Mr. BROWN. I desire to say one word on the amendment that is offered by the Senfrom Maine. I do not object to the temporary disfranchisement of those who have been in arms as a matter of precaution or safety for the District; but if it is intended by this amendment to set the recedent that all who have been eng ed in e rebellion, or who may have left this District to become engaged in the rebellion, are to be disfraucliise for all time to come, then I shall not be disposed to concur in it, and for this reason: I believe that the theory of universal suffrage goes upon the idea that it renders innocuous those who have been engaged in the rebellion heretofore; that their facility for getting up rebellion originated in the fact that a large portion of the community was disfranchised; that if it had not been for that fact they could not have succeeded; and that if you are oing to have permanent peace and safety for the country you will only assure it by removing those disfranchisements and making suffrage equal and impartial, and that that will be in itselfa substantial guarantee for the peace of the country in the future. Sir, I believe that doctrine. I believe that impartial or universal suffrage is the only reconstruction that will give us safety in the hereafter. I believe, furthermore, that if it is not adopted today, it will be simply remitted to the agitations of parties and the conflict of sections, and perhaps extending over a term of 20 years, it will simply defer that long our arrival at a period of repose and safety. Now, sir, I am free to say, for my own part, that I refer to take the amendmentas iteomes from the committee without any qualification. I do not wish the suffrage restricted perma nently on the ground ofaction of this sort during the rebellion. I do not wish the suffrage re' stricted by any educational qualifications; nor do I wish it restricted by any property qualifications. I want it simple and absolute, a right of human nature, which is as much a right as any other of self defense in political communities or out of political communities. I therefore simply signify that I prefer the amendment as it comes from the committee without the additional qualifications which the Senator now proposes.