Mr. DELANO of Ohio addressed the House. His remarks will be published in the Appendix.] Speech entitled Rights of Citizens. March 8, 1866. The House having under consideration the bill (S.No.61) entitled “An act to protectall personsin the U.S. in their civil rights and furnish the means of their vindication." Mr. DELANO said: Mr. Speaker: In the few minutes allotted to me, I propose to put some questions to the Gentfrom Iowa, chairman of the ComJudiciary, in reference to certain provisions of the bill under consideration. Of course I shall have no time to enter upon the discussion of the very rave, difficult, and important nestion whic, in my judgment, is involved in this bill. In my opinion the States lately in rebellion oughtcheerfully and voluntarily to adopt and enforce by local legislation all the important features of this bill. If they omit or refuse to do so, then Congress should enforce upon them these measures, provided we have the powerto do so conferredp by the Constitution. But. if this power has not been granted, then the fundamental law should be amended so as to enable Congress to protect and secure the rights of all her citizens in an and in every State where unjust, unequal, an discriminating legislation calls for the increase of the powers of the General Government: In reference to the question of citizenship, which has been ably discussed by the chairman of the ComJudiciary, I have no doubt. It needs no law, in my estimation, to make citizens of these emancipated people. They are citizens by law now; and our enactment cair only declare the rights and privileges in this respect which alrea y belong to them. at, sir, notwithstanding this, notwithstanding I regard them as entitled to citizenship, I have serious difficulties in my own mind in reference to the power of Congress, under the constitution as it is, to pass the bill which is before us. I shall vote forit, if possible. lfI can he brought to belieye thatt ere is a reasonable probability of its constitutionality, so that I can justify my conscience in turning over the question of the power of Congress to pass this bill to the courts, I shall sustain it; but without some further light upon the question than I now have, I do eel that there are such difficultiesin the way as call for a careful examination of the provisions of this bill, in a constitutional point of view, by the gentlemen who control this House. Passing at once, therefore, to the considers.tion of the question, I direct attention to the 1st clause of the bill. Before I do so however, I will remark that in my opinion the bill would be very much imrove and relieved from many of its serious didculties and objectionable features if it were amended in accordance with the proposition suggested by my colleague [Mr. BisonAu] I think that, with this amen nient, I could in self now, without any further light on the subject, vote for it. But we must discuss it as it is, and l desire therefore to call the attention of the chairman of the ComJudiciary to certain thoughts connected with the subject. The 1st section of this bill provides that all citizens “shall have the same right to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties and ive evidence, to inherit, dpurchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real on personal rope and to full and equal bone it of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property as is enjoyed by white citizens." I desire to ask the c airman of the committee whether in his opinion this confers upon the emancipated race the right of Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. ingpuwroilrlsv. ery frankly answer the gentleman. I do not believe it confers that right upon the emancipated people, nor upon any portion of the people of the U.S., who are not.under the laws of the several States qualified to act as jurors.