blished, firmly and fearlessly,
governments at the South friendly to the republic; when you shall have
ceased from receiving terms and propositions from the leaders of the
rebellion as to their reconstruction; when you shall have promptly
acted in the interest of liberty, prosperity will light upon the
industries of your people, and panics, commercial and mercantile
revolutions, will be placed afar off; and never, sir, until that time
shall have arrived. And as an humble advocate of all industrial
interests of the free people of the North, white and black, and as an
humble representative of these interests, I urge prompt action to-day,
to-morrow, and every day until the work has been completed. Let no
obstacle stand in the way now, no matter what it may be. You will save
your people from poverty and free principles from a more desperate
combat than they have yet witnessed. Ridicule may be used in this
chamber, calumny may prevail through the country, and murder may be a
common occurrence South to those who stand firmly thus and who
advocate such measures. Let it be so; for greater will be the crowning
glory of those who are not found wanting in the day of victory. Let
us, then, press to the vote; one glorious step taken, then we may take
others in the same direction."

"The objection," said Mr. Buckalew, "which I have to a large extension
of suffrage in this country, whether by Federal or State power, is
this: that thereby you will corrupt and degrade elections, and
probably lead to their complete abrogation hereafter. By pouring into
the ballot-boxes of the country a large mass of ignorant votes, and
votes subjected to pecuniary or social influence, you will corrupt and
degrade your elections and lay the foundation for their ultimate
destruction."

"After giving some considerable reflection to the subject of
suffrage," said Mr. Doolittle, "I have arrived at the conclusion that
the true base or foundation upon which to rest suffrage in any
republican community is upon the family, the head of the family;
because in civilized society the family is the unit, not the
individual."

Mr. Pomeroy was in favor of the bill without the proposed amendment.
"I do not want to weigh it down," said he, "with any thing else. There
are other measures that I would be glad to support in their proper
place and time; but this is a great measure of itself. Since I have
been a member of the Senate, there was a law in this District
authori