Mr. GARFIELD. I take it for granted, Mr. Speaker, that no intelligent, liberal minded man, who has watched the remarkable progress of events, and the still more remarkable prog ress of ideas in this country during the last few years, can fail to see that the sentiment and purpose of the American people are rapidly and inevitably centering upon this great truth, to be applied to every citizen of lawful age unconvicted of crime, namely: suffrage and safety, like liberty and union, “are one and inseparable.” For myself, I was long ago committed to this truth; and today more firmly than ever, before I believe that by this alone can we deserve or enjoy perfect or lasting peace. This truth I will not sacrifice for consideration of foexpediency fo.advantage. Hence, I am called upon to give my consent to the admission of any new State into this Union I demand that this shall be one of the fundamental conditions. Whether the amendment now pending before the House does legally affix that condition may be a question of doubt; but that it calls out from the highest legislative authority of Nebraska a declaration to that effect and morally commits the new State to the proposition, binding its people in a covenant with the nation which they will not break, is to my mind clear beyond question. The bill as it came from the Senate was only a declaration of the will of Congress that the new State should give equal rights to all its citizens. The pending amendment allows the State to come in only when she shall give her solemn pledge that such rights shall be guarantied. Believing that Nebraska will keep her faith, I shall vote for this bill if the amendment prevails. One word more. I cannot agree with my colleague, [Mr. DELANo] He says that we stul tify ourselves if we declare that a State shall not come into the Union with a constitution which gives the suffrage only to white men, because we have never made that condition before, and the word “white” is in many of our State constitutions. I answer him that if we adopt that doctrine we can never make any reform; and I answer him further that I hope and believe and I think he will agree with me in the opinion that before the next 12 months shall have passed the State of Ohio will strike the word “white” from her constitution.