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at the cost of life, the masses of the people to maintain their cause.
There is nothing in the whole war more atrocious than the cruel
measures taken by the rebel leaders to force the people who had no
interest in it, and were averse to sharing its dishonor and peril."

Mr. Banks remarked of the amendment: "It will produce the exact result
which we desire: the immediate restoration of the governments of the
States to the Union, the recognition of the loyal people, and the
disfranchisement of the implacable and unchangeable public enemies of
the Union, and the creation of State governments upon the sound and
enduring basis of common interest and common affection."

Mr. Eckley advocated the joint resolution, citing a number of
historical and political precedents in favor of its provisions. Of the
disfranchising clause, he said: "The only objection I have to the
proposition is, that it does not go far enough. I would disfranchise
them forever. They have no right, founded in justice, to participate
in the administration of the Government or exercise political power.
If they receive protection in their persons and property, are
permitted to share in the nation's bounties, and live in security
under the broad aegis of the nation's flag, it is far more than the
nation owes them."

Mr. Longyear favored the amendment, but disliked the third section, of
which he said: "Let us then reject this dead weight, and not load down
good provisions, absolutely essential provisions, by this, which,
however good in and of itself, can not be enforced. I regard this
provision, if adopted, both worthless and harmless, and, therefore, I
shall vote for the proposed amendment as a whole, whether this be
rejected or retained."

Mr. Beaman held a similar opinion. He said: "We very well know that
such a provision would be entirely inoperative, because electors for
President and Vice-President can be appointed by the Legislatures,
according to a practice that has always obtained in South Carolina.
The provision does not extend to the election of Senators, and,
consequently, it can operate only to affect the election of members of
this House, and that only for a period of four years."

Mr. Rogers denounced the proposed amendment in emphatic terms. He
said: "The first section of this programme of disunion is the most
dangerous to liberty. It saps the foundation of the Government; it
destroys the elementary principles of the States; it consolid