SPEECH IN THE SENATE, ON AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL CONFERRING SUFFRAGE
WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF COLOR IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DECEMBER 13,
1866.
December 10th, the Suffrage Bill for the District of Columbia,
considered in the former session of Congress,[74] was again
taken up for consideration, when Mr. Cowan, of Pennsylvania,
moved to amend it by striking out the word “male,” so that
there should be no limitation of sex. December 12th, after
debate, this motion was rejected,--Yeas 9, Nays 37. The
Senators voting in the affirmative were Mr. Anthony, of
Rhode Island, Mr. Gratz Brown, of Missouri, Mr. Buckalew,
of Pennsylvania, Mr. Cowan, of Pennsylvania, Mr. Foster,
of Connecticut, Mr. Nesmith, of Oregon, Mr. Patterson, of
Tennessee, Mr. Riddle, of Delaware, and Mr. Wade, of Ohio.
The following amendment was then moved by Mr. Dixon, of
Connecticut:--
“_Provided_, That no person who has not heretofore voted in
this District shall be permitted to vote, unless he shall
be able, at the time of offering to vote, to read, and also
to write his own name.”