xes and perform military duty, to contribute
their money and their strength in support of the Government--are
denied the elective franchise, is that a republican form of
government? I say that it is a libel upon republicanism; it is not a
republican form of government; it is neither republican in form nor in
substance."

Mr. Baker, of Illinois, although anxious to have an amendment of the
Constitution "achieving the general purpose of supplying a more just
basis of representation," saw points of objection to the proposition
before the House, some of which had been raised by previous speakers.
He said: "I am reluctant to indorse an amendment to the Constitution
framed in this day of growing liberty, framed by the party of
progress, intended to make representative power in this Government
correspond with the quantum of political justice on which it is based,
and yet which leaves any State in the Union perfectly free to narrow
her suffrage to any extent she pleases, imposing proprietary and other
disqualifying tests, and still strengthening her aristocratic power in
the Government by the full count of her disfranchised people, provided
only she steers clear of a test based on race or color."

Mr. Jenckes was desirous of having a more just and comprehensive
enactment than the one proposed: "In my judgment," said he, "justice
requires that the qualification of electors for members of this House
and for electors of President and Vice-President of the United
States--in other words, for the two popular branches of this great
Government--should be defined in the fundamental law. Upon this point
let me quote the words of Madison, written in his mature years to a
distinguished son of the republic seeking advice from him. He says:
'The right of suffrage, the rule of apportioning representation, and
the mode of appointing to and removing from office, are fundamentals
in a free government, and ought to be fixed by the Constitution.'

"Certainly, sir, it is less difficult, in a Congress composed of less
than three hundred men, to agree to a proposition which will meet the
views of the whole country on this question of suffrage than to adopt
a proposition which, when submitted to and adopted by the requisite
number of States, must be carried into effect by as many Legislatures
as there are States, and in a different manner by each, and which, in
being carried into effect, must be acted upon by as many thousands of
men in State conve