ssumed that no political truth is better
established than that such indiscriminate and all-embracing extension
of popular suffrage must end at last in its destruction."

The President occupied a considerable portion of his Message with a
warning to the people against the dangers of the abuse of legislative
power. He quoted from Judge Story that the legislative branch may
absorb all the powers of the government. He quoted also the language
of Mr. Jefferson that one hundred and seventy tyrants are more
dangerous than one tyrant.

The statements of the President in opposition to the bill were
characterized by Mr. Sherman as "but a _resume_ of the arguments
already adduced in the Senate," hence but little effort was made by
the friends of the measure to reply.

Mr. Sherman, in noticing the President's statements in regard to the
danger of invasions by Congress of the just powers of the executive
and judicial departments, said, "I do not think that there is any
occasion for such a warning, because I am not aware that in this bill
Congress has ever assumed any doubtful power. The power of Congress
over this District is without limit, and, therefore, in prescribing
who shall vote for mayor and city council of this city it can not be
claimed that we usurp power or exercise a doubtful power.

"There can be but little danger from Congress; for our acts are but
the reflection of the will of the people. The recent acts of Congress
at the last session, those acts upon which the President and Congress
separated, were submitted to the people, and they decided in favor of
Congress. Unless, therefore, there is an inherent danger from a
republican government, resting solely upon the will of the people,
there is no occasion for the warning of the President. Unless the
judgment of one man is better than the combined judgment of a great
majority, he should have respected their decision, and not continue a
controversy in which our common constituency have decided that he was
wrong."

The last speech, before taking the vote, was made by Mr. Doolittle.
"Men speak," said he, "of universal negro suffrage as having been
spoken in favor of in the late election. There is not a State in this
Union, outside of New England, which would vote in favor of universal
negro suffrage. When gentlemen tell me that the people of the whole
North, by any thing that transpired in the late election, have decided
in favor of universal, unqualified negro suffra