Mr. WADE. I was in hopes that the merits of the bill would not be discussed upon a mere motion to take it up for consideration. I do not believe that course of proceeding is strictly in order, because if that were allowed we might spend a whole day on a motion to take up a o But when the Senfrom massachusetts undertakes in advance, and out of order, as I think, to prejudice a measure of which I am the advocate, I must be allowed a moment to answer him. He says there is no merit in the bill, and therefore it should not be taken up, under taking himself to prejudge it and to judge for the whole Senate. In his judgment it is a bill of no merit. Sir, if he were the sole judge here, I should give it up at once, I should come down very quickly; but he is not the judge to decide ultimately for this body; and this way of dealing the subject is not altogether satisfactory to me. As the Senator has made allusions to antiuity, he will permit me to remind him that there was an ancient saying, that some men would strain at a gnat and swallow a camel, and I do not see but that the remark is applicable to him on the present occasion. !. sir, on the very objection which the Senator makes, he is himself committed upon the merits of this bill to vote for it. No Jesuit can draw the line of distinction between his votes on former measures and the vote I ask him to give for this measure. How was it when the constitutional amendment was up last session? That Senator voted for it. Did that compel a State before coming into the Union to allow franchise to all citizens indiscriminately? No, sir, not at all. The only penalty it prescribed for a State which made discriminations was that the class whom it excluded from the franchise should not be counted in the basis of representation. So it will be with Nebraska if we pass this bill. The only difference between the cases is that the Senator gave his vote in favor of a rebel State that now has her representation on this floor, equally divided between rebellion and loyalty. He voted that she might come in. I allude to Tennessee.