Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
Has Congress Control Over the
District of Columbia
A Sharp Debate ON Universal
Suffrage.
SENATE.

| WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Mr. Cameron
reported that King Kalakaua would be in
the Presidents room, in the rear of the
Senate Chamber, at 11:30 A. NJ. tomorrow,
where Senators would be presented to him.
M. Cameron then submitted an order
| that the Senate meet at the usual hour,
and at 1915 take a recess, that the Senate
might proceed in a body to the hall of the
House and join in the ceremony of receiv-
ing his Majesty. Agreed to.
The Senate then resumed consideration
of the bill to revise, amend and consolidate
the laws relating to the security CT life on
board vessels propelled in whole or in part
by steam, and the reading thereof was con-
tinued. After the bill had been read
through
Mr.. Boutwell, moved that il be laid over
till Tuesday next, as the officers Of the
Treasury Department who had been au-
thorized to make an examination into GER
tain provisions of the bill, had not COM
pleted such examination. The motion was
agreed TO.
Mr.. Conkling presented a memorial Of
citizens engaged in the manufacture Of
umbrellas and parasols, calling attention to
the aggravated grievance in the tariff on
silk and alpaca.
Mr.. Sherman said the Conference Com
mittee on the tariff bill had no power to 90
beyond the subject matter in dispute be
tween the two houses, the first of which
was for modification OF the tobacco tax,
and the next in regard to the tax on
brokers' sales, and the third in regard TO
the tax on hops.
The memorial was referred to the Com
mittee on Finance.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen, from the Committee
on Agriculture, reported back the bill to
enable the Commissioner Of Agriculture to
make special distribution of seed, with an
amendment that $4,000, instead of $50
900, be appropriated for the purpose. The
amendment was agreed to and the bill
passed.
The Senate then resumed the cOnsidera-
ton of the bill to provide for better gov
eminent for the District of Columbia, the
pending question being on the motion of
Mr.. Thurman to strike out the word "Re-
gents" wherever il occurs, and insert that
of Commissioners" so that the Board
should be styled the Board of Commission
ers, instead of the Board of Regents.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Morton said there was a feature of
this bill to which he was entirely opposed.
No doubt the bill had been worked up
carefully, by those who had charge of ii,
but ii took from the people the power of
selfgoyernment, and put the Government
of the District in the hands of three men.
In that respect the bill was anti-republi-
can and anti-democratic, and he did not
feel that he could vote for it without
violating the spirit of the Constitution.
Ia did no halfaua fhn frorrh1ac Dft 1,ss
District grew out of the rights of suffrage.
He believed the right of local selfgOvern-
ment here was just rs important as it was
think the Constitution Of the United States
sustained the argument of his friend Nor
rill, that Congress had exclusive cOLtrol of
the District, and could abolish the right Of
suffrage here. He (MortOn) knew what
would be said about the abolition of this
right. 1t would be said that it was intended
to got clear of negro suffrage. He knew that
there were people in this District who were
willing to be disfranchised to get clear of
the colOred vote. From the beginning this
city had local self government. Congress
had the same control over the Territories as
over the District, and it would not be
argued that Congress had power to deprive
the people OF the Territories of the right Of
suffrage. If Congress had the power to
depute the government of this District to
three men, as this bill proposed, it had
power to depute the government to the
whole people of the District. At the proper
time he proposed to offer an amendment to
provide for the election OF these commits
sioners by the people of the District, INSTEAD
Of their appointment by the President.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, said this bill vio-
lates no principle of local government. 1t
never was intended that local government
should exist here. The authority of
Congress over the District was
The right of local self
government could not be violated, when no
such government existed. II was not ex-
pedient to have suffrage in this District,
and any Senator conyersant with the yari-
Gus classes of authority here in years past,
must agree with him.
Mr.. Bayard said he had not the slightest |
doubt that Congress has the exclusive right
of control over the District, and could con-
fer or withhold suffrage as il thought prop
er. Negro suffrage had been very sick
ening business to the people Of this Dis
trict.
Mr.. Morton move Ito strike out the clause !
requiring the Board of Commissioners to
be appointed by the President, by and with |
The advice and consent of the Senate, and |
insert in lieu thereof, clause requiring |
said Commissioners to be elected by the |
qualified voters of the District.
Pending the discussion, Mr.. EdmuEk |
from the Judiciary Committee, reports |
fayorably on the bill to enable the Sup-sse |
Court of the District of Columbia &c pro- |
coed with its juries business. Passed.
Mr. Bayard opposed the amendment of |
Mr.. Morton to make the commissioners |
elective, and said the evil under which |
this District bad suffered was caused in /
the main by the exercise of suffrage by |
those totally unfit for it. He hoped to see
the day when the question of suffrage |
would be left where the trainers of the |
{ constitution intended it to be, in the |
hands of those to be effected by the right. |
He would not vote to bring the curse of
negro suffrage upon the people Of this Dis
trict, against their interests, which were |
far more secure in the hands of three hon.
est, upright commissioners, than in the i
hands of negro voters.
Mr. Thurman said he was opposed to the |
of the Senator from Indiana.
The duty of Congress was prescribed by the |
Constitution of the United States, which |
provided that Congress should have exclu-
sive control over the District of Columbia.
When Congress said there should be no
suffraoa in thiS District IL w,,uld |