Mr. STOKES. I regret very much, sir, this question has been forced upon this House, but inasmuch as it is now here, and I have had no agency in bringing it here, I deem it is due to myself, due to Judge Patterson, due to this House, due to the loyal people of Tennessee,:hat I should express myviews without fear or avor. I desire, in the 1st fllace to state that this question is not as to whether Judge Patterson shall be admitted as a member of the Senate or not. That, sir, is not the question involved in the resolution which comes from the Senate. The question involved in that res olution is, will this House repeal the decision that has beeningrafted upon our statute book? I desire to state my feelings are those of kindness toward judge Patterson. I do not controvert his Unionism. I do not controvert his sincerity. I do not controvert his ability. I do not pretend to say that he would not make a good Senator. Notat all; but that is not the issue. I shall refrain from uttering a word in regard to his claim to the floor of the Senate, as to his merits or demerits. Coming as I do from Tennessee, I only desire to state my position on this question. On the night of the 22d of February lastidelivered asecch in Nashville, Tennessee, and there on then declared if admitted as a member of this House I would freeze to my seat before I would vote to repeal the test oath. Long continued applause on the floor and in the galleries.] I have made the same decla ration in many speeches since then. I have uttered the same thing on this floor privately to every member with whom I have had the pleasure of conversing. Sir, I regard the test oath passed by the U.S. Congress as the salvation of the Union men of the South as well as of the North. I regard it as sacred as the flaming sword which the Creator placed in the tree of life to guard it, forbidding anyone from partaking of the fruit thereof who was not pure in heart. Sir, this is no light question. Repeal the test oath and you permit men to come into Congress and take seats who have taken an oath to the confederate government and who have aided and assisted in carrying out its administration and laws. That is what we are.now asked to do. Look back to the 14th of August. 1861, the memorable day of the proclamation issued by JeffersonDavis ordering every man within the lines of the confederacy who still held allegiance to the Federal Government to leave within 48 hours. That order compelled many to seek for hidingplaces who could not take the oath of allegiance to the confederate government. When the rebel authorities said to our noble Governor of Tennessee, “ We will throw wide open the prison doors and let you out if you will swear allegiance to our government, " what was his reply? “ You may sever my head from my body, but I will never take the oath to the confederate government.” [Applause]