Mr. MORRILL. This bill was sent to the committee by the Senfrom Ohio, [Mr. Wane] It will be seen that it is Senate bill No. 1, the 1st bill on this subject or any subject that went to the ComDistCol. Some weeks afterwardmonths, possibly a bill came from the House, which was referred to the ComDistCol. In the mean time, however, this bill had been reported back to the Senate with restricted suffrage, re airing the qualification to read and write. Q Upon the motion of the Senfrom Illinois, it was recommitted, and that qualification stricken out, and reported back to the Senate in the condition we now find it. That is the history of it. Afterward we acted upon the bill which came from the House, and the committee instructed me to report it, which I have done, and it now lies upon the table. That is the history of the 2 bills. We have, therefore before us this bill, which was the 1st, is the 1st on the Cal endar, 1st considered, 1st reported back by the committee; and then we are the House bill, which contemplates unrestricted suffrage. In further justification, if any were necessary, why I should take up the bill 1st in order, 1st reported, and 1st on the Calendar. I have an additional reason to assign. It will be remembered that some 5 or 6 months have passed since those bills were reported. It is needless to say, to a perfect understanding of the whole thing, that the bill which comes from the House is not an election bill, and confers no right of voting whatever on any man, woman, or child, in this District beyond what they now have. It is a mere declaration of a right to vote. The committee so regarded it at the time and I believe we gave our consent to it at the time, chiefly upon the ground some of us, at least that perhaps at that early period a declaration of that sort might do good. But months have passed away, and very great changes have been wrought since that time, I do not say in the sentiment or opinions of the countr, but in the action of this Senate. We have ha question of reconstruction, and this question among others involved in it, during this pe riod; and, as having some influence on my mind, within the last 4 weeks, a delegation of very intelligent gentlemen, I may say with the utmost propriety I speak without distinction of color called upon me, from different parts of the country, to urge me to take up this precise bill.