Year: 1866

NEGRO SUFFRAGE.


In the House OF Representatives, yesterday


Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, with a view 70 a full
understanding, proposed that at halt past three
O'Clock tomorrow the House take the vote to
recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary the
bill extending suffrage in the District of Coium-
bia. Although not approving, he accepted as a
part OF the motion to recommit the amendment
proposed by Mr.. Hale, in the character OF in
structions.


Mr.. Conkling rising to an explanation, said n
resolution introduced by him on the fifteenth
instant, proposing an amendment TO the Con
sututlon of the United States, had been so far
msngled by errors in the printing as to make
nonsense. He therefore wished TO say that the
purpose OF the amendment was not at all to
sulct the basis of representation TO citizens
Inc WORD "persons" disposed of that question.
Inc sole purpose of the amendment was to get
rld OF the present injustice and inequality OF
representation, arising from the fact that four
millions OF people, who have no political
rights, are not represented in Congress- and the
entire object is to propose such a mode to ad-
just the representation, so that whenever, in
any State, the elective franchise shall be denied
or abridged on account of race OF color. all per
sons sons OF spch race or color shall be excluded
from the basis of representation.


Mr.. Blaine, of Maine, said that unless he
was mistaken the resolution read ''whoIe mum
Der OF citizens of the United States"


MIR. Conkling said the term should be "per-
sons" although the resolution read s'citizens !"


The House resumed the consideration of the
bill TO extend suffrage in the District of Colum-
bia, by striking from all laws and ordinances
on the subject the word swhite."


Mr.. Darling, of New York, said if he knew
himself there was no unjust or unmanly prelu-
dice which warped his judgment or controlled
his action on any matter of legislation affecting
the colored race upon this continent He be-
heyed in their equality of rights before the law
with the dominant race. He believed in their
right 10 life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi-
ness; and yet he believed, before they conferred
upon them the political right of suffrage, as
contemplated by the bill under consideration,
they should seek to elevate their social condi-
ton, and lift them up from the depths OF degra-
dation and ignorance in which many OF them
are left by the receding waves of the sea of re-
belllon. There were many objections TO con-
ferring upon the colored men of this District
the gift of unqualified suffrage. The large
preponderance which they possess numerically
would inevitably lead 10 mischievous results
without education. Make education a qualii-
hon, not property, and they would vote intelli-
gently. He would not disregard entirely the
voice OF the District, many voters of whom are
strong Union men Of loyal sentiments. There
was proposition before the House TO create a
commission for the government of the city;
and, IN order to give an opportunity of maturing
bill for that purpose. and presenting il TO the
consideration of the House, he moved that the
measure now under discussion be postponed
until the first Tuesday in April.


Mr.. Hale, of New York, addressed the House
In favor OF extending suffrage to all, without
regard to race or color, who can read the Con-
stitution of the United States; to those who
are assessed for and pay taxes on real or per-
sonal property; to those who have served in
ana nave been honorably discharged from the
military and naval service of the United
States, and to exclude from the right of suf-
frage those who have borne arms against the
United States in the late rebellion, or given to
tad and comfort He said, as he understood
the terms, there was no conflict between radi-
callsm and conservatism. II IL was radi-
calism TO remove all that was wrong and pre-
judicial to our system Just as fast as a due re-
gard to the public interests would permit then
he claimed TO be a radical. If it was conserya-
tism to preserve in fall force and effect all that
was good and excellent in our present system,
then he claimed to be conservative. He de-
MED that this is exclusively q white mans
Government 1t was founded in behalf of
man, without regard to race or color.


Mr.. Thayer of Pa, said, in his remarks to
pass this bill was clearly within the scope of
constitutional power. The question to be
solved was, was il consistent with Justice and
was il demanded by the people of the United
States This was not question which alone
concerned seven thousand voters of this city,
but il involved the honor, ood faith, Justice
and magnanimity of a great nation, which
makes this little spot the central seat of its en-
pire and power. If il concerned the honor of
the United States that a certain class of people
in portion of its territory, subject to its iuris
d!ction and control, should be benefited In
consideration OF the change which has taken
place in its condition, and if the fidelity which
had been exhibited in the midst of great and
severe trials demands the elevation of race 10
higher political degree, should the United
States be prevented from the accomplishment
OF mat great and generous purpose by the
handful of voters who temporarily encamp
under the shadow Of the Capitoll In adveca-
ting the bill, he held that equal and impartial
justice was the first duty of the nation


Mr.. Van Horn, Of New York, replied to the
remarks of gentlemen on the Democratic side
who had argued that this was a white mans
Government. He asked, why not accept the
new order OF things instead Of defending the
borrid crime of slavery of the pastl The Gov
eminent, he maintained, was not only for the
white man, but for all of whom il Commands
obedience and support and the time now is
when the black man has rights which the white
man is bound to respect We should allow the
colord man who, during the war, had shown
their capacity to secure liberty and permanent
ly establish il, chan ce TO vindicate themselves
before the world. He argued in favor of i'm
partial suffrage In the District of Colombia re-
marking, In this connection, that the blacks
here had been consistently loyal, and that IL II
had depended on the white citizens slavery
would have beenIin existence at the present
day.


After the transaction of some other business
Of no great importance, the House adjourned.