the great questions coming before us from day to day here. I, for
one, am not prepared or inclined to disparage American citizenship as
a personal qualification belonging to myself, or as conferred upon any
of our fellow-citizens."

Mr. Raymond expressed doubts as to the constitutionality of that part
of the bill "that provides for that class of persons thus made
citizens protection against anticipated inequality of legislation in
the several States."

In this direction he was desirous of avoiding a veto. He said:
"Moreover, on grounds of expediency, upon which I will not dwell, I
desire myself, and I should feel much relieved if I thought the House
fully and heartily shared my anxiety, not to pass here any bill which
shall be intercepted on its way to the statute-book by well-grounded
complaints of unconstitutionality on the part of any other department
of the Government."

Mr. Delano, of Ohio, followed, expressing doubts as to the
constitutionality of the measure. He considered it a serious
infringement of the rights of the States. He said: "Now, sir, should
this bill be passed, that law of the State might be overthrown by the
power of Congress. In my opinion, if we adopt the principle of this
bill, we declare, in effect, that Congress has authority to go into
the States and manage and legislate with regard to all the personal
rights of the citizen--rights of life, liberty, and property. You
render this Government no longer a Government of limited powers; you
concentrate and consolidate here an extent of authority which will
swallow up all or nearly all of the rights of the States with respect
to the property, the liberties, and the lives of its citizens."

He added, near the close of his address: "I am not to be understood as
denying the power of this Government, especially that great war power
which, when evoked, has no limit except as it is limited by necessity
and the laws of civilized warfare. But, sir, in time of peace I would
not and I can not stand here and attempt the exercise of powers by
this General Government, which, if carried out with all the logical
consequences that follow their assumption, will, in my opinion,
endanger the liberties of the country."

Mr. Kerr, of Indiana, maintained the theory that the States should
settle questions of citizenship as relating to those within their
borders; that "the privileges and immunities of citizenship in the
States are required to be attained, if at all,