Mr. Brooks joined Virginia with Tennessee, and asked the Clerk to give
his reasons for excluding the names of Representatives from these
States from the roll. The Clerk replied that he had acted in
accordance with his views of duty, and was willing to let the record
stand; if it was the desire of the House to have his reasons, he would
give them.

"It is not necessary," said Thaddeus Stevens; "we know all."

"I know," replied Mr. Brooks, "that it is known to all in one quarter,
but that it is not known to many in other quarters in this House, why
this exclusion has been made. I should know but little, if I had not
the record before me of the resolution adopted by the Republican
majority of this House, that Tennessee, Louisiana, and Virginia were
to be excluded, and excluded without debate. Why without debate? Are
gentlemen afraid to face debate? Are their reasons of such a character
that they dare not present them to the country, and have to resort to
the extraordinary step of sideway legislation, in a private caucus, to
enact a joint resolution to be forced upon this House without debate,
confirming that there are no reasons whatever to support this position
except their absolute power, and authority, and control over this
House? If the gentleman from Pennsylvania would but inform me at what
period he intends to press this resolution, I would be happy to be
informed."

"I propose to present it at the proper time," was the response of Mr.
Stevens, provoking laughter and applause.

Mr. Brooks replied: "Talleyrand said that language was given to man to
conceal ideas, and we all know the gentleman's ingenuity in the use of
language. The proper time! When will that be?" Mr. Brooks then
proceeded at some length to answer this question. He supposed the
proper time would be as soon as the House was organized, and before
the President's message could be heard and considered, that the action
of the House might silence the Executive, and nullify the exposition
which he might make, and become a _quasi_ condemnation of the action
of the President of the United States.

Mr. Brooks was at length ready to close, and sought to yield the floor
to a Democratic member. The Republicans, however, were ready to meet
the emergency, and objected to the floor being yielded in such a way
as would cause delay without furthering the business of organizing the
House. Points of order were raised, and efforts made to entangle the
Clerk, but