Year: 1866

| Ac0t C0 thoe ehOiS HASuh OC tNAASN IL
the simple words that State might
exclude people On account of race
or color, it was defeated, and the
matter was postponed till next week
The difference between the President
and Congress on this point, was that
of tTeedledum and tweedledee. He
(Mr. Sherman) did not believe that
the people of New England would
have right to complain if the ladies
were counted out, because their de-
sceudants in the Western States
would be sure to vote New England
principles. He did not think that
the people would cry about it very
much if the unnaturalized foreigner
in New York City were excluded
from representation IfPsoPlc wan
ted to abuse Andy johnson on ac-
count of differing with Congress on
this point, they ought rather to differ
with those Union members Of Con-
gress who refused to help to carry
out this plan. There was another
point upon which the President and
Congress differed, and that was how
far the elective franchise should be
extended to the negro population of
the Southern States. He 1.-THE spea-
ker J never could understand why
anybody should be excluded from
the elective franchise merely because
he was black. But he could under
stand why people might be excluded
from that privilege on account OF
condition. In his opinion the ne
groeS of the South were mere chill
dren in intellect, and he thought it
would not be wise now to compel the
Southern States, as q condition of
readmission, to give the colored peo-
pie the elective fraDchise--not be-
cause they were black. but because
it would be time enough for them to
have it when they were educated suf-
ficIently to know what was right and
what was wrong. If he was COM
PEELED to choose between q rebel and
on ignorant negro, he would prefer
the negro ten thousand times before
the former. But as Legislators were
now, in amending the Constitution,
acting for all future time, it behOoves
them 10 be governed by broad and
deep principles. There were those
in Congress who believed that the
negro should have the suffrage at
once, but the people of Connecticut
and of Ohio could not consistently
urge this measure when they refused
to permit a handful of intelligent
colored people to vote. President
johnson said he was willing to ex-
tend the suffrage to every black sol
dier who wore the uniform of the
United States army and who could
read and write. He (Senator Sher
man thought that was rigats The
south would soon see it Co be to
their interest, il thew wanted incr cas-.
- pois.sSFpower, to gradually ex-
tend the suffrage to the caiored peo-
pie. He thought the suffrage ought
to be extended to the negroes In the
District of Columbia, because Con-
gress had power over the question,
and because they were wellinformed
and loyal. During the war, all the
negroes had been faithful to the
Union, and helped Northern soldiers
in prison to escape, and therefore
the President and Congress were
bound TO protect the negroes OF the
South in all their civil rights. That
led him to speak of the last point
upon W hich it WAS said there was q
difference between the President and
Congress. The President was op-
posed to extending the suffrage to
negroes in the District Of Columbia,
but because he believed in the doc
trine OF popular soyereignity. The
Senator then alluded to the passage
Of the first aud Of the recent Freed
mems Bureau bill, and said that the
President only exercised his consti-
tutional right of vetoing it, but he
(the speaker) had the authority OF
General Howard for saying that he
never asked Andrew johnson for any
power to protect the freedmen ofthe
South but that power was amply and
freely given. Applause. The
principal reason why he (Senator
Sherman) supported the bill was be-
cause he was desirous of protecting
the negroes who were settled on the
Sea Island plantations, and he was
pleased to know that the military
power would continue to protect
them. There were no vital differ
ences Of opinion between the Presi-
dent and Congress to alarm any Un-
ion man, and 1t was his abiding con-
viction that Andrew Johnson never
would throw the power the loyal
people gave him into the hands OF
the Copperhead party of the United
States. No cajoling could draw him
from the right line, for he was man
who fought his own battles, although
he might fight them sometimes IN
discreetlv. He believed that the
President would sign the civil rights
bill, which was sent to him on Thurs
dav; and if he did. what would be-
come of the winnings Of the Cop
perheads? They would not be so
much in love with Andy johnson as
| they were now.


In conclusion, he spoke of prop
osition which a distinguished Cop
perhead made to 8 loyal Democrat
/ 1Gov Todl in Ohio, 10 revive the
Democratic party, which the latter
thought would be a very good thing,
when the Union party had failed to
comply with the obligations 1t had
assumed to pay the national debt and
| to pay the pensions Of the widows OF
soldiers.


At a religious meeting among the
blacks, colored preacher requested
that some brother should pray