Year: 1864

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1864.


The SENATE again had before it the question of negro
suffrage in the District of Columbia This subject
presented in bill which proposes to amend the fifth
ton of the act entitled an act to continue, alter and
amend the charter of the city of Washington approved
May H. l84S to provide for registration of voters
in the city of Washington. The bill called up by
Mr.. DNoN who held that it important to pass it at
once, the time for municipal election is at
hand. He submitted amendment providing that the
board of registration, any of them, shall
neglect refuse to perform the duties enoned by the
BILL the Supreme Court of the District being informed
of the fact shall appoint other person persons to
perform all of the said duties This amendment was
adopted. Mr.. CowAN then moved to insert the word
"whte" before male citizen designating those who
are to be voters. Mr.. SUMNER expressed hope that
this would not be done. Mr.. CowAN argued that the
amendment very proper especially when they
making experiment which trembed in the balance
in behalf of an inferior 1t great mstske to
suppose the right to vote inherent right many
seemed to do. 1t mere conventional right and
existed only where agreed upon. 1t the basis Of
white that the experiment of republican government
was set up in this country. Our white women not
given the right to vote and it will hardly be claimed that
rude sembarbsrous uneducated negroes who have just
emerged from degrading state of servude is the
with large number in this city, capable of
exercising that function than intelligent white women.
And then there minors, say from sixteen to twenty
years of age who not allowed to vote and yet
certainly generally intelligent and capable of exercs
ing the elective franchise than these negroes No
should be allowed to exercise political power class
and is not to be doubted that these coored would
vote or be led TO vote such here if given the power to
do Mr. SUMNER remarked that the colored Of
Rosto do Mr. said thav tao
few in number there in comparison with the other cleo
tors to be Of any weight election and therefore there
motive for class action. But in Boston
negroes cannot vote unless they read write that
If these negroes transp ored to Boston they would
not generally be voters La Pennsylvania negroes had
formerly voted but the moment they became numerous
enough, by Of accsssons o ugves from the BoT
der slave States to bs felt and appreciated in the
munty The people Of the State almost unanimously de-
cided to exclude them from the privileges Of the elective
franchise He thought his amendment should certainly
prevail Mr. DooLiTTLE moved to postpone the bill in
order that the Indian bills might be taken up. Mr. Dixon
opposed the motion, which negstved yeas H. ys
81 Mr. WILEY then took the floor, and addressed the
Senate 10 opposition to the bill until the expiration of the
morning hour after which other business had precedence


The bill providing for national currency then
taken up and various amendments proposed thereto





sitting and not disposed of at the time Of the adjourn
ment .a


In the HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES, a report was sub
mitted by Mr.. DAWES concluding with resolution de.
caring that f. Blair is not and that Mr. Knox is ent
tied to seat in the House Representative from the
First Congressional District Of Missouri The consdera
lion Of this postponed and the House took UP
the contested case from the State of Bruce
against Loan, the latter being the sitting member
Mr. UPsoN spoke favor of the report Of the Committee
Of Elections to refer the settlement of this case back to
the people, on the ground that the election is nulity
owing 10 the fact of military interference at the polls Mr.
DAWES of Massachusetts in effect took similar course
Mr. SMI1HERs of Delaware spoke in favor OF the reen
tion of the seat by Mr.. Loan. The House, without
cuding the subject, adjourned till Monday.


MONDAY, MAY 8, 1864.


In the SENATE resolution reported by Mr. FooT,
from tho Committee on Public Buildings declaring mex
pedent the proposed changes the south front Of the
Treasury Building with the view OF securing additional
room The resolution was adopted. Mr.. HOWARD re-
ported from the Committee the Pacific Railroad, an
amendment in the form OF substitute for the Pacific rail
road bill 1t was ordered to be printed On motion Of
Mr. CONFESS the bill approprating 100000 for the pur
chase of site and erection Of buildings for the Branch Mint
at San Francisco taken up and passed The national
currency bill came up as the unfinished ousnesthe pend
ing question being the amendment of Mr. Henderson to
strike out the $500 600 900 limit for circulation and insert
such amount issued by the comptroller to banks al
ready created This amendment rejected-yess l3,
nays and the remainder Of the sitting occupied in
the discussion of other amendments to the b which
still pending. #u.# sn


In the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, the contested case
Of election from the Seventh Congressional district Of Mis-
souri, again under consideration being the Of Mr.
Bruce against Loan helater being the sitting member
Mr.. ELIOT Of Massachusetts,, and Mr.. DAVIS Of Mary