Skip Skip MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT. A message in writing was received from the POTUS, by Colonel will quan G. Moons. BASIS OF REPRESENTATIONAGAIN. rMre. RAYmMOND. Mr. Speaker, this joint consideration, as I understand it, comes to us for our action from the JtCommee appointed, at the opening of this session, for the purpose of “inquiring into the political condition of the States latel in rebellion, in order to determine whether those States are or are not entitled to representation in Congress.” How much of “ information” on that subject this resolution embodies the members of this House can judge as well as I can. What precise and particular connection it has with the object for which that committee was apointed is left wholly and entirely to inference. hat committee has reported, without reasons assigned, without exp nation of any sort, a naked reposition to amend the constitution of the U.S. Now, sir, I am afraid that I shall fall under the censure expressed a day or 2 ob the distinguished Gentfrom Ohio Fifi.ingRAM] in regard tothose who are unwilling to tamper with the constitution of the U.S. as it stands today. I acknowled e freely that I do look upon all propositions or its amendment with hesitation an distrust. I think if there is anything established in the history of this country it is that that constitution is the most wonderful instrument ever framed by the hand of man for the government of a great nation. proved itself full adequate to all the emergencies of peace and of war, and I think the history of this country during the last 4 or 5 years, when the great civil contest for the destruction or preservation of this Government was carried on to a triumphant close by virtue of the provisions or under the explicit permissions of that constitution, affords the ighest possible testimony that any of us could ask to I think it has. the fact of its perfect adaptation to the wants and necessities of the country. I think, especially, that in its distribution of the powers among the different Depts of the Government, that constitution has proved its wisdom, and I think thisis even still more clearly shown in its distribution of powers between the General Government and the several States. That document has proved that it wae made not for days or for years, but for all time; and when I foresee the vast extent of country over which this Government may at some future time be extended, I cannot but dread any change that shall touch any of its fundamental provisions, or any of the fundamental principles upon which it rests., Still, sir, I recognize the justice and propriety of what was said by the Gentfrom Ohio [Mr. BINGHAM] as to the wisdom and necessity of amendments to most changed circumstances and an altered condition of facts. recognize, for example, in the fact that slavery has ceased to exist in this country. the propriety of so amending the constitution as to make it forever impossible to reestablish slave within the U.S. The specific evilwhic the amendment reported by t a committee is intended to remedy is also probably one which mayproperly demand attention. By the present constitution, and under tbe state of things which prevailed but a year or 2 ago, the States in which slavery existed were entitled to the representation, in common with all the other States of the Union, of the whole number of free persons, together with 3/5ths of all other persons. The fact that they had among them 4 million persons who were not free gave them thus a rent advantage in representation over all ot or sections of the Inion. They had a representation ihr 3/5ths of those slaves. Those slaves have now been set free, and, as free persons. the States in which they are found are entitled, under the present provisions of the constitution, to full representation for them. The South has thus gained, as a direct consequence of the rebellion, an additional representation for 2/5ths of those 4 millions. In other words, 1,600,000 persons are added to their repeesentative population. ow, sir, I acknowledge that to be an inequality which demunds attention and a remedy, if a remedy can be found which shall not be worse than the evil itself. This committee has reported this amendment as providing that rem edy. I do not suppose that it will be ssible to propose any remedy which will not e open to some objections. I think, however, that this amendment is oppn to some of a very serious nature. One objection(which, however, aplies equally to all the propositions that have been suggested) is that it changes the basis of rere sentation from population to something ee and something css. It is, sir, a fundamenta principle of free government, that the population, this inhabitants, allwho are subjectso law, shall be represented in the enactment of that law and in the election of men by whom the law is to be executed, either directly by their own votes, or through the votes of others so connected with them as to afford a fair resumption that their wishes, their rights, an their interests will be consulted. This proposition departs from that principle, and is thus objectionable as a disturence of the cornerstone on which our system of republican government indeed all democratic institutions are supposed to rest. Another objection is that the amendment as drawn by the committee is open to very considerable doubt as to the meaning of the words “race” and “color.” Those grounds of doubt were ably and forcibly stated a few days since by the Gentfrom Pennsylvania, [Mr. Baooxu. 1.] and need not now be repeated. They are entitled, however, to serious and careful consideration. Another objection is that it deprives of Representation the whole of any race in a State if that State should extend to a portion of that race the elective franchise. I do not think, sir, that this is in itself a wise or Jnlt Pmvlmn 1 84 January 29, introduces the anomaly of having voters for representatives who may not be themselves entitled to representation. But wheuI recur to the effect o that provision upon the southern States, so clearly and forcibly pointed out the other day by the distinguished Gentfrom Ohio, [Mr. SESHINCL] that it holds out to those States no encouragement to euiranchise any portion of the colored race within their borders unless they make suffrage with that race univer sal, I cannot help feeling that its effect would be most disastrous upon the relations of this Union to the whole southern States, and upon the welfare of those States themselves, an of the colored people within their borders. But, sir I do not intend to pursue this inquiry in the merits of the resolution, still less into the merits of the various amendments which have been proposed to its provisions. I cannot, in the present state of this question, regard this as a distinct proposition, standing on its merits alone. I cannot forget that it comes to us from a committee appointed for a specific object, to consider a specific subjectto report to us the political condition of the southern States with a view to their representation upon this floor. From the presumption of the case, I think I have the right to assume that this resolution relates to that general subject and is closely connected with it. I infer, moreover, from the general tone of the debate in this House on that point that this is the view taken of it all through the House; and when I regard more directly the remarks made by the distinguished Gentfrom Ohio, [Mr. BINGHAM] himselfa member of the committee, as to its meaning and sco e, I am not only confirmed in my belief that it cos relate to that general subject, but I confess I am startled as to the scape of action that it proposes to embrace, of which this is to be e initial step. The Gentfrom Ohio told us the other day, in very impressive and forcible language, that iihis was on y the 1st of a series of amendments and propositions which that committee would submit orthe actiouof the House. He regarded them all as essential to the safet of the country. He said he trembled when he thought that this whole seriesof propositions, which he deemed so important to the public welfare, might not pe adopted by this Congress and the country at arge.