restricted Suffrage -- Davis's Amendment to Cuvier -- The
"Propitious Hour" -- The Mayor's Remonstrance -- Mr.
Willey's Amendment -- Mr. Cowan's Amendment for Female
Suffrage -- Attempt to Out-radical the Radicals -- Opinions
for and against Female Suffrage -- Reading and Writing as a
Qualification -- Passage of the Bill -- Objections of the
President -- Two Senators on the Opinions of the People --
The Suffrage Bill becomes a Law.

On the reaessembling of the Thirty-ninth Congress for the second
session, December 3d, 1866, immediately after the preliminaries of
opening had transpired, Mr. Sumner called up business which had been
introduced on the first day of the preceding session--a year
before--which still remained unfinished--the subject of suffrage in
the District of Columbia. In so doing, the Senator from Massachusetts
said: "It will be remembered that it was introduced on the first day
of the last session; that it was the subject of repeated discussions
in this chamber; that it was more than once referred to the Committee
on the District of Columbia, by whose chairman it was reported back to
the Senate. At several different stages of the discussion it was
supposed that we were about to reach a final vote. The country
expected that vote. It was not had. It ought to have been had. And
now, sir, I think that the best way is for the Senate in this very
first hour of its coming together to put that bill on its passage. It
has been thoroughly debated. Every Senator here has made up his mind
on the question. There is nothing more to be said on either side. So
far as I am concerned, I am perfectly willing that the vote shall be
taken without one further word of discussion; but I do think that the
Senate ought not to allow the bill to be postponed. We ought to seize
this first occasion to put the bill on its passage. The country
expects it; the country will rejoice and be grateful if you will
signalize this first day of your coming together by this beautiful and
generous act."

Objection being raised to the immediate consideration of the subject,
it was decided that it must be deferred under a rule of the Senate
until after the expiration of six days from the commencement of the
session.

It is proper here to present a brief record of the proceedings upon
the subject during the preceding session. The passage of a bill in the
House of Representatives, and the discussion upon the sub