the educational test; in each case he was governed by the same consideration. "The bill," he said, "is the enfranchisement of the colored race in the District of Columbia. It completes Emancipation by Enfranchisement. It entitles all to vote without distinction of color. The courts, and the rail-cars of the District, even the galleries of Congress, have been opened to colored persons. It only remains that the ballot-box be opened to them. Such is my sense not only of the importance but of the necessity of this measure; so essential does it appear to me for the establishment of peace, security, and reconciliation, that I am unwilling that it shall be clogged, burdened, or embarrassed by anything else. I wish to vote on this measure alone. Therefore, whatever may be the merits of other questions, I shall have no difficulty in putting them aside until this is settled."

Mr. Dixon's amendment to make reading and writing a test was then rejected.-Yeas 11, nays 34. Mr. Wilson moved to amend the bill by adding two new sections, one section making it unlawful to buy votes and punishing any man for attempting to buy votes; the other section punishing the voter who should sell his vote. The amendment was agreed to. The yeas and nays were then ordered, on motion of Mr. Saulsbury, on the passage of the bill, and resulted-Yeas 32, nays 13. The announcement of the passage of the bill was greeted with enthusiastic applause by the galleries.

Mr.

In the House on the 14th of December, the bill was taken up and Mr. Ingersoll of Illinois moved the previous question on its passage. The yeas and nays were ordered on motion of Mr. Niblack of Indiana, and the bill passed.-Yeas 118, nays 46. In the Senate on the 7th of January, 1867, a message was received from the President giving his reasons for not signing the bill. After the message had been read, Mr. Saulsbury moved to postpone its consideration until the next day. Mr. Morrill opposed the motion and it was not agreed to, and the Senate proceeded to its consideration. Morrill briefly reviewed the message, and Mr. Sherman expressed his belief "that experience will demonstrate the wisdom of this act as it has the kindred act of emancipation in this District." Mr. Cowan followed in opposition to the bill and in support of the veto. He emphatically declared that "the right of life, liberty, property, is the gift of God; the right to vote and the right to hold office, which is the same thing, is the gift of the community. That is all. The negro who is prevented from having a vote in a community has no more right to complain of it than the defeated candidate after the election has a right to complain. Why? Because who shall vote is a question of expediency and policy for the community to decide." Mr. Williams spoke for the measure, and Mr. Johnson and Mr. Doolittle followed in opposition. The question

was then taken and the bill passed over the veto.Yeas 29, nays 10.

In the House on the 8th the President's veto message was read, the previous question ordered on motion of Mr. Ingersoll of Illinois, and the bill passed. Yeas 113, nays 38. Speaker Colfax then said: "On the question whether the House, on reconsideration, agrees to the passage of this law, the yeas are 113, the nays 38. It having been certified that the Senate, upon a reconsideration of the passage of this bill, agrees to its passage by a two-thirds' vote, and the House of Representatives, upon a similar reconsideration, having agreed to its passage by a two-thirds' vote, I therefore, according to the Constitution of the United States, do declare that, notwithstanding the objections of the President of the United States, the act to regulate the elective franchise in the District of Columbia has become a law."

CHAPTER XIII
APTER

SUFFRAGE IN THE TERRITORIES.

Mr. Ashley's Bill.-Motion of Mr. Le Blond.-Remarks of Mr. Spaulding and Mr. Le Blond.-Bill passed.-Mr. Wade reported House Bill with amendments.-Motion of Mr. Buckalew.-Speech of Mr. Wade.-Remarks of Mr. Buckalew.-Speech of Mr. Saulsbury.-Bill postponed.— Mr. Wade's substitute.-Amendment modified.-Bill passed.-Mr. Wade's motion. Mr. Ashley's motion.-House concurred.

In the House of Representatives on the 24th of April, 1866, Mr. Ashley of Ohio introduced a bill to amend the organic acts of the Territories of the United States, which was referred to the Territorial Committee of which he was chairman. On the 26th Mr. Ashley reported it without amendment, and it was ordered to be printed and recommitted. Mr. Ashley, on the 3d of May, reported it back without amendment. On the 15th the bill came up for consideration, and Mr. Ashley moved an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Mr. Le Blond of Ohio moved to strike out the 9th section of the amendment which provided that "within the Territories aforesaid there shall be no denial of the elective franchise to citizens of the United States

because of race or color, and all persons shall be equal before the law." Mr. Spalding declared his intention to vote against the bill if that provision was stricken out. Mr. Le Blond denied the power of Congress to say to the people of the Territories, "you shall extend the right of suffrage to all your citizens irrespective of color." He had made the motion to raise directly the issue whether Congress was in favor of granting to all persons, irrespective of color, the right of suffrage. "I conceive," he said, "that this provision of the bill before us has and can have no other purpose than to carry out this cherished idea that all men should be made equal before the law." He declared that those who voted "against striking out the section, would place themselves on record in favor of equal suffrage throughout the country."

On motion of Mr. Ashley the House ordered the previous question. Mr. Le Blond's motion to strike out the suffrage section was lost.-Yeas 36, nays 76. Mr. Ashley's substitute was then agreed to and the bill passed.-Yeas 79, nays 43.

In the Senate on the 31st of May, Mr. Wade from the Committee on Territories, reported the House bill to amend the organic acts of the Territories, with amendments. On the 29th of June, the Senate on motion of Mr. Wade, proceeded to consider the bill, and Mr. Buckalew of Pennsylvania moved to strike out the section regulating suf frage. Mr. Wade hoped it would not be stricken