Mr. HOWARD. I believe Mr. Madison was old enough and wise enough to take it for granted there was such a thingas the law of nature which has a certain influence even in political alfairs, and that by that law women and children were not regarded as the equals of men. Mr. Madison would not have quibbled about the question of womens voting or of an infants voting. ile lays down a broad democratic principle, that those who are to be boupd by the laws ought to have avoice in making them; and everywhere mature manhood is the representative type of the human race. I have but very little to say, Mr. President, as to the 3rd section of this amendment. It reads as follows: SEO. 3. Until the 4th day of July, in the year 1870, all personswho voluntarily adheredto the lateinsitr roction. giving it aid and comfort, shall be excluded from the right to vote for Representatives in Corircss and for electorsfor President and Vicii Presideut of the U.S. It is due to myself to say that I did not favor th section of the amendment in the committee. l do not believe, if adopted, it will be of any practical benefit to the country. It will not prevent rebels from voting for members of the several State Legislatures. A rebel, notwithstanding this clause, may vote for a member of the State Legislature. The State Legislature may be run e up entirely of disloyal elements, in consequence of being elected by a rebel constituency. That Legislature when assembled has the right, under the Constitution, to appoint presidential electors itself if it shall choose to do so, and to refuse to refer that question to the people. It is the right of every State. It is very probable that the power of the rebel States would be used in exactly that way. We should therefore gain nothing as to the election of the next or any future POTUS. Rather than this, I should prefer a clause prohibiting all persons who have participated in the rebellion, and who were over 25 years of e at the breaking out of the rebellion, from al participation in offices, either Federal or State, throughout the U.S. I think such a provision would be a benefit to the nation. It would ostmcize the great mass of the intclligent and really responsible leaders of the rebellion.