Mr. SUMNER. When the Senfrom Vermont [Mr. Eniuurms] rose yesterday, it may be remembered that I at the same time tried to catch the eye of the Chair. I had intended to say something very much in the sense in which he spoke. I should not have said it so well, and I was not prepared with the authority which he had in his hand, though I had intened to allude to it. I should not say anything now but for the remarks of my friendfrom NewYork [Mr. Hsimis] who seemed so much at a loss where to find the power which it is now proposed to exercise. Ie was so much at a oss that he went beyond those bounds which he usually preseribes for himself in this Chamber, and indulged in an unwonted levity. Not content with showing, as he supposed, that the power did not exist where it was said to exist, he asked, with a humorous face, whether it was not found under the clause to guarauty a RFG. Tam very glad to find that My excellent friend is disposed to look to that clause of the Constitution. It is a clause that has been very much neglected, but to my mind it is one of the most potent in the whole Constitution, full of beneficent power that it. would be well if this Government now, at this crisis of its history, were disposed to exercise. In this clause are waters ol healing for our distressed country. Follow this clause in its natural and obvious requirements, and you will have security, peace, and liberty under the safeguard of that Great Guarantee, the equal Rights of all. but I must remind my excellent friend that there is no occasion at this time for any resort to this transe endent, source of power. The power from which this resolution is derived is obvious. My friend interrupts me to say that it is the war power. I say it is obvious, and I will show him in a moment that it is not the war power. It is a power that has been exercise constantly, from the be inning of our history, with regard to which t cre can be no question; because it is embodied in one of the clearest texts of the Constitution; because it has been expounded by a series of decisions from our Supreme Court, which are among the most authoritative in our history. It is the power to regulate commerce. M friend smiles; but he must not smile at the constitution of his country. That reads as follows: “ Congress shall have power to regulatecommerce with foreign nations hhJflmODKthe several States." By this resolution it is proposed to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Have not all the regulations with regard to passengers been under this power? Have they not all been the regulation of commerce with foreign nations? Can there be any doubt on the it not as plain as language can may c it? Why, sir, ever since I have been in Congress we have had annual bills for the regulation of assengers coming into our orts bills of dihment degrees of stringency ayin one penalty here, and another penalty there, alin teexecution of this anquestionable power.