ness or
justice, or the semblance of truth. I can say before God that I am
actuated by no local interests, no love of power, in opposing the
immediate and unconditional admission of the rebel States into these
chambers; and I know my associates from New England too well to
believe for a moment that they are actuated by interest or the love of
power. Thousands of millions of money have been expended, and hundreds
of thousands of brave men have bled for the unity and liberty of the
republic. I desire--my associates from New England desire--to see
these vacant chairs filled at an early day by the Representatives of
the States that rebelled and rushed into civil war. We will welcome
them here; but before they come it is of vital importance to the
country, to the people of all sections, to the interests of all, that
all disturbing questions should be forever adjusted, and so adjusted
as never again to disturb the unity and peace of the country. It is
now the time to settle forever all matters that can cause estrangement
and sectional agitations and divisions in the future. Nothing should
be left to bring dissensions, and, it may be, civil war again upon our
country. The blood poured out to suppress the rebellion must not be
shed in vain."

Prominent Republican Senators bringing earnest opposition to bear
against the proposed constitutional amendment, and a sentiment
evidently gaining ground that it did not meet the requirements of the
case, caused its friends to urge it with less zeal than had at first
characterized them. Meanwhile, other important propositions coming up
from the Committee of Fifteen, which occupied the attention of the
Senate, as detailed in a subsequent chapter, the subject of changing
the basis of representation was allowed to lie over for nearly a
fortnight.

On the 5th of March, the subject being resumed, Mr. Pomeroy addressed
the Senate. He feared that the nation was not ready to adopt a
constitutional amendment such as the necessities of the country
required. "This nation," said he, "although severely disciplined, has
not yet reached the point of giving to all men their rights by a
suffrage amendment; three-fourths of the States are not ready. And any
patchwork, any 'step toward it' (as said the chairman of the
committee) which does not reach it, I fear to take, because but one
opportunity will ever be afforded us to step at all; and lost
opportunities are seldom repeated."

Mr. Pomeroy did not t