Mr. RICE, of Maine. I wish to submit a brief explanation in reference to this bill, and I will premise by expressing my regret that a measure of such importance as this should come before us at this very late period of the session, when it cannot be considered by the appropriate committee of this House, and when we shall be obliged to dispose of it without that consideration which the magnitude of the subject renders desirable. It will be recol lected by members of the House that in April, 1864, the Congress of the U.S. passed an enabling act, in the usual form, authorizing the people of Nebraska to form a State government. A convention was called and assembled, but it adjourned without taking any action upon the constitution. Afterward the Legislature met and formed a constitution, which was submitted to the people and ratified by their votes. This, in brief, is the state of the facts. Now, sir, I learn from information in which I place full confidence that the Territory of Nebraska contains today 60,000 inhabitants. We all know that it has a very desirable climate and a rich soil, capable of supporting a very large population; that the Pacific railroad is bein b'ui tthrough the territor; and that the ti e of emigration is flowingt ere with great rapidity. It will very soon be absolutely requisite that the Territory shall have a State government. Inasmuch, then, as Congress has already invited her to come into the Union, and as she has substantially complied with all the requirements we have imposed upon her, I think that in good faith she should 0 permitted now to enter the Union with the constitution which her people have ratified. I concede that the constitution which she presents is not in form such as I would desire it to be; and but for the fact that we have invited her to come in with such a constitution as she has formed, I would vote against her admission today. This constitution contains a provision excluding the colored people of the Territory from the exercise of the right of suffrage. I think the time has gone by when the Congress of the U.S. should give its countenance to a feature so antirepublican as that. Although, as I understand, ebraska contains today not more than 100 colored people, those 100 are entitled to all the rights of citizens and to equality with the whites before the law. But I desire members of the House to bear in mind that this objectionable feature for objectionable it must be to every gentleman on this side of the House was permitted by the original enabling act; that the people of Nebraska have done all that we required them to do in this respect