Mr. SLOAN. Mr. Speaker, Idesire to call the attention of the House toapropositionwhich 1 had the honor to submit at the ast session of the 38th Congress in relation to this subject. That proposition provides that the right of representation in this House shall be based upon the right of suffrageupon the numbers who are allowed the right to vote in the respective States. The amendment which has been reported by the committee is intended to apply the same principle, but not to adopt it directly. It is an indirect attempt to adopt that principle and incorporate it in the constitution. I need not say, Mr. Speaker, that it is necessary, in amending the constitution of the U.S., to use plain, direct, and certain languagesuch language as cannot be evaded or perverted. I need only refer to the argument of the Gentfrom Maine [Mr. BLAINE] to prove that this indirect attempt on the part of the committee to base representation upon the right of suffrage is subject to evasion an abuse, that it will be found impossible to so guard this provision that some evice may not be originated which will defeat the object of it. If, on the other hand, the issue is clearly made if the provision in the constitution is plain and direct, that representation shall be based upon the number oi those who are allowed to exercise political power in the several States, evasion or defeat of the object on the part of the Legislature or the people of any State will be entirely impossible. The Gentfrom NewYork [Mr. CORK LING] who professes himself opposed to the principle I advocate, and who made in form an argument against it, made, notwithstanding, in effect and substance, the strongest argument perhaps that could be made in favor o aban doning the reposition which the committee have reporte, and adopting the principle which I am a vocating. Confining his attention to a preposition which simply provides that rere sentation should be base upon the qualified electors of the States, he said that inequalit and injustice might be done by some States a lowing mine rs to vote and other States limiting the right of suffrage to those of the age of 20 one years and upward. But sir, the amendment which I propose will get rid of that objection by making the qualification universal, that only electors of the age of 2. one years and upward shall be made the basis of representation in anyState. He finds another objection, that the word “male” is not used, and that some of the States may give the right of suffrage to women. The word“male” inserted will obviate that objection. He states another objection also, that some States may extend the right of suffrage to aliens. The wor “citizen” put into the proposition will cut off that objection. The amendment I propose is that“ qualified male electors, citizens of the U.S. of the age of 21 years and upward, shall be the basis of representation.” I think that nearly every objection he made will be taken awa by that amendment; and there is nothing of o jection left, except the point made by the Gentfrom Maine, [Mr. BLAINE] which is that in some of the States there is a larger proortion of female and mine r population tian in other s; but to that the Gentfrom NewYork [Mr. CONKLING] furnished a conclusive answer by showing that the difference is so small it would not, have any appreciable effect upon the practical result. In the amendment which I propose we have a naked simple proposition, by which we nt a strong motive upon the States to exten the right of suffrage to the whole peole within the limitations stated without regardpto difference of race or color.,