Mr. PATTERSON.Mr. Speaker, I do not rise to oppose this bill, nor indeed to discuss it; for I concur heartily in the general scope of the able report of the chairman of the committee on this subject. But, sir, I desire to state my reasons for signing the minority report. The bill has never been read before our committee. I never heard of the bill until yesterday morning at a meeting of the comampshire, [ML Par mittee of about 15 minutes'dnration. Now, sir, the purpose and effect of the bill are to modify, if not entirely change, the policy of this'Government, adopted under the auspices and direction of Washington and adhered to from that time to this a policy under which our commerce has enlarged and prospered, and our rights and liberties been fully maintained. This bill is to affect all our interests as a commercial people: it is to affect our relations with foreign Governments now and hereafter. It proposes an essential and important change in the legislation of this country; and it appears to me to present questions of such grav'ity and magnituuc as to demand more delibenate consideration than we can possibly give it in the few remainin hours of this session. Certainly a bill inva ving questions of such serious import should be maturely and thor oughly considered by the committee reporting it; and it appears to me to be a measure of such a nature that it should emanate from the best legal ability of this country, acting upon the most thorough and deliberate consideration. Now, sir, the chairman of the committee may have considered this question thoroughly, an of course is justified under such circumstances in reporting the bill. But as regards myself, I have not considered it. At a time like this, when the principal nations of Europe are engaged in a war which may ultimately in volve the whole of Europe, and when our own relations toward France and England are such as to demand our serious attention, we should not, it seems to me, by a measure of this kind, hastily considered and hurriedly passed, take a step which may effect our interests in such a way as to cause us grave regret hereafter. We should remember that we are even now asking of England reparation for iniuries which we have suffered at her hands duri ‘g the late war, from an administration of aliairs which she claims is in entire accordanct with her new trality laws. Should we now modify our own neutrality laws so as to corres and with the law of England, we may there y place our selves at a disadvantage in our controversy with that nation. In my opinion, we ought, standing upon our present legislation, to make our demand and insist upon it. It is for these reasons, and for these reasons only, that I object to the consideration of this bill now. At a proper time and after due consideration, I might be inclined to support it. I am opposed to hasty legislation on questions of such reach and magnitude.