Mr. Cowan moved to insert the word “white” in the first section, so as to confine the right of voting to white male citizens.
May 12—Mr. Morrill moved to amend the amendment by striking out the words—
And shall have paid all school taxes and all taxes on personal property properly assessed against him, shall be entitled to vote for mayor, collector, register, members of the board of aldermen and board of common council, and assessor, and for every officer authorized to be elected at any election under any act or acts to which this is amendatory or supplementary, and inserting the words—
And shall within the year next preceding the election have paid a tax, or been assessed with a part of the revenue of the District, county, or cities, therein, or been exempt from taxation having taxable estate, and who can read and write with facility, shall enjoy the privileges of an elector.
May 26—Mr. Sumner moved to amend the bill by adding this proviso:
Provided, That there shall be no exclusion of any person from the registry on account of color.
May 27—Mr. Harlan moved to amend the amendment by making the word “person” read “persons,” and adding the words—
Who have borne arms in the military service of the United States, and have been honorably discharged therefrom.
Which was agreed to yeas 26, nays 12, as follows:
Yeas—Messrs. Anthony, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Conness, Dixon, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Hale, Harlan, Harris, Johnson, Lane of Indiana, Lane of Kansas, Morgan, Morrill, Pomeroy, Ramsey, Sherman, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, Willey, Wilson—26.