Mr. STEWART. Mr. President, as I shall vote for the plan agreed upon among my political friends, it is proper that I should make a brief statement 0 in reasons. While it is not the plan that I would have adopted, as is well known, still it is the best that I can get, and contains many excellent provisions. It repudiates the rebel debt and affirms the sacred obligation of the nation to pay the debt contracted in preservation of the Union. It does not base representation on voters, which I referred, but it approximates it more nearly t ian any other plan presented, and recognizes the principle that a white man in the North is entitled to equal representation with a white man in the South. It declares that all men are entitled to life, liberty, and property, and imposes upon the Government the dut of discharging these solemn obligations, but ails to adopt the easy and direct means for the attainment of the results proposed. It refuses the aid of 4 million people in maintaining the Government of the peop c. It involves freedmen’s bureaus, civil rights bills, test oaths, and exclusion from office, all supported by military power. I would not object to these, for I recognize the obligation 0 full protection for all men, if there Were no cheaper, easier, and better plan for the attainment of this worthy object. But the reasons whyI can support this plan are, that it recognizes the obligations, which [ hold sacred, and oes not preclude Congress from adopting other means by a 2/3rd s vote, when experience shall have demonstrated, as it certainly will, the necessity for a change of policy. In fact it furnishes a conclusive argument in favor of universal amnesty and impartial suffrage. The longer the North strives to protect the negro and the white loyalists of the South from sure violence at the hands of rebels by military power, supported by grievous taxation, with increasing danger of a consolidated and despotic Government, the more clearly will the necessity appear of returning to 1st principles and according the ballot to all men. this not the 1st time that the black man’s aid has been spurned by this Government, and it will not be the 1st time that necessity has driven us to avail ourselves of his support. While his labor was added to the power of treason traitors were triumphant; when it was subtracted and added to the material resources of the Government the Union forces were vic torious. While his political power is ignored or added to disloyalty free government in the South is impossible. When it withdrawn from rebels and added to the loya forces the Union and republican institutions will be safe. The utter impossibility of a final solution of the difficulties by the means proposed will cause the North to clamor for suffrage. Test oaths, exclusion from office, and military rule Mt. con'GLQRE Will make the South anxious for amnesty, now so lightly considered, and willing to take suffrage to avoid certain and greater evils. While the we is left open, as it is in these resolutions, or both mercy and justice, the logic of events will work out the great problem, and natisf all who are not now satisfied that the mare of this country must either be toward consolidated, arbitrary power, supported by enormous taxation, or toward amnesty and suffrage, union and liberty. If the arguments presented by this plan do not convince at once time will do the work. I will further remark that it is a better plan than I expected could be agreed upon, and I hope muc good'from it. t may lead to a final settlement, and with that view I shall give it my support.