o considered wholly within the domain of State
legislation; hence the Republican majority unanimously voted to
postpone the amendment until April.

After this postponement, and the failure of the amendment relating to
the basis of representation to pass the Senate, the subject of
reconstruction was in the hands of the Committee of Fifteen until the
30th of April.

Individuals had, from time to time, introduced propositions on the
subject, which were referred to the appropriate committee. The one
which attracted most attention and excited greatest interest was a
proposition in the Senate, by Mr. Stewart, of Nevada. This was in
favor of a joint resolution providing that each of the States lately
in rebellion shall be recognized as having resumed its relations with
the Government, and its Representatives shall be admitted to Congress
whenever it shall have amended its Constitution so as to provide--

"1. There shall be no distinction in civil rights among its
citizens by reason of race or color or previous condition of
servitude; 2. That all debts incurred in aid of the
rebellion shall be repudiated; 3. That all claim for
compensation for liberated slaves shall be relinquished; and
4. That the elective franchise be extended to all persons on
the same terms, irrespective of race, color, or previous
condition, provided that none be disfranchised who were
qualified voters in 1860; and that upon these conditions
being ratified by a majority of the present voting
population of each State, (including all qualified to vote
in 1860,) a general amnesty shall be proclaimed as to all
who engaged in the rebellion."

This proposition had peculiar significance, since it emanated from a
gentleman who, though elected as a Republican, had ever since the veto
of the Freedmen's Bureau acted with the Conservatives. Mr. Sumner,
"with open arms," welcomed the Senator from Nevada as "a new convert
to the necessity of negro suffrage." Mr. Wilson was thankful to the
author of this proposition for placing the whole question "on the
basis of universal liberty, universal justice, universal suffrage, and
universal amnesty." The resolution was referred to the Committee of
Fifteen, with whom Mr. Wilson had no doubt it would receive "serious
consideration."

On the 30th of April, Mr. Stevens reported from the Committee of
Fifteen a joint resolution providing for the passage of the fo