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the policy of Mr. Lincoln which had received the sanction of the Republicans in Congress. Mr. Henderson thought Mr. Doolittle's argument went to show that because a man was for Mr. Lincoln's policy in 1863, he must be for Mr. Johnson's policy in 1865. The same policy might be correct in 1863 in time of war, but not equally correct in 1865. Mr. Davis sustained the President's action. Mr. Saulsbury said: "Argument is useless; reason is thrown away. But sir, I rise to say that in my judgment the passage of the bill is the inauguration of revolution-bloodless as yet, but the attempt to execute it by the machinery and in the mode provided in the bill, will lead to revolution in blood." Mr. Yates emphatically declared that "the Union people of this country expect the Republican Union Senators to march forward in the performance of their duty."

"The majority," said Mr. McDougall, "glory now in their giant power, but they ought to understand that it is tyrannous to exercise that power like a giant. A revolution now is moving onward; it has its center in the North-east. A spirit has been radiating out from there for years past, as revolutionary as the spirit that went out from Charleston, South Carolina, and perhaps its consequences will be equally fatal, for when that revolutionary struggle comes it will not be a war between the North and its power and the slaveholding population of the South; it will be among the North men them

selves, they who have lived under the shadows of great oaks and seen the tall pine trees bend."

The Senate then proceeded to vote upon the passage of the bill, the objections of the President to the contrary. Mr. Morgan's vote for the passage of the bill was greeted by applause in the galleries. The bill passed.-Yeas 33, nays 15.

On motion of Mr. Trumbull it was ordered "that the Secretary communicate the bill to protect all persons in the United States in their civil rights and furnish the means of their vindication, with the message of the President returning the same to the Senate with his objection, and the proceedings of the Senate thereon, to the House of Representatives."

In the House on the 9th Mr. Wilson, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, called up the veto message which was read and he then moved the previous question on its passage. Mr. Le Blond

moved to lay the bill on the table, lost.-Yeas 37, nays 122. The previous question was ordered.— Yeas 102, nays 31, and the bill was passed.-Yeas 122, nays 41. Speaker Colfax then said: "On the question, Shall this bill pass notwithstanding the objections of the President?' the yeas are 122 and the nays 41. Two thirds of the House having, upon this reconsideration, agreed to the passage of the bill, and it being certified officially that a similar majority of the Senate, in which the bill originated, also agreed to its passage, I do there

fore, by the authority of the Constitution of the United States, declare that this bill, entitled 'An act to protect all persons in the United States in their civil rights and furnish the means of their vindication,' has become a law."

This announcement was received with an outburst of applause, in which members of the House, as well as the throng of spectators, heartily joined, and which did not subside for some moments.

CHAPTER V.

THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU.

Mr. Eliot's resolution for appointment of Select Committee.-Mr. Loon's resolution. Mr. Eliot's bill.-Mr. Doolittle's bill.-Mr. Trumbull's bill.-Mr. Howe. Mr. Trumbull's amendment.-Mr. Cowan's amendment.-Speech of Mr. Guthrie.-Mr. Pomeroy.-Mr. Creswell.-Mr. Wilson.—Mr. Cowan. Mr. Davis' amendment.-Mr. Fessenden's amendment-his speech.-Mr. Creswell.-Mr. Willey.-Mr. Davis.-Passage of the bill.-Action in the House.-Speech of Mr. Eliot.-Mr. Dawson.-Mr. Donnelly.-Mr. Garfield. Mr. McKee.-Amendment disagreed to.-Mr. Stevens' substitute rejected. Substitute of Committee accepted.-Passage of the bill.— Senate. Speeches of Mr. Guthrie-Mr. Sherman-Mr. Henderson-Mr. Trumbull-Mr. McDougall.-Mr. Guthrie's amendment rejected.-Concurrence of the House.-Mr. Davis' speech on the veto.-Mr. Trumbull.-Passage of the bill.

In the House on the 6th of December, 1865, Mr. Eliot of Massachusetts introduced a resolution which was adopted, for the appointment of a Committee of nine to which should be referred so much of the President's Message, and all papers that related to Freedmen. The Speaker appointed Thomas D. Eliot of Massachusetts, William D. Kelley of Penn., Godlove S. Orth of Indiana, John A. Bingham of Ohio, Nelson Taylor of New York, Benjamin F. Loan of Missouri, Josiah B. Grinnell of Iowa, Halbert E. Paine of Wisconsin, and Samuel S. Marshall of Illinois.

On the 18th Mr. Loan of Missouri introduced a resolution "that the select committee on Freedmen be instructed to inquire into the expediency of

some immediate legislation securing to freedmen and colored citizens of the States recently in rebellion, the political and civil rights of other citizens."

On the 10th of June, 1866, the House on motion of Mr. Ward of New York, adopted a resolution instructing the committee to inquire into the allegations concerning contracts forced upon Freedmen.. On the 8th Mr. Eliot introduced a bill, "to establish a Bureau for the relief of Freedmen and Refugees," which was referred to the Select Committee, and on the 18th Mr. Eliot reported it with amend

ments.

In the Senate, on the 19th of December, Mr. Doolittle introduced a bill relative to the Freedmen's Bureau, which was referred to the Committee on Military affairs. On the 29th of January Mr. Wilson of Mass. reported it, and on his motion it was indefinitely postponed.

On the 5th of January, 1866, Mr. Trumbull introduced a bill to enlarge the powers of the Freedmen's Bureau: it was referred to the Judiciary Committee, and reported on the 11th with amendments. On the 12th the Senate proceeded to its consideration.

It provided that the act to establish a Bureau for the relief of Freedmen and Refugees should continue until otherwise provided for by law, and should extend to Freedmen and Refugees in all parts of the United States. It authorized the Presi