Mr. HENDERSON. But if the active rebel vote had been excluded, I was willing to respect the constitutions of those States as they existed before the rebellion, and trust to Union men to so fix the franchise and they would have done so as to secure fidelity to the Union and peace to themselves. Ifto secure these ends the negro vote had become essential, it would have been granted. The Senate will pardon me if I refer to some remarks made by me at the last session of Congress on this subject of reconstruction. I read from volume two, Congressional Globe, 2nd session, 38th Congress, page 10“70: When citizensof a Staterebel and take up arms againsttheticacral Governmentthe losetheir rights ascitizensof the U.S. an theynecessarily forfeit those rights and franchisesin their respective Stateswhich dependon U.S.citizens ip." The Senfrom Massachusetts [Mr. SUMNER] interrupted me during the speech, and in reply to a question put by um, I said: "I have slread explained my positions on these subjects. I amin overof the loyal mengoverning the State. If thatbethogovernment of the few.it results from the voluntar dislo alty of the many. They. of their own Will. re inquis the right to govern themselves iinder the Constitution and as they haveno legal ll right to govern otherwise theycannot governat. I caii nomorecoiiipelthemtogovern themselves accordingto the constitutionthan [can compel a loyal man to votewhorefusestodo so. As to theoligarchy of skin or color. I can tell the Senator a pin that the questionof ultra e is with theStates. f theyconfer the franchisoon the negro, I “ surel do notobject. Mr. President, I say that theony way to crushout disloyalty and bring back peacein this country is to let the loyal menof the seceded StatesformStategov ernments, and let usuphold them. Thatis themeans upon which we must sooner or laterrelyto reestablish peaceand restoreunion." I do not think that it is necessary to the republican principle that the majority, although rebels, should govern, and therefore I took issue with the distinguished Senfrom Ohio [Mr. Wane] at the last session. Ifa majority of the people of a State become disloyal, why cannot the minority rule 7 I want State governments, indeed they must exist or the national Governmentis incomplete. Without a State Legislature no State can be represented in this body. Without a Governor or Legislature no State can ask for protection a inst domestic violence. But if a majority O qualified voters in a State are disloyal and are resolved to overthrow the national Government, you must destroy their power for mischief. Do you destro their power by leaving them in possession of the State government, where they may levy taxes on the loyal men and use their money in waging war? You do not deny the right of the nation to expel from office, the State officials, whom these men have put in power to accomplish the objects of their treason. You do not deny the right of the nation to shoot and kill this majority when it upposes your power. You do not hesitate to step in with military power to protect the loyal mine irty against this majority. You admit the power to remedy. Then why is there no power to prevent? W e have been told that “ an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” (zlur Constitution, it seems, is made on no such I ea.