elano, of Ohio, both able and
distinguished lawyers of that State, arrested my attention and called
me very carefully to the consideration of the great questions which
are involved in the bill. The bill was passed by the House of
Representatives; it went to the President. From the fact that it was
not signed and returned to this body at once, and from all I heard, I
became satisfied that, at least, if the bill was not to be returned
with objections, it was being withheld for most earnest and serious
consideration by the Executive.

"Then, Mr. President, it was, in view of all that had occurred, what
had been said by gentlemen in whom I had the utmost--I may say
unbounded--confidence, that I began to look into this measure and to
study it for myself. It is not my purpose now to go into a discussion
of the provisions of this bill any further than to say that there are
provisions in it upon which the judgments of the best patriots, the
best jurists, the most earnest men disagree. There are men, in whom I
have entire confidence, who maintain that all its provisions are
within the purview of the Constitution; there are others in whom I
have confidence, and equal confidence, who maintain directly the
contrary; and this has brought me seriously to consider whether there
be no common ground upon which friends can stand and stand together.
Sir, I may have failed to find it; but if I have, it is not because I
have not most earnestly sought for it with some days of study and most
earnest reflection. I have endeavored to put upon paper what I believe
would carry this constitutional provision into effect and yet would be
a common ground on which we could unite without violating the
conscientious convictions of any."

In concluding his remarks, Mr. Doolittle referred to instructions
received by him from the Legislature of Wisconsin: "Mr. President, I
have received, in connection with my colleague, a telegraphic dispatch
from the Governor of the State of Wisconsin, which I have no doubt is
correct, although I have not seen the resolution which is said to have
been passed by the Legislature, in which it is stated that the
Legislature has passed a resolution instructing the Senators in
Congress from Wisconsin to vote for the passage of the Senate bill
commonly known as the Civil Rights Bill, the veto of the President to
the contrary notwithstanding. I have already stated, from my
stand-point, the reasons why, in my judgment, I can not