Mr. SUMNER. Mr. President, the question, as I understand it, is between 2 pream bles, which of the 2 to choose. I agree with my friendfrom Illinois that the preamble reported by him in many respects has the advan tage of the preamble which is sent to us from the House. It is fuller, and in its structure it is better. I am glad that it has undertaken to set forth how Tennessee lost her representation here, and also to set forth how she may again, or has been a sin if so it may be, re habilitated. I am god to see all that in the preamble. But while I accord merit to the Sea ator’s preamble in that respect, there are other particulars in which I thin it fails. He hip self has already recognized that in one particular his preamble is no better than that of the House. It is in this particular: that it sets forth that the State of ‘ennesseeHas alsoshownto thosntisfaction of Congress, by a properspirit ofobediencein the bod of her people or return to her due allegiance to the Govaruinent, laws, and authority of the U.S. In those words the 2 preambles are alike; there is no advantage in one over the other; but I understand the Senfrom Illinois is willing to alter those words in his preamble. If he does consent to that alteration, and the alteration is made, th'en, in that respectI shall recognize his preamble as superior to that of the house. Clearly, sir, that assumption is false; Tennessee has not “ shown to the satisfaction of Congress, by a proper spirit of obe dience in the body of or people, her return to her due allegiance to the Government, laws, and authority of the U.S." Perhn s I go too far when I say that it is false, that s is has not shown it to the satisfaction of Congress, because if Congress votes that, it will not be for me or for anyone else to say that conso has voted a falsehood; but I do say that fen nessee has not shown “apro or spirit of obedience in the body of her peop e.” I say all the evidence that thickens in the air from thatState, and has been darkening our sky during all this winter, shows that Tennessee has not that spirit of owience in the body of her people. Ehy, sir, by this winter the other House has been constrained to send a commission to Tennessee in order to investigate an outrage of unparalleled atrocity growmg out of this very rebel spi t. How can the Sena he U.S. undertake to aver that the dy of that people, thus saturated with the spirit of disoyalty, thus set on fire and inflamed by this sort of hatred to the Union, have shown to the satisfaction of Congress a proper spirit of obe dience? Sir, you make a mistake if you put in our statute book any such assertion which is historically untrue. You' cannot make it true by your averrnent. History hereafter, when it takes up its avenging pen, will record the falsehood to your shame. Sir, I have here on my table, sent to my desk since this discussion came on, some of the evidence laid before the reconstruction commit tee. In this evidence there is a good deal relating to Tennessee. Among the papers is a statement or memorial from German citizens there. I think, from reading this memorial, it is entitled to peculiar credit. I shall not read it, but I shall call your attention to a few sentences. I read as follows: “ In short your memorialists pntiqipato that at the 1st so rnl election the entire ciVil and Judicial power of the State must pass into the hands of those who have so long oppressed them and made actual war upon them. Tho indioial election, which is the most important of all. Must soon occur} Then it goes on in another place: “The predominant feeling of those lately in rebellion is thatofdoep scated hatred. Amounting in niany casesto a spirit of revengetoward the white Unionists of the State and a hauahty contempt for the negro whom they cannot treat as a freeman. The hatred for thew the loyalist is intensified by the accusation that he deserted the South in her extremity, and is, therefore a traitor and by the setting up a government of the minority." Then, in another place, these petitioners say as follows: “A party exists in the State which is everyday becoming more and more compact and powerful which sympathizeswith the men and principles of the rebellion. It commands every agencyto operate upon public opinion. It has 5 well sustained and ably edited daily papers in Memphis. 4 in Nash ville, one in Knoxville. and:1Weeklyin eachof the important villages. Their pardoned but talented and still popular lenders are with them. 100s of rebel ministers who glory in having led off in the rebellion and who have been.throughout the war. the bloodiest minded men in the South, are.still in thaconfidenee of the ir people. All these appliances acting in harmony mold public sentiment as they dense and commanda party of over 2/3rds of be white men of the State. Free from restrictions upon sutfrago.they will probably cast 90,000 votes in the State.” Sir, there is testimony that has been presented to your committee, and published by the order of the Senate as a part of their report.