Stevens on the Amendments of the Senate -- Concurrence of
the House -- The Committee appointed.

Since it was known throughout the country that members-elect from
Tennessee and other States recently in rebellion would appear at
Washington on the opening of the Thirty-ninth Congress, and demand
recognition of their right to represent their constituents, all eyes
were turned to observe the action which would be taken on the subject.
It was anticipated that the question would be sprung at once, and that
a season of storm and excitement would ensue, unparalleled in the
political history of the nation. Since the American people are
exceedingly fond of excitements and sensations, the expectation of
trouble in Congress drew immense numbers to its galleries on the first
day of the session. Lovers of sensation were doomed to disappointment.
Correspondents and reporters for the press, who were prepared to
furnish for the newspapers descriptions of an opening of Congress
"dangerously boisterous," were compelled to describe it as
"exceptionally quiet."

The cause of this unexpected state of things was the fact that the
majority had previously come to the wise conclusion that it would not
be well to pass upon the admission of Southern members in open session
and amid the confusion of organization. As there was so much
difference of opinion concerning the _status_ of the communities
recently in rebellion, and such a variety of considerations must be
regarded in reaching wise conclusions, it was deemed advisable that
the whole subject should be calmly and deliberately investigated by a
select number of able and patriotic men from both Houses of Congress.

Accordingly, on the first day of the session, soon after the House was
organized, Mr. Thaddeus Stevens offered the following important
RESOLUTION:

"_Resolved_, by the Senate and House of Representatives in
Congress assembled, that a joint committee of fifteen
members shall be appointed, nine of whom shall be members of
the House, and six members of the Senate, who shall inquire
into the condition of the States which formed the so-called
Confederate States of America, and report whether they or
any of them are entitled to be represented in either House
of Congress, with leave to report at any time by bill or
otherwise; and until such report shall have been made, and
finally acted upon by Congress, no member shall be rec