e we proceed any further. I am not exceedingly favorable to
military government anywhere, and if I can get along without it in the
Southern States I am anxious to do so. I am not pleased with it
anywhere." Mr. Henderson expressed the opinion that the President of
the United States could command General Grant in making the assignments
of officers to the respective districts.

--Mr. Willard Saulsbury of Delaware declared that "there is not a
single provision in the bill that is constitutional or will stand the
test in any court of justice."

--Mr. Buckalew and Mr. Hendricks pointed out that the amendment, as Mr.
Johnson had submitted it, made suffrage universal, just as the
amendment had been framed in the House.

--Mr. Johnson explained that he had taken it as prepared by the senator
from Oregon.

--Mr. Howard of Michigan objected to the amendment because it would
permit the increase of representatives in Congress, and of Presidential
electors, from the Confederate States.

--After a prolonged debate on the amendment offered by the senator from
Maryland, it was agreed to lay it aside by common consent, that Senator
Sherman might offer a substitute for the entire bill, the fifth section
of which substantially embodied the amendment offered by the senator
from Maryland and which had been known as the Blaine Amendment in the
House. Mr. Sherman's substitute gave to the President his rightful
power to control the assignment of officers of the army to the command
of the military districts in the South. After debate the substitute of
Mr. Sherman was passed by a party vote,--twenty-nine to ten.

When the bill went to the House it was violently opposed by Mr. Stevens
and Mr. Boutwell. Mr. Boutwell said, "My objection to the proposed
substitute of the Senate is fundamental and conclusive, because the
measure proposes to reconstruct the State governments at once through
the agency of disloyal men."

--Mr. Stevens said, "When this House sent the bill to the Senate it was
simply to protect the loyal men of the Southern States. The Senate has
sent us back an amendment which contains every thing else but
protection. It has sent us back a bill which raises the whole question
in dispute as to the best mode of reconstructing the States, by making
distant and future pledges which this Congress has no authority to make
and no power to execute."

--Mr. Blaine argued against Mr. Stevens's proposition to send the
measure to a