Mr. SAULSBURY. It is not my intention now to enter into the discussion of the details of this proposition. I intend to do so before the debate closes. The immediate question before the Senate, as I understand, is to insert after the words “shall have, " in the 37th line of this 3rd section, the word voluntarily;" so that it will read: That no person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress or elector of President iind VEEP or hold any office.civil or military, under the government.of the U.S or under nnyState, who. having previously taken an oath. as it member 0 Congress or as an officer of the U.S or asa member of any State Legislature or as an exoc utive or judicial afficer of any State to support the Constitution of the U.S shall have voluntarily engagedin insurrection or rebellion against thosaineJzc. The proposition is to insert the word “ voluntarily.’ It is objected to, I understand. Upon what ground? I should like some gentleman to answerthe question, upon what ground do senators object to the insertion of the word “ voluntarily?” If am compelled to do a thing against my will, if I cannot avoid it, shall my involuntary service be imputed to me as a crime? Sir, has not the spirit of vengeance gone far enough? Are you not satisfied with visiting punishments upon voluntary acts, but will you also visit them upon involuntary and unwilling acts? I read in the newspaers that we live in the 19th century, the christian age, illuminated from the great East; that we receive our instructions in religion, morals, trade, and everything else from how England and yet one of these modern doctrines and modern teachings is this, that involuntary acts are to be punished! That is the direct proposition before the American Senate; and) when an amendment is seriously offered providing that men who have been constrained by force to enter into what you call the “rebel” service, shall be exempted from criminality, a star arises in the East, though it may not be over the laius of Bethlehem, and though it may not he heralded by the angelic voices which sang “peace on earth and good will to men, " proclaiming, “ Though you may have been constrained and forced to enter that service, yet you shall be punished." That is the enlightenment of the 19th century! That is Christian sentiment as expounded by NewEngland! It Mr. President, I am surprised at my friendfrom WestVirginia. No man has a greater respect for him personally, and for his character as a Christian gentleman, than myself. I have heard him upon the platform inculcating the precepts of the Christian religion. I profess, myself, nothing of the kind. I only wish I possessed it. But he advocates, as Iunder stand, not only that a voluntary criminal act shall be punished, but that an not done involuntarily, against the will that is the meaning ofity compulsion and perforce, shall be visited criminally.