Mr. WILSON. I hope, Mr. President, the amendment proposed by the Senfrom WestVirginia will be voted down, and that we shall take the 1st section of the bill introduced originally by the Senfrom Ohio, [Mr. WADE] I prefer that section to the 1st section of the amendment reported by the committee. I do so for the reason that I do not believe it to be wise in passing this act to distranchise the few persons who went from this District into the rebellion. As a practical matter, that disfranchisement does not amount to anything. I am in favor of unrestricted manhood suffrage, qualified simply as to age and time of residence. I hope that in the 1st section of the bill “six months” will be stricken out and “one year” inserted; and then I am for the further restriction of 6 or 3 months’ residence in the ward or election district. That will fix, I think, the proper time, one year's residence in the DistCol and 6 or 3 months in the ward or election district where the elector offers to vote. I think those qualifications ought to be required of every man for the public security, whether he be black or white. I am against this qualification of reading and writing. I never did believe in it. I do not believe in it now. I voted against it in my own State, and I intend to vote against it here. There was a time when I would have taken it because I did not know that we could get anything more in this contest; but I think the great victory of manhood suffrage is about achieved in this country. I think we are in a position when we can command it, and I am }. commanding it; and I am for beginning now in this District where we have the absolute control and power. opposed to this amendment. j". at one time have agreed to settle the question on the basis early promulgated by the NewYork Herald, of giving suffrage in the rebel States to those who served in the Army, those who held a certain amount of property, those who could read and write, those who were members of Christian churches. These qualifications suggested early by that journal I as sented to then as a beginning; I believe we have gone beyond all beginnings now. During the last few months the country has gone an immeasurable distance in the right direction, and I believe today that the nation is prepared to demand manhood auffrage, and I am against any final adjustment or settlement of this question that does not demand it now. I think there are 100s of 1000s of men in the land who have been educated up to this great truth, that the poor men and the ignorant men of this country need the ballot for their protection, the protection of their property, their liberties, and their lives. I believe that there are 100s of 1000s of men who hold that opinion today who did not hold it 6 months ago. I think we are moving in the right direction. Time and circumstance are working in behalf of that great cause. Now, we have before us a bill to extend the suffrage in the DistCol. There has been a great deal said about it, but the fact was, and we cannot deny it, that when the House bill was passed we had not the power to pass it and make it a law until the closing days of the last session. I speak, of course, on the assumption that its final passage would have required for it a 2/3rds vote in this body. We have the power now to pass a clean bill, and the country demands it. At any rate I know it is right and I shall vote against any qualifications or restrictions other than those embraced in the original bill introduced by the Senfrom Ohio.. I think it proper, however, to amend his bill by requiring one year's residence in the DistCol instead of 6 months, and by further requiring a residence of 6 months in the ward or election district where the person offers to vote.