of
Columbia.

Mr. STEWART.--Inasmuch as the Senator from New York has
designated me as the leader whom he is to follow, and I take it
for granted he is in earnest in his question, I shall occupy the
time of the Senate briefly in answering it. When the question
arises for suffrage at all in this District, with my present
ideas, I shall vote for female suffrage in this District. I was
saying that I do not think there need be any popular voting at
all in this District by males or females, for the reason that the
great mass of people here are merely sojourners. I think we
should govern the District directly by the Congress of the United
States, that can pass all needful laws. When the question comes
up properly as to the District, it will be time enough to meet
it. Here is the question directly up as to a Territory, and there
is no doubt about this being a good opportunity.

Mr. CONKLING.--I beg to inquire when ever in time or eternity
that question will come up here, unless some champion who has the
courage and genius of my friend brings it up? Who shall bring it
up if he refuses to do it? And when a bill is pending to which
that amendment is appropriate, and his attention is called to it,
if he flinches, if he goes back, who shall we hope for to come
hereafter who will break a lance in such a cause? I say to him
that unless he wants to discourage me and other men of less
courage who are trying to follow him, he must not flinch by
saying that he can not do anything about it until it comes on a
motion to bring it up. He should bring it up himself.

Mr. STEWART.--The only fear I have as to the Senator from New
York is that he will not have sufficient courage to follow.
(Laughter.) The question is up now. The question is squarely up
on this amendment whether we will allow the females in this
distant Territory to vote. I propose to vote for it. He has said
that I was his leader. The only question now is whether he has
the courage to follow my lead, I following the lead of the
Senator from California. I want to put his courage to the fullest
test now. I only ask him to follow me in this one little step. If
he breaks down here, I hope he will not say any thing more about
it; and I am afraid he will. I will say to him, however, that the
ti