The SPEAKER protempore. Mr. HART, ou have been absent during the session of the house without its leave. What excuse have you to render for thus being absent? JMr. HART. Mr. Speaker, I do not know that I have any excuse that would be satisfactory to the House. I left the House at a time a vote was being taken; the vote was running in such a way that I got the impression that the House would probably soon adjourn. I thought that under the circumstances, in consideration of the delicate health of The SPEAKer, when it was generally known to the House that he had had a bad sore throat for the last 3 or 4 days, and that he was not in a condition to go through a night session, especially such a night session as we would probably have here, the House would not insist upon his be:ing kept here. And H supposed everyoneelse in the House would feel as I felt. Besides, it so happened that I had themis. fortune to be once before absent duringthis day's session, and I was brought before the House to give my excuse for being absent. During the time I was then absent I made an engagement that was exceedingly agreeable. [Laughter] The engagement was of such a character that I did not see how I couldwell avoid meeting it. I felt that I was bound to meet that engagement, because it involved some very important considerations. [Laugh. ter] But I have come here to show my re. spect to the House, although I felt thatper haps there may have been some unjust and unfair discrimination in my case. I wasvery comfortable in my bed, [laughter, in a 1st class public house, where I had retired with the consciousness of having done my entire duty as a public man, [great laughter;] and as has been suggested by agentleman nearme, not conscious of having been guilty of anyoffense before the law or before the country. But I was routed out of my bed, and broughthere to answer for some high crime or misdemeanor, of which I am not conscious of havingbeen guilty. At the same time I am readyhere and elsewhere to answer for my conduct. I trust I have not been, even unconsciously, disrespectful to the House, and I am readynow to do my entire duty.