e between its harsh rule and compliance
with the terms of this measure is not suspended, nor are the people
afforded any time for free deliberation. The bill says to them, 'Take
martial law first, and then deliberate.' And when they have done all
that this measure requires them to do, other conditions and
contingencies, over which they have no control, yet remain to be
fulfilled before they can be relieved from martial law. Another
Congress must approve the constitutions made in conformity with the law
of this Congress, and must declare these States entitled to
representation in both branches. The whole question thus remains open
and unsettled, and must again occupy the attention of Congress; and in
the mean time the agitation which now prevails will continue to
disturb all portions of the people."

The President's veto reached the House on the afternoon of Saturday.
On Monday, March 4th, at noon, Congress would expire by Constitutional
limitation. The President had communicated his veto on the last day
permitted by the Constitution, and it was generally believed that his
motive for the postponement was to give the minority in one branch or
the other the power to defeat the bill either by dilatory motions or
by "talking against time." Mr. Le Blond and Mr. Finck or Ohio, and Mr.
Boyer of Pennsylvania, frankly indicated their intention to employ all
means within their power to compass this end. A system of
parliamentary delay was thus foreshadowed, but was prevented by Mr.
Blaine moving that the rules be suspended and a vote immediately taken
on the question required by the Constitution; namely, "_Will the House,
on reconsideration, agree to the passage of the bill, the President's
objection to the contrary notwithstanding?_" The Speaker decided that
the motion in this form cut off all dilatory proceedings. Mr. Finck
appealed from the decision of the Chair, but only four members
sustained him. The rules were suspended, and the House, by a vote of
one hundred and thirty-five _ayes_ to forty-eight _noes_, passed the
bill over the veto of the President. The Senate concurred in the
action of the House by _ayes_ thirty-eight, _noes_ ten; and the famous
Reconstruction law, from which flowed consequences of great magnitude,
was thus finally enacted against every effort of the Executive
Department of the Government.(1)

The successive steps of this legislation have been given somewhat in
detail because of its transce