nst oppression for a thousand
years, as he says, and any settlement of this civil war upon any other
basis than perfect equality of rights and privileges among citizens of
the United States is not statesmanship; it is mere trifling; only
keeping open questions for future controversy. Nothing is settled
unless it is settled upon the basis of justice."

"I shall vote for this amendment," said Mr. Lane, "believing that it
is necessary to make a perfect system for the restoration of the
lately rebellious States."

"The amendment," said Mr. Johnson, "is objectionable to me only upon
the ground that it denies to those States the right of coming into the
Union entitled to representation until they extend the suffrage,
because I believe the right of suffrage is a matter with which the
Congress of the United States has no concern."

"I know perfectly well," said Mr. Buckalew, "that a vote for this
amendment, although given under circumstances which do not commit me
to the proposition as a final one, will be misunderstood and
perverted. It will be said throughout the country of each of those who
stand in the position in which I stand, that we have departed, to some
extent at least, from that position which we have hitherto maintained,
and maintained against all the influences of the time, against the
pressure of circumstances which have swept many from our side and
carried them into the large and swollen camp of the majority. Sir, I
for one am ambitious of being known as one among that number of men
who have kept their faith, who have followed their convictions, who
have obeyed the dictation of duty in the worst of times, who did not
bend when the storm beat hardest and strongest against them, but kept
their honor unsullied, their faith intact, their self-respect unbroken
and entire."

"My object is," said Mr. Henderson, when proposing to modify the
pending amendment, "to secure the franchise, and after that is
secured, to go forward and establish civil governments in the Southern
States."

Extended arguments against the measure were made by Mr. Johnson and
Mr. Hendricks. At twelve o'clock the minority desired to adjourn, and
the friends of the measure would have been willing to do so could an
understanding have been had as to an hour on the following day when
the vote would be taken.

Mr. McDougall would submit to no such-limitation upon free speech. "I
do not expect myself," said he, "to speak at any great length, but y