istence at the time any offense may have been
committed, but after the offense has been committed."

"Let me tell you," said Mr. Harding, "you are preparing for
revolutions after revolutions. I warn you there will be no peace in
this country until each State be allowed to control its own citizens.
If you take that from them, what care I for the splendid machinery of
a national government?"

Mr. Stevens briefly addressed the House before the final vote was
taken. He had just risen from a sick-bed, and ridden to the Capitol at
the peril of his life. During the quarter of an hour which he occupied
in speaking, the solemnity was such as is seldom seen in that
assembly. Members left their seats, and gathered closely around the
venerable man to hear his brave and solemn words. From his youth he
had hoped to see our institutions freed from every vestige of human
oppression, of inequality of rights, of the recognized degradation of
the poor and the superior caste of the rich. But that bright dream had
vanished. "I find," said he, "that we shall be obliged to be content
with patching up the worst portions of the ancient edifice, and
leaving it in many of its parts to be swept through by the tempests,
the frosts, and the storms of despotism."

It might be inquired why, with his opinions, he accepted so imperfect
a proposition. "Because," said he, "I live among men, and not among
angels; among men as intelligent, as determined, and as independent as
myself, who, not agreeing with me, do not choose to yield their
opinions to mine." With an enfeebled voice, yet with a courageous air,
he charged the responsibility for that day's patchwork upon the
Executive. "With his cordial assistance," said Mr. Stevens, "the rebel
States might have been made model republics, and this nation an empire
of universal freedom; but he preferred 'restoration' to
'reconstruction.'"

The question was taken, and the joint resolution passed the House by a
vote of over three-fourths--120 yeas to 32 nays. From the necessary
absence of many members, the vote was not full, yet the relative
majority in favor of this measure was greater than in the former vote.

The following is the Constitutional Amendment as it passed both Houses
of Congress:

"ARTICLE--.

"SEC. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United
States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are
citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they
reside