ates
every thing into one imperial despotism; it annihilates all the rights
which lie at the foundation of the union of the States, and which have
characterized this Government and made it prosperous and great during
the long period of its existence. It will result in a revolution worse
than that through which we have just passed; it will rock the earth
like the throes of an earthquake, until its tragedy will summon the
inhabitants of the world to witness its dreadful shock.

"In the third section, you undertake," said Mr. Rogers, "to enunciate
a doctrine that will, if carried out, disfranchise seven or eight
million people, and that will put them in a worse condition than the
serfs of Russia or the downtrodden people of Poland and Hungary, until
the year 1870."

Mr. Farnsworth advocated the amendment, but did not regard the third
section as of any practical value. It did not provide punishment
adequate to the guilt of the various offenders. "There is a large
class of men," said he, "both in the North and South, equally--yea,
and more--guilty than thousands of the misguided men who will be
disfranchised by this provision, who will not be affected by it. I
allude to those politicians and others at the South, who, keeping
themselves out of danger, set on the ignorant and brave to fight for
what they were told by these rascals were 'their rights;' and to other
politicians, editors, 'copper-heads' in the North, some of whom were
and are members of Congress, who encouraged them and discouraged our
soldiers."

Mr. Bingham spoke in favor of the amendment. He preferred that the
disfranchising clause should be embodied in an act of Congress. "I
trust," said he, "that this amendment, with or without the third
section, will pass this House, that the day may soon come when
Tennessee--loyal Tennessee--loyal in the very heart of the rebellion,
her mountains and plains blasted by the ravages of war and stained
with the blood of her faithful children fallen in the great struggle
for the maintenance of the Union, having already conformed her
constitution and laws to every provision of this amendment, will at
once, upon its submission by Congress, irrevocably ratify it, and be,
without further delay, represented in Congress by her loyal
Representatives and Senators.

"Let that great example be set by Tennessee, and it will be worth a
hundred thousand votes to the loyal people in the free North. Let this
be done, and it will be hail