The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-24

Senate was told that that law was 70 secure the
purity OF elections and protect the rights Of the
pcorle.
be kind enough 60 read the words, otherwise
Qualified" In the section, and explain what they
mean.
Mr. whyte-But the annant himself Ia to be
the judge OF his qualification, besides the
marks OF tue Senator are not an answer to my
NJ. Edmunds Naughing)-rhey are an ans wer
90 VIII It Is not an Argument.
MIR. WHITE said the gentleman from Vermont
mi. hit Laugh, out perhaps this law might meet
the fate Of It's pred ecessors la the supreme
Court. Then the laugh would be on the other
side.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Merrimon submitted an amendment pro-
vidine that any person 40 Offering such afidsvt
viction thereof before any District or Circuit
Court of the United States having jurisdiction,
snail be punished as In other cases OF perjury.
Mr.. Ednunds said the statutes Of the United
etstes alre ady defined the crime OF perjury and
provided Tor Its punishment. The COMMITTEES
ON the Judiciary did not think II necessary to
r,snsct the statutes In regard TO perjury In this
| bill.
Mr. Morton (Rep.. Ind } said he would be very
glad to agree With the committee In regard to
| this second section, nut he had great doubt rs
| 60 the const,tutionality Of ~ The colored peo
ME were entitled to vote upon precisely the
same terms ana conditions % anybody else, but
precedent to voting as req ired OF others. He
doubted the r,gnt II Congress- to say that coll
ored men should vote though they were not
| registered. Consress had the right to punish
the registry officers for refusing 20 register them
on account OF color, but he state had the right
70 require that every voter should DC registered.
In his opinion II was not com ne tent for Congress
to override the laws IN regard to registration.
| ALTERING STATE LAWS.
Mr. Thurman spoke In opposition TO the third
section, and said IL wasa plain. bold attemnt to
| alter the election laws 81 the states. IL Con.
| gress had the rilht to alter or amend a state
| election law, they bad he right 10 repeal any
such law IN any State upon the pretext that It
interfeted with the right OF the colored man TO
| vote. He denied that II was appro priate legis-
iation to enforce the Fiitceutb Ame ndment by
| changing the election laws In the states. This
s sr lao tsS To sye Se s ,"a
| election IN the humblest hamlet In the land by
tConsress proposed to change perfectly CON /;
State. he passage " this bill would be sim
ply saying to the States that they had no rights
wnicn Cougres was hound to respect.
Mr.. EJmunds asked II Il was not ike the State
laws In many st ates,
pass these laws belongs to the state, and not to
Congress.
amendment was .jected. ID to q: Mr. Booth
voting with the De,nOcta In the AN rDative.
Mr.. Chrsuancy moved an amendme mt 70 the
thru section so as u provide that the section
shall not apply TO anv state where, IN the law
OF such state. no person Of any race or color
shall De allowed To vote without being pre-
yiously actu uy registered. ReJec,ed. Tue
section IA reported by tue committee was thet
rHH FOURTH SECTION.
| Mr. Thurman objected To the fourth sector
| Of the Dill, which provides that II any person
| by force or bribery, threats OF INTIMIDATION o
oiher unlawful means, shall hinder, prevent, OF
| obstruct any citizen from doing any act required
| by Law to be doue u qualify nim TO vote, on &C
count OF race, color, or previous condition al
ssrvitude, snail, for every sucn offence, pay $50
To tue person asgrleved, and also be deemed
guilty Of u tnisdemeanUr and punished by
me Of not less than t5J0, or imprisoned not les,
than one month nIro,ors than on. year: Ia hl
DISTINCTION on account OF color.
| Mr.. Edmun IA, lluding to the 81. Louis Con
vention, said: Nv Trend will have a race mex
week" lLaugbter1
Tue section was agreed TO.
| Mr.. Merrimon submitted an amendment Il
the third section, providing that II any person
50 making and prese ming such AFFIDAVIT shal
wilfuliy and contrary 10 MS oath IN that beh ali
state or subscribe any material IN tier which he
docs not believe TO be true ne snail be deemed
guilty Of u r1ury. and shall vn conviction b,
hapie to the penal les provided In section 5.H<
OF the Revised Ststutes OF the United States
Agreed 10.
of the note. was reported to tue senate anc
the auIenumeDt- made IN committee agreed TO
IL was then read third time and passed
Yeas 20 NAYS. 10.
r. snern an. from the Com mittee on Finance
reported substitute for the House BILL provd
ing for the OF coin anu Tor other purpos es
Passed on the c tlendar.
| lhe Senate insist ed on its amendments TO The
Indian Appropriation bill, aud also on III
amendments 10 the Naval Appropriation bill
and agreed the conferences on those bills
asked Tor ny the House Of Representatives.
| Aessrs. WiDdom. Logan aud Ransom we're ap-
pointed IN em bers OF the OnInittee ON the for
mer oil, ana Messrs. Sargent. Cragin and With
ers on the iatter.
Nit. spencer (Ais.) called no the House bill q
regulate the assessment ana collection Of take;
for Tue support OF the Government OF the DIS
| unfinished business to- morrow, aud The senate
at O'Clock, adjourned.