Mr. DOOLITTLE. This proposition of my colleague has a very great deal of importance, in my judgment. It does not merely concern the States that have been in rebellion. but it. concerns our own States, our own provostmar shals, and the men who have noted all over our States. I speak now of the States of Iowa, Wisconsin, and all the States of the North. Our provost marshals are being sued, a great many suits are being instituted against them, and it is going to be the ruin of those men who have been acting on behalf of the Government for them to go on simply with the defense of these suits. They have not the means to do it and attend to them, and there ought to be some kind of provision by which the AttyGen of the U.S and the district attorneys, or somebody in behalf of the government, should take hold of the defense of these actions that are now pending. Several actions are pending in the count where I live against the provost marshal of the district and the Officers who have acted under him, and it is no small matter whether we have over these men to these harassing roseentions, and leave them to defend themse ves as best they may. I do not say that it would be wise for us to announce, unqualifiedly and in advance, that we should defend all cases and pay all judgments that may be recovered against them. That might not be wise for us now to announce; but Itink we should assume this matter of the defense under some limitations. It may be that in addition to what my coll ues amendment pzoposes We might provide at the cause, oning transferre to the circuit court, should be presented to the district attorney of the U.S., and if he should be satisfied that there was a bona fide defense he should then go on with the suit. There might be some qualification of that sort. But, Mr. President, in addition to that which my colleague proposes, I have an amendment which I shall offer to the 1st section of the bill which I deem very important. It is not precisely like the amendment which was offered y the Senfrom Vermont, and in reference to this matter of making a law of Congress on absolute defense against a wrong to person and properabsolutely and unqualiliedly in States where t rehas been no rebellion, no martial law, and where the courts have been continu ally Open, that is further than I am prepared to go. Upon that subject I have drawn an amendment which meets my views and which I desire to have acted on, and I deem it very important. Several Sessroas. Read it.