Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-20
NATIONS CAPITAL NOTES.

the elections bill was taken up IS unfinished
bueiness George took the fl DOT, beginning
with q statement of the political methods
and apportionment of Connecticut A. COM
pared with Mississippi. In New York, he
said, although 1t was Democratic state on
popular vote, but one democrat was
sent to the Senate in twenty years, the
apportionment being 90 arranged as to
give the Republicans very large
majority in the Legislature.
The methods of apportionmentin M&sss-
chusetts came in review, as well as the ed
ucatioDal qualifications for voters. After
sta:emenl of the action of several states
on the subject of negro suffrage (after it
imposed on the South) George remarked
that in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Wis
consin the question had been submitted to
the people and rejected by large msjori-
ties, showing that while these people in the
northern states would not have it for
themselves, it was good enough for the
southern states where it was 10, 20 or 100
negroes for every negro in the North.
The Senate had heard IN bill admitted
by its Advocates to contain not word that
could correct the alleged evils in the con-
stitution of Mississippi) the state Of Missis-
sippi arraignsd day after day for pro-
vision in her cons titution less indetermiDate,
less lax, ard less liable to abuse than the
constitution Of several states to which he
called the attention Of the Senate, lie as
serted that tAe constitution of Oregon
(sdoped in ls57) contained provisions pro-
hibiting the immigration of negroes and
their settlement in the state, forbidding
contracts to be made with them, and, in
fact, outlawiDg them. He asked DoIph
whether those provisions had been changed.
Dolph said the constitution in question
wa. framed when Oregon was hspelessly
Democratic. The constitution had not
since been amended.
George-Then l understand those pro-
visions are physically .titutional in
Oregon. They may have fallen into an
"lnDocuous desuetude," and may not nov
be enforced. but they stand today as an
expression of the judgment of the people
of Oregon on this subject at that time, and
the people of Oregon have not seen proper
to recall the m in the same form or manner.
George yielded to Hosr, who entered a
motion to reconsider the vote by which the
number of supervisors at each poll should
be increased from three to four. George
from the views of distinguished Republi-
cans in the reconstruction period, as to the
incapacity of negroes TO exerci.e the right
of suffrage and insisting upon it that the
negro suffrage be imposed upon Southern
people as "a measure of punishment for
their rebellion and for party purposes.
He yielded the floor for awhile ss the
Vice President laid before the Senate .
message from the President transmitting
the sgreement made with the Grow Indians
for sale of the western part Of their res
ervation In Mont,na
George resumed the floor, quoting from
speeches of Stevens. Garfield, Boutwell,.
Fessenden and Sherman to show that it
was known ard ackbo Eiedged that every
every time the rieh. Of suffrage WAS con-
fe;red on the negro he was unfit to exer-
else it. And still, said George, we have
before ms today bill to consummate ruin
which Garfield eaid we were rushing on
bill to consummste punishment, Stevens
said, we deserved in the shape of negro
government.
George Welded to HoaY, ho moved that
the adjournment today be till IL tomorrow
to give the senators an opportunity to At
tend the funeral Of Bancroft. From St.
Johns church as III The motion was
agreed to.
George resumed the floor, and quoted
from the remarks Of Edmunds in the SEN
ate to the effect tha. it was not good
for the negro to be with the
white people in Vermont or Massachusetts
This idea (Edmunds said on tbs. occasion J
"was based on the belief that the nations
snd pscaa - nnnst;,n,ad hv <ha GA 81
nature and by political ard geographical
divisions and arrangements, got on better
as separate families, with separate indie
pendence and separate institutions. thar
il they had ana,gsmated together"
Never, George added, had wiser word,
been spoken. Yet their wisdom was only
recognized when the question was whether
it was good thi,e for the black man and
to be together in Vermont or Massscbu.
setis, and not Recognized or applicable n
Mis.issippi or Louisiana.
Havley recalled the statemect made BY
Walthall some weeks aso - TO the several
counties in Mississippi, where most Office,
were held by negroes, and asked Georg'
il il was true that in those counties ths
negroes sefs doing veil sdd governing
themselves.
George replied that, - Ress,nden hal
said. they conld not do % unless they sc.st
under good advice.
Walihsll said that in not one Of th.
counties referred TO had the negroes tax
ing power. In not one was there . nesr,
sheriff or msjority Of the board Of super
visors. In all the negroes held ofIces con
sistent with the safety Of private or publi'
interests.
Havley-Then please let them vote fos
members Of Congress; that has nothing 4
do with the local government or ta1inl
+. powers.
| Walthall-They do vote for members O
Congress, and vote pesceably. Ia III
vefy district Ia which these counties (al