Mr. WILSON. The Senfrom RhdIsland will not, I trust, press that amendment. We better not meddle with that matter of disfranchisement. There are but few of these persons here, so the prohibition will practically not amount to anything. As we are to accomplish a great object, to establish universal suffrage, we should }. alone all propositions excluding a few men here. Disfranchisement will create more feeling and more bitterness than enfranchisement. I will say to the Senfrom WestVirginia that if the colored men of the country possessed the right of suffrage you would not witness the legislation that has taken place in the rebel States during the last few months. You would not find these poor men hunted down, but, on the contrary, you would find some of the men who are now hunting them down passing unjust laws against them, seeking them, and prosessing friendship and devotion to their cause. I do not believe the country has suffered much from 1789 to this time on account of the ignorance of voters; it has suffered far more from the character of the voters. The people of the country, the laboring men of the nation, desire proper legislation. They are for just, equal, and humane laws. They are patriotic, and they have generally proved it; and you often find them by the 100s and by the 1000s voting nearer right than many of the most intelligent men in the country who have personal ends to accomplish. I would rather trust the interests of the country and the rights of man to the votes of that class of men who have no personal objects, who have no desire except to Secure and equal legislation, than to the votes of tens and 100s of 1000s of men who have personal interests to secure by the legislation of the country, both State and national. Many men who are not able to read and write are pure, high mindad, true men, who love their country and love justice. These men have made a better record for the last 30 ears for country, for liberty, for justice and i.than have some of the most learned men in the land. If you could establish as a standard of suffrage integrity of character I would agree to it; but as only the eye of God can judge the heart of man we cannot make tlat standard a test. I am against putting on the restriction of reading and writing in this District. Here is a race of men, law abiding, hard working, toiling men, who have been true to the country when others were false; who have been law abiding when others violated the laws; who have been industrious and careful when others have been indolent and squandered their substance. I undertake to say that during the last ten years this class of men in this District have been the equals of the average of the white race of the District in the observance of the laws of the nation and the laws of God. They have been kept out of your schools and allowed no privileges of education, and now what do you propose to do? These men cannot read. i write, but they are generally honest, upright, good men. You do not propose to let them vote until they can read and write! Perhaps they will never be able to read and write. I think these E. toiling men, above all other men in the district, need to hold in their hands the ballot. It dignifies poor men, it gives them power and strength; and to confer it upon then it is perfectly safe for the District and safe for the whole country. There is a great difference between a man holding in his own hands the right to protect his life, his liberty, his property, and the rights of his wife and children, and the man who is forced to depend upon the good will of others. We hear a good deal of the evils of ignorant suffrage. Sir, the country has suffered far more during the last 20 years from the selfish conduct and unpatriotic conduct of intelligent men. There is no danger in extending suffrage; it is just and safe. We are now about to settle the question for the DistCol, and we should settle it upon the solid basis of allowing every man to vote who is 21 years of age; who has been a resident here one year; who is not a pauper; and who has not committed an infamous offense.