be guilty of transgressions of the law; but these do not constitute valid objections against the right of a State to representation. I would in nowise interfere with the discretion of Congress with regard to the qualifications of members; but I hold it my duty to recommend to you, in the interests of peace and in the interests of union, the admission of every State to its share in public legislation when, however insubordinate, insurgent, or rebellious its people may have been, it presents itself, not only in an attitude of loyalty and harmony, but in the persons of Representatives whose loyalty can not be questioned under any existing constitutional or legal test.

"It is plain that an indefinite or permanent exclusion of any part of the country from representation must be attended by a spirit of disquiet and complaint. It is unwise and dangerous to pursue a course of measures which will unite a very large section of the country against another section of the country, however much the latter may preponderate. The course of emigration, the development of industry and business, and natural causes will raise up at the South men as devoted to the Union as those of any other part of the land. But if they are all excluded from Congress-if, in a permanent statute, they are declared not to be in full constitutional relations to the country-they may think they have cause to become a unit in feeling and sentiment against the Government. Under the political education of the American people, the idea is inherent and ineradicable that the consent of the majority of the whole people is necessary to secure a willing acquiescence in legislation.

"The bill under consideration refers to certain of the States as though they had not been fully restored in all their constitutional relations to the United States.' If they have not, let us at once act together to secure that desirable end at the earliest possible moment. It is hardly necessary for me to inform Congress that, in my own judgment, most of these States, so far, at least, as depends upon their own action, have already been fully restored, and are to be deemed as entitled to enjoy their constitutional rights as members of the Union. Reasoning from the Constitution itself, and from the actual situation of the country, I feel not only entitled but bound to assume that, with the Federal courts restored, and those of the several States in the full exercise of their functions, the rights and interests of all classes of the people will, with the aid of the military in cases of resistance to the laws, be essentially protected against unconstitutional infringement or violation. Should this expectation unhappily fail-which I do not anticipatethen the Executive is already fully armed with the powers conferred by the act of March, 1865, establishing the Freedmen's Bureau, and hereafter, as heretofore, he can employ the land and naval forces of the country to suppress insurrection or to overcome obstructions to the laws.

"In accordance with the Constitution, I return the bill to the Senate, in the earnest hope that a measure involving questions and interests so important to the country will not become a law unless, upon deliberate consideration by the people, it shall receive the sanction of an enlightened public judgment. "ANDREW JOHNSON."

The majority of the Senate was in favor of proceeding imm diately to the consideration of the message, and to have a vote : to whether the bill should be passed, "the objections of the President to the contrary notwithsting" To this Mr. Lane, of Kansas, was opposed. He here are several Senators

that they should have an

absent, and I think it but just opportunity to be present where on this bill. I can not consent, so long se I the question by t.. rules of the Senate, to have a vs accordingly made four

Mr. La tur, in each of ly the motion tr for the fifth thee, it was carried, with the understanding that the bill should be the pending question at one o'clock on the following day.

V

On that day, February 20th, the bill and the message came daly before the Senate. Mr. Davis obtained the floor, and mad a long speech in opposition to the bill and in favor of Message. He expressel his aversion to the bill, and Rought to be attained under it in very etapele terms nothing to the arguments which had shesay

Mr. Trumbull replied to the chestions

In the President's Message, a Pa
should it become a law will hav

but will form a part of the perm
"The object of the bill," replied

atry

Tramboll, was to con

tinue in existence the Freedmen's Burnot as a permanent initution. Any such inten was disavowriag the discession of The bill. I is true, ne tim is expressly listed in the bill itself when it shal' cease to operate, nor is it custo ary to insert anch

Clanse in a law; but it is declared that theil shali :

ant therwise provided by law. It is known ti

of the United States assembles every year, and
that
was to establish a burtu.

ceya a permanent institution, ".
that is intacted to go into the Sit
esti: atlairs of the States."

There is no inmediat

and the President; the act to pu of Freedmen and Refugees, wi.

the

. for t

1

Teash

in the ....

of