Mr. SCHENCK. I shall depart from my purpose to say nothing on this subject because of the remarks submitted in opposition to the amendment by the Gentfrom Maine, [Mr. Burns] As to the charge that this is the most narrow minded and illibernT proposition ever made in this House, I shall not sto to handy epithets with the gentleman; but, fill“, the effect of the amendment suggested by the gentleman is to warn the SecyWar and the President not to violate the law; and if there be any reflection it seems to me to be contained in that amendment rather than in the one now pending, which simply proposes to make a certain enactment, expecting those officers to conform to it. Now, sir, in reference to former appointments, some, I know, have been irregularly made. We have stepped that. Some of those appointments, most of them perhaps, were appointments of northern young men who were fastened, as it were, in this way upon districts in the southern States States in rebellion. Some of them were youn men who had served in the Army, and who, com having been on duty in Alabama, Tennessee, or elsenhere in the South, were construed for the time being to have a residence there, and under that view were appointed. This practice bas been stopped. The amendment proposes not to interfere with any appointments which have been made, not. I have any reference to the law as it now exl ts, forwear: ect compliance with it, and reflect son noone throwing out an imputation that awill probably violate the law; the amendent simply proposes to lay down as the future tle upon this subject that no appointment shall a madefrom any State which has been in re:llion until such State shall be regularly reibilitated by act of COugress, according to batseemsto be the settled policy of Congress, least with reference to the restoration of the nton. The gentleman yields the whole question menhe admits the provisions of the law to be at appointments to WestPoint shall be made th reference to the congressional districts. e know the usage to be that the appointments all bemadeupon the nomination of the mem r representing the district. I hold, therefore, a appointment of cadets to WestPoint are poiutments incidental to the representation the districts in the several States here; and tenever representation comes, then I say will pointruents to WestPoint as an incident that representation follow. Let each man m is admitted here make his nomination as the case with members from loyal districts, 11 let that nomination be received and the pointment made accordingly; and when )It. iynard, or Mr. Stokes, of Tennessee, or any 1tleman representing a district, comes in, I uld have him indicate who shall O to West int from his district. Neither the resident, r the SecyWar, nor anyone else can nplain when we lay down the rule in advance I reflect upon nothing so far that has been ie by the Government.