Year: 1866

ton at Washington, to have charge of the
educational interests of the country, and to
establish commercial schools in every part OF
the Union. Fl w e ~


Mr. Nye, of Nevada, called up bill for
the relief Of Paymaster Rittenhouse, Of the
Pacific Squadron, to indemnify him for the
loss Of public funds stolen from his safe. Id
the discussion of this measure, Mr.. Wilson, +,
who opposed Il, stated that the Government
had lost not less than quarter of million,
through the negligence of paymasters, since
the beginning of the war. He thought it
best to hold every one to a strict account, and
not set bad precedent at this time, when
so many settlements are being made with the
paymasters.


Pending the discussion of the above, Mr.
Fessenden said:


give notice that on Monday l will ask the
Senate to proceed to the consideration Of the
joint resolution for an amendment TO the
Constitution, reported by the Committee on
Reconstruction, and as understand that the
Senator from Massachusetts is prepared to
speak on that measure, and as other gentle
men understand he is to speak to- day, l shall
make motion that the consideration Of this
bill be postponed until Tuesday, and that we
proceed to the consideration of the joint res
olution.


Mr. Stewart, of Nevada, spoke In favor of
the bill for the admission Of Colorado.


Several Senators replied that the bill for
the admission of Colorado could be taken up
at any time.


The joint resolution was then read, propos-
ing the following amendment:


Representation shall be apportioned among
the several States which may be included
within this Union, according to their respect
i've number, counting the whole number of
persons in each State, excluding Indians not
taxed; provided, that whenever the elective
franchise shall be denied or abridged on ac-
count of color, all persons of such race or
color shall be excluded from the basis of rep
resentation.


Mr.. Sumner took the floor, and after few
Introductory remarks called for the reading
of the following proposition, offered by hlm as
substitute for the above joint resolution:


Whereas, it is provided that the Constitu-
ton of the United States shall guarantee TO
every State in the Union Republican form
of Government, and whereas by reason Of
the failure of certain States to maintain Gov
ernments WHICH Congress can recognize, it
has become the duty of the United States
standing in the place OF guarantees, when the
principal has become failure, to secure TO
such States a Government Republican in form;
and whereas, it is provided In a recent Con-
stituuonal amendment that Congress may en-
force the prohibition of slavery by appropri-
ate legislation, and i, is important to this end
that all relics of slavery should be removed,
including all distinction OF rights on account
of color; now, therefore, to carry out the
guaranty OF Republican form of Government,
and enforce the prohibition of slavery,


Be il Resotred, by the Senate and House of
Al
clared to be in rebellion, there shall be no
ohgarchy, arlstocracy, caste or monopoly,
invested with privileges and powers, and
there shall be no denial of rights, civil or po-
litical, on account of color or race, but all
persons shall be equal before the law, wheih
er In the court room or at the ballot box, and
this statute, made IN pursuance OF the Con-
stitution, shall be the supreme law of the
land, anything In the Constitution or laws of
any such State to the contrary notwithstand.
ing.


Mr.. Sumner gave briefly his objections TO
the proposed Constitutional amendment,
which he characteri7es as nothing else than
another compromise of human rights, as if
| the country had not paid enough for such
compromise in the past.


1t was wrong TO admit in the Constitution
the idea that man could hold property In
man, and SO also the kindred idea Of inequal-
ity in race, and thus openly set at naught the
first principle of the Declaration of Indepen-
deRee-the guarantee of q Republican form
of government. Four millions ofcitizens ais
now robbed of all share in the government OF
their country, while at The same time they are
taxed directly or indirectly for the support OF
the Government and this taxation is without
representation, and it is now proposed to re-
cognze this as not inconsistent with Consti
tutional rights and the guarantee of a Repub
lican government.


He then proceeded to his argument on the
power of Congress to procure equal rights
to all, and began by expressing . heartfel,
aspiration that the day might soon come wher
the States lately in rebellion could be re
ceived into the copartnership of politica
power, and into the full fellowship of the
| Union. He saw full we'll that it was vain to
expect this day, so much ionged for, until We
obtain that security for the future which can
be found only in the equal rights Of al
whether in the court room or at the ballo
box. The powers of Congress on this subjec
were as ample as they were beneficial. From
for the purpose, and all swelling into an ire
sistible current, and tending into one direc
ton.


First-The necessity of the case by which
according to the analogy Of the territories
| disloyal states, having no loyal Government
lapse under The authority of Congress


Seoondly-The rights Of war which do no
expire or loose their grasp, except with th
establishment of all needful guarantees.
i Thirdly-The constitutional injunction Il
guarantee republican form of government
and fourthy; the Constitutional amendment
by which Congress in words Of peculiar eneF
gy, is empowered to enforce the abolition Q
slavery, by appropriate legislation. All thes
powers lead to the jurisdiction Of Congress
over the whole subject,