The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-24
F0RTY-F0URTHC CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, June %.
GRRATE


from the Judiciary Committee, to NEE
the objections to the law expressed in tn,
recent decision Of the Supreme Court
After discussion vote was taken which
resulted yeas, %, nays, IA, q party vote
Mr.. Oglesby, from the Committee or
Indian Affairs, reported adversely on
Senste bill TO authorize the execution oi
the resolution of the National Council oi
the Usage Indians in relation to the pay.
ment of $4,000 for attorneys fees, and
1t was indefinitely postponed.
| The consideration of the bill to amend
the enforcement act was then pro-
Eceeded with, and several verbal
amendments to the first section were
agreed to. The second section, which
provides that If any person or officer OF
the United States, or officer of any State
or any person e1srciiing power or au.
thority under the United States or any
State shall deny or sbridge to any citizen
of the United States the right and oppor.
tulity TO vote, by reason of race, color or
previous condition of 'ervitude, Sc,
shall be punished by q fine not exceeding
$4,000 and be imprisoned not exceeding
two years.
| Mr.. Thurman moved 10 strike out the
words "person or" in the first line, so that
it should read, that if any officer of the
United States or officer of any State,
&c" He argued that the word person
was too broad in its meaning, and that
only persons in authority could be pun.
Ished.
Mr. Edmurds said the right of suffrage
TO every citizen was universal and sacred,
and this bill proposed to punish. any per-
son who invaded that right about the
polls or elsewhere endeavored TO prevent
= citizen from voting.
| Mr., Thurman asked how could q mere
private citizen holding no Office or
! authority, deny to another his right to
| vote? The 4th and 9Th sections of the
bill provided for the punishment OF
persons inserferi with the rights OF
I persons to vote, and the 2nd section
should have nothing to do with pri-
vste individuals.
Mr.. White said q more complete trap
4 lOl luOlNiuuuls Coult hos Uo inio subA
this Any private citizen who neglected
to assist a negro man in voting could be
punished under this bill by fine and
imprisonment. Could It be possible
! that such proposition should
20 forth from the Senate of the United
| Statss2 Mustaa citizsl be fined because
he will not extend his arm TO colorsd
| citizen and lesd N to the ballot box.
This bill made every man = conductor OF
colored voters.
L Mr.. Edmunds said the law already ON
fthe statute books had fallen through the
meshes vi the Supreme Court on account
| of the walt Of word aud the Committee
on judiciary SO lar a. they hsd any re-
sponsi iblItN about II, did not intend this
supplementary act .hvuld merit the tate
of It's predecessor.
After further debate the amendment
of Mr.. Thurman ~ strike ou. the words
persons and Was rejected, yeas Ia,
nays "a A .tr,ct party vote.
Mr.. Whyte moved to amend the sec.
ond section by striking out the word
1fail" and insert in li,u Whereof the word
refuse, 80 as " provide that any person
who snail refuse to allow and
furnish to any citizen their full, impartial
- equsi opportunity ~ vote shall
te deem, d gui,'y misdemeanor aud on
[ nvlctIon - punished by fine not e1-
ceeding 81 600, aud b. Imprisoned for q
perioa not exceeding two years.
Mr.. Edmunds said that the amend.
ment was oniy calculated, he would
.ol .sy ie.igned To- .emasculate the force
| OF the Oil.
The amendment was rejected; yeas is;
nays q.
Mr.. Norwood moved 10 amend the sec.
ond section by striking out tie word.
land furnish" so rs to provide that any
person who shall refuse 10 allow u
any citizen full, fair, impartial
nd equal opportunity, &c. Rejected
y,as, 10; nays, 20. @
| Mr., Cbristiancy moved TO maend the
section by striking out the words, per
sens Vi" in the first line. and insert al
The end Of the line the words "Or pre-
tending 10 be such officers or assuming
10 exercise such authority SO n 10 read
that if any officer ef the United States OF
officer OF any State, or any person eIer'
cl.ing IoSs: or authority under the
United States, or any State,
or pretending to be such
Utfcer or assuming 10 exercise such
authority hall deny or sbridge 70 any
c.tiz.u UG the United States the right "a
vote &c.
Tn Pr, ing officer, Mr.. Mitchell
rue. II. a..-sdment out Of order the
Dirt AZ 1t it having already been votec
~ by tie Senate.
M .uarman argued that Q Senator
had q rIghi. 10 move to strike out certain
words and insert Others in another part
o: section. He appealed from the de.
cision Of the Chair.
Alter discussion Mr. Thurman with
drs~ els appeal and Mr.. Christiancy
! m modified his amendment so as TO come
within the ruling Of the Chair and l,
was re; sctsd. c Yeas l6; nrys %.
The second section Of the bill ss re.
por ed by the committee Wa then agreed
TO.
The Committee reported q third sec
HOO OF toe Uiii - IOHO~-. Luet Nbth'
ever BY, or under the authority OF the
Constitution. or laws OF any State,
or laws: Of any territory, or
laws OF the United States,
sny act shall be required TO Be done BY
any citizen 81 prerequisite TO qualify OF
eniaIe him 70 vote, The offer Of any
such citizen 10 perform the act required
20 be drne ss aforesaid, shall, il il fail to
be cArrit-t into execution By reason Of q
wrongful act or omission Of the person
or officer charged with the duty Of receiv.
| ing or promoting such performances
or offer TO perform, or acting thereon,
proceeding from race, color or prev.
lou. condition of servitude Of such cIti.
zen, be deemed and Be- held - . per
/ Torrance in the las of such aet, and OF
due performance By such pesoa OF
officer of his duty in the premi'e<, and
persons 50 Offering and failing - afore
aid. and b-ing othervise quah
h-d, shall be entitled 10 yot,
in ,hesame manner and 20 the same
extent n if be bed in fAes psrfornec
I -