOR SUCH LEGIS-
.r LATION. -
Nor, sir, shall discuss the gener-
al question whether congress should
proceed to legislation of this kind
without waiting to see what will be
done by the states, without waiting
to see that there is Il necessity fol
such legislation, without waiting for
one single act done in violation of The
right of any citizen under your ST.
teenth amendment Before any man
has been deprived of any right VIII t
soeyer, or even threatened with a de
/ privation of any right whatsoever, i
| is proposed to pass bill of pains ant
penalties Whether that can be done
| is a question which I shall leave with
out discussion, because l concede thai
this is a foregone conclusion with thc
majority Of the senate. 1t is true
that is question which l should like
to discuss, if thought there could be
any good produced by discussing it.
Without any act on the part of Il sin
gle state, without any threat of re
sistence OH the part of single state
when state after state, has permitted
the colored race to vote at the spring
elections, and there is no complaint
anywhere that any one of them ha;
been deprived of the right ofsufrage
1 do think it is of most evil eX
ample that bill which bristles al
over with pains and penalties, n bill
which makes it impossible almost fol
a man Of character ana responsibility
to hold the office Of judge of election
should be introduced into the senate
with fair prospect of its passage.
But, sir, passing this by, let u:
look at the details of this bill.
THE FIRST SECTION NUGATORY
What is the first section !? L speak
now of the amendment proposed by
the judiciary committee and here ]
ought to say thai though a member
of that committee was not in com
mittee when this matter was considered
1 was absent from the city; and il
was not until this Aery morning thai
for the first time 1 saw this bill
What is the first section of this pro-
posed amendment
"That all citizens of the United
States who are or shall be otherwise
qualified by the law to vote at any