Mr. FINCK. But the same distinished gentleman, in.another speech, delivere during the same sessnon of Congress, on the 23d of February, 1861, said: “ MLSpeakenwhen thorq were 15 slaveholding States acknowledgin allegianceto this Federal government, and, there ore having in their hands the power to protect themse ves against any invasion of their rights on the part of the Federal Government, it was a mutton of very little consequencewhether such amendment as that were incorporated in the Constitution or not. But the state of the country is now radicall and essentially changed. 7 or 8 States now on their allelinnce to this government. have organize a separate confederacv, and have declared their independence of this government. Whether that independenceis to be maintained or not is with the future. If the yshall maintain their position and ifpuhlic opinion in thosesccedingStates shall sustain the authorities thore for a ycar or 2 to come, so as to show that nothing but a war of subju gation and conquest can bring them back, I for one am disposedto recognizethat independence." Now, I do not pretend to say that Governor Stanton was in avor of secession; but certainly these declarations, thus. distinctl and clearly made, by these distinguished leaers of the republican party, could not have failed to have a ded force to the belief, in the minds of the people of the South, that they would be allowed to peaceably withdraw from the Union. But, sir, this test oath must O crate on all who have given aid to the rebellion, whether they acted under the honest belief that their States had the right to secede, or whether they acted under the belief that they were bound to follow their States in the attempted secession. Nay, more than this, it will exclude 100s and 1,000s who Were not rebels, but who, nevertheless, assisted in the rebellion; for I take it that it will not bequestioned by any gentleman who has examine the subject, that all that large body of the people of the 1 late insurgent States who aided in the rebellion only allerthe Federal Government was ousted of its jurisdiction, and no longer able to protect them from the jurisdiction of the usurped power, are not guilty of the crime of treason and I make this declaration upon the broad and wellsettled principle of public law, that protection and allegiance are reciprocal duties, and that the Government which oils, or is unable to protect its citizens from a usurped power or other jurisdiction, cannot, after it regainsits rightful jurisdiction, turn around and punish the unfortunate people for having yielded obe dience to such usurped power during the period that the rightful Government was so ousted of its jurisdiction, and thus rendered unable to protect these people. To do so, would be most monstrous, and at war with the clearest dic States of sound reason and Christian civilization, and the well settled principles of law. This doctrine has been full recoized and applied in the case of the nited States vs. Rice, 4 Wheaten R., and has been acted on in England for many generations. But, air, all these people are affected by the oath of July, 1862; and its continuance is most. unjust and unwise. These co le have returned to their allegiance to the "ederal government. They have pledged themselves anew to perform their duties and obligations. gut we are told that they are not yet prepared to be represented here; they are not et sutii cieutlyloyal. Some reckless fellow has nocked down a negro, or cursed a Yankee, and a whole State is declared unfit to be represented in the Congress of the U.S. Sir, if these people are not yet loyal, please inform me how many years it will require of such legislation as has been favored by the majority on this floor during this session of Congress to make them loyal and what new arguments do you propose in order to convert them? Is it by excluding them from representation in these Halls, and imposing upon them the burdens of taxa don? Sir, in this connection I wish to read a few brief extracts from a speech delivered by Alexander H. Stephens, before the Legislature of Georgia, on the 22d of last month. He says: " Whatevor differenoos of opinion heretoforeexisted as to where our allegiance was due during the late state of things. none for any practical purpose can exist now. Vhether Georgia. by the action of her conventionoflSfil. Was ever rightfullyout of the Union or not, cherccan benoquution thatshein nowin, nofm ondrpenrlu upon her will and deerl. the whole U.S., Ilu rrgloreis, now withoutquestionour country, to be cheriulied and defended as Illlh by all our bun Ll and by all our arms. The Constitution of the U.S., and the treaties and laws made in pursuance thereof, are now acknowledged to be the paramount law in this Wilulfice untry.” Again: "Let old issues old questions, old differences and old feuds be regarded as fossils ot another epoch. hey belongto what may be considered the Silurian period of our history. Great. now, living quostions are be foro us. Let it not be said of. us in this day. not at passedm four countrys ureatest trial and agony.t at there was a party for (lunar. a party for Pompey, and a party for Brutus, but no partyfor Rome; but ct all patriots. by whatever distinctive name heretofore st led, roll in all elections everywheretothe support olyhim. be e whom he may. who hours the stan aid with constitutioual Union eniblaroned on its folds. President Johnson is now.in my judument, the chief great standard bearer of these principles, and in his eITiirtsat restoration should receivet e cordial support of every well washerof his country.” and in speaking of the duty of the people of Georgia in relation to the colored people of that State, he uses the following language: “In legislation, therefore. under the new systoin, you should look to the best interests of all cl:isses their protection security, advancement and improvement, physically, intellectually, and morally. All obstacles, if there should be any, should he removed which can possibly hinderor retard the improvemen of the blacks to the extent of their capacity. All properaid shouldbegiven totheir own eflorts. Channels of education should ho opened up to them. Schoolsand the usual means of moral and intellectual training should be encouraged among them. This is the dictate. not only of what is right and proper and just in itself. but it is also the promptiriirsof the highest considerations of interest. It is difficult to conceiveagreater evil or ourso that could befall our country, stricken and distressedas it now is, than for so large a portion of its population as this class will quitcffobably constitute among us hereafter. to be more in ignorance. depravity, and V106." The Legislature of the State of Louisiana, speaking for the people of that Stow, haw 1116thE oouennssmigii. spoon Marcle recently passed the following preamble and re"solution: Whereas in the debatesupon the questionof reconstruction in the national Congress. The enemiesof the policy of President Johnson ure endeavorinsrto mislead public opiiuon by the grossestmisrepresentations of the opinions and sentimentsof the peopleof thi"s and other southern States: T crefore, Be it resolved by the Senate and HoREp of the State of Louisiana in General Assembly moened That as representatives recently electedby the people of this State and being fully conversant with their opinions and sentiments.we do declare that the havewithunpnrallcledunanimity accepted the resultsof the war asa final settlement of the questions at issue therein: that there does not exist on intention or desire to reopen the agitation of those uestious: that they acquiescein the abolition of every us an accomplished fact, and they are ready to extend to the late slaves the protection elthelnws in the enioyment of their rights: that instcadofeu tertaining anyhostility to the negro racein thesouthern States. they hold for them the kindly feelinks which grew out of their former relation to the white race, und recognize it astheir interest as well asduty to do whatever is proper to advance them in intelli gence.morality and religion. That the professions of the people of Louisiana. that they are willing to ubscrie to the national authority and constitutional government of the U.S., are sincere and maunliliedmnd that any accusations made in contr iction of the above statement, from whatever sourceor on whatever authority. we pronounceto be without foundation in fact, and are infamous attacks upon the honor. courage.andsoodfaith of the people O Louisiana." Sir, this Government is certainly not what I supposed it to be, if after the war has ended, npd these peeple have returned to their allegiance to the Constitution, they cannot be in trusted with the full exercise of the rights which belong to them under the Constitution. After the rebellion has been overthrown, it is too late to speak of an entire people as rebels and traitors. The war has done its work most effectually. Let us now have peace, and the return of all the legitimate relations of peace. Have we indeed degenerated? Are we less patriotic, less maguanimous, less merciful, and controlled more by the base passions of hate and revenge, than were the statesmen of Rome 2000 years ago? I trust not. In reading a speech delivered on the 8th of Janus last, by a distinguished citizen of Ohio, once a ending member of the Senate of the U.S., and who I reet is not. now in the councils of the nation, was reminded of an event in the history of the Roman people which it would be welLfor us not to forget. Nearly 100 years before the Christian era there was an attempt made by some of the Roman States to secede from the taliau Union. A war ensued like our own, most bloody and destructive, and lasting about the same period of time. But the confederates then as now, were utterly and completely defeate. How, let me inquire, did the (great men of Rome, on whose minds no my be yet been shed of that divine reliion which our Saviour came upon earth near y a century later to establish, treat the conquered people of those States? Did Bornan senators, like American representatives propose to hold those States as subju gated territories and deny to their people the rights of citizens? No, sir; no such unwise counsels prevailed in the Roman senate; but With a trpe Wisdom and m animity, which even at this day must common our warm admi ration, they generously conceded to the people of the insurgent States the full rights of Roman citizens, an Inered the remnant of the armies of the late confe crates With the legions of the republic, marching them together under the Roman eagle to recOver the territories which hail been overrun and occupied by a foreign enemy during the social war, thus preserving the) 1power, and strength, and glory, of the republic. Cicero, in one of bis beautiful orations, speaks in terms of the most cloquent praise of the one tom which had prevailed among the Roman people of granting the rights of citizens to conquered enemies. Other instances of the exercise of the same Wise and liberal policy might be cited from Roman history and now Imay be allowed to inquire whether it is possible that the concos of the U.S. at this day, in the fullblaze of Christian cmhzation, Will be less magnauimous to our brethren of the South than were the Roman people 2000 years ago to their conquered enemies? Sir, I am not insensible to the fact that the events of the last 4 years have produced estrnugcments and divisions which time alone can fully restore; that wounds have been inflicted which are yet too fresh to allowus to hope for that perfect restoration of cordial friendship and amity for which every lover of his country and his race will most ardently pray. But it seems to me that it would be the part of true wisdom in us, after having so completely crushed the rebellion, and when these people have so unanimously and sincerely, as I believe, resolved to return to their duties and obligations to the General Government, to treat them with that clemency and kindness which will not fail to win their nticction and thus settle more firmly the foundations of the Union, and add additional luster to the brilliant victories we have achieved. I know they have committed a great wrong, but I ask, now that we have vindicated before the world that no right. exists under our constitution for a State to secede, after we have exhibited a determination which admits of no misconstruction or doubt, that we will have but one Constitution and one flag, would it be the part of wisdom and magnanimity. in this hour of our triumph, to seek to crush and degrade these men who we have determined shall live with us as brethren of the same common country? No, sir; no, sir; this is the hour for clem enc and for giveness. Let us enorously say to these people “It is true, indeed, that you have committed a great crime in endeavoring to break up this Union, made by the sacrifices, the toil, and the wisdom of your fathers as well as ours, but you have abandoned your error and expressed your desire to return to the common household. We know how to be generous in the council chamber, as our armies have been mag nanimous, gallant, and brave in the field, and however great has been your error, you are still our countrymen. Come, let us again be sin cere friends. We trust and believe that in the future you will be as devoted and patriotic to the Union as you have been brave and heroic in a mistaken cause in the past. Let us once more unite in the pleasing task of advancing the true glory, happiness and prosperity of our common country. Come, let us enjoy as equals and as brothers the rich blessings of this price less heritage which has come down to us from an illustrious ancestry.“ Let us not forget, I beseech you, Mr. Speaker, the petition in that best of prayers which was pronounced by the lips of our divine Redeemer imself, and which was tanghtus at ourmothers knee, “ Forgive us our trospasses as we forgive them who tres pass a inst us." and as we prostrate ourselics in umble adoration before the Supreme Ruler of nations, to beg His blessing an. the forgiveness of our many transgressions oh let us not forget that He is the common l"ather of us all, and that in order that our prayers may be heard, we, too, must for give every one from our hearts. Sir, I believe the pure recepts of Christian charity will be a much saiiir guide for us in this crisis of our history than the principles of hate and revenge. I have always been opposed to the doctrines of secession. I was determined in my opposition to the rebellion. I have always been devoted in my attachment to the Union of those States. All my interests are in the North. There sleep the ashes of my ancestors. There live my kindred and my friends, those whose love and friendship make life happy. But, sir, I shall never forget that every State of the 36 is a part of my country, and that their citizens are my countrymen. I shall never for get, Mr. Speaker, that the independence of this nation was achieved and the union of these States formed by the united toil and sacrifices the blood and wisdom of both sections; and my most earnest prayer today is that this whole people may again be true friends, and that all of ese States may once more. gather around the common altar of the Union, linked together as equals by the strong and enduring ties of mutual confidence and affection.