New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-27
SUFFRAGE IN TIE STATES.
REPORTS OF THE MAJORITY y MINORITY OF
THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON
TILE uOIK RESOLUTION.

washington. Eel. 25.-The minority members Of the
Committee on the Judiciary have prepared two reports
in opposition 10 the lIOuk resolution. WHICH Wa
ordered favorally reported to the House. directing tho
Judiciary Committee to inquire into and report TO the
House whether or not any state has. by any conS'l"
tionaI or statutory provision, violated The second secl'oh
Of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution so
that a proper apportionment Of Representatives may
be made by Congress. one minority report prepared
bv MIR. Oates, of Alabama, IS signed by Mcssrs. oates,
Culbcrtson, of Texas; Henderson, Of North Carollha'
and Wilson, of West Virginia, and by stewart Of
Vermont, with a qualification. This report says that
the states are not constitutionany prohlbltcd from
DISTINGUISHING any of their male citizens 1t only
prescribed as a penalty for such Acknowledgement ior
any other course than that Of participation III rcbeiIioh
or other crime, that the representation In Congress from
such state shall he reduced in the proportion when the
persons disfranchiscd bear TO the Whole n'imoer oi
adult male citizens in such state. Inc question: J.
asked, if the resolution reported be adopted nov" 'dil
the ommittee make the inquiry directed III inc ao'eH'o
of any legislation 10y Congress providing the means oi
securing evidence TO enable the committee to procure
the necessary proofs to warrant Congress III reducing
the representation of any Statel The committee assume
that some citizens in Mississippi and Massachusetts arc
denied the right TO vote by the state Constitutions lI
some other reason than crime. This may be true
but the minority cannot shut their eyes 10 INC i'''
that the Constitution OF Mississippi has not YET gone
into operation and that there is no law appIcaDle 70
that state. Massachusetts or any other state by whlch
the committee can legally and certainly ascertain the
number of disfranchlscd, for Congress has never
nrovided the means by which this may be done
I-Dtl such legislation is enacted it is utterly inulc 10
adopt such a resolution, for II cannot be compHeu VII"
Mr.. Rogers. in his individual minority report SAYS
,he resolution proceeds on two false assumptions
first. that il a state restricts suffrage for cause o'he'
than rebellion and crime it violates the second section
A. ro,,.,ou4b, amendment. and, second, tndt II
j. necessary for some states to violate this section IN
order that a proper apportionment Of Representatives
NAV no made. OF the states whose constitutions, &C
cordinr 10 the logic Of the majority, are offensive 10
the section Of the Constitution cited, says Mr. Rogers
The list is so long as to suggest the inquiry "htUhc'
the whole country is not rapidly growing weary Oh ,"o
Fourteenth Amendment altogether and becoming I'M
bued with the idea that the people OF the atuHs are
capable Of self government and should be LETT 70 IL
without outside interference.
The majority of the committee in its report, pro
nared by Mr.. Casweil, of Wisconsin, says that inc
committee did not deem II necessary, In a parliamentary
.pUulry. TO examine the various State constitutions
INIT that in the Judgment Of the majority tho oohsu-
,utions Of Mississippi and Massachusetts are clearly
within the provisions Of the second section OF inc
Fourteenth Amendment. because of the educational
and property requirements thereof. The Fourteenth
Amendment. IL says, is broad and comprehensive IN It's
terms and requires that the representation shan oe
reduced whenever there is an abridGment OF sunfase
for any other than the two reasons stated A..
lit is not for US SAYS the report, " to discuss me
wisdom OF the Fourteenth Amendment nor docs u DC
come our duty to determine how or IN Wmt manner
The number or proportion Of the lnhabItahts Oh any
civen state who are disfranchised can be ascertained.
Tbo sole question delegated to Us is whether the con
stitutIon or laws of any state should work a reduction
~ its representation by reason Of suffrage restriction.
TTha instances cited with reference To Massachusetts,
and Mississippi. we believe, show that me rs9lutyh
ought to pass 50 that a thorough Investigation might be