Mr. ELIOT. Mr. Speaker, when the resolution was offered by the committee, and the amendment was proposed which has been the subject of discussion for 2 or 3 days, I was very much inclined to lend it my favor because of one consideration, that by the operation of that amendment we should have incorporated into our organic law what would be a fireat improvement on the past. There is no doubt in my mind on that point. But, after considering the language of the amendment, I am frank to say thatI cannot bring myself to record my vote in its favor, and without goin into any rotracted discussion I shall procee to state distinctly the grounds of my o jection. 1st, the amendment as it is now reported from the committee is objectionable to my mind because it admits by implication that a State has the right to disfranchise large masses of its citizens. I know perfectl well that the power to do so has been exercised; that States have exerted the power of disfranchisement and abridging the rightsof suffrage because of race or color; but no man can show that in that constitution which the fathers made, and under which we have lived, the right is recognized in any State to disfranchise large masses of its cinzens because of race and I do not want now, at this day, that the Congress of the U.S., for the purpose of elfecting a practical good, shall put into the constitution of the land any language which would seem to recognize that right. think this does so, because it says distinctly, if you shall disfranchise, then the race or color operated against shall not be counted in the basis of representation; thus impliedly saying that States may disfranchise because of race or color if they are content to pay the penalty; that they may disfranchise men of color if they are content to have them excluded from the basis of representation. I do not think that is right. I think we ar undertaking to serve Get and Mamnion. think we are tampering with political sin; and I think we have no more right to do that than to commit moral sin. I therefore desire, if this shall become the law, it shall be so amended that it shall state in distinct language the political principle which my friendfrom Pennsylvaniu [Mr. Srsvsss] firmly believes, as well as I do, to be right. The next objection I have to the amendment is this, that it enables a State, consistently with its provisions, by making the right to vote de nd upon a property qualification, to exclude arge classes of men of both races. AStatg may legislate in such way as to be in fact, an oligarchy, and not a republican State. SCarolina may legislate so as to provide that no man shall have the right to vote unless he. 05. sesses an annual income of $1,000, and holds real estate to the amount of 500 Mum 1866. 407 Every one sees that that would exclude multi tudes of all classes of citizens, making the State no longer republican but oligarchical. Yet gentlemen say that under the constitution congress is bound to see to it that each State shall have a RFG. The 3rd objection I have to this amendment is that it controls by implication that power, because, while the constitution now says that Congress shall guaranty to every State a RFG, this amendment as reported by the committee admits by implication that although a State may so legislate as to exelu e these multitudes of men, not on account of race or color, but on account of property, yet, nevertheless, she would have a RFG, and that Congress will not and ought not to interfere. N ow, sir, I have been in the be e that in the course of this discussion, these didculties which have occurred to me would be met and obviated. I confess I have not heard them answered; and for the reasons I have briefly stated I shall be compelled to vote against the proposition as it now stands reported from the committee. The amendment which I propose will commend it self to the judgment of the House, as I believe, as both radical and right, if any amendment ought to be made, and while I do not say that I wi consent to no other amendment, I believe that this as offered by me substantially effects the change which should be made in our organic law.