Mr. HALE. The gentleman mast excuse me. I cannot consent to be diverted from the line of my proposed argument. I can only say that, so far as this House is concerned, we know only the fact that a majority of the JtComReconstruction have reported this JtResolution here. It comes tous with simply that weight and no more. It does not bear with it the accumulated weight of the unanimous voice of that committee. The Gentfrom Iowa Mr. GRINNELIJ] entirely misapprehcnds meif he understands me as complaining; I state merely the fact. I} say it comes to us with only the weight of the majority, and not with the united weight of the aproval of all the members of that committee. but it does seem to me, with the little knowledge that I possess of constitutional law, and with the very brief and hasty examination that I have been enabled to give to this matter, that no weight or authority of members of this House today ought to bring us to pass this amendment without at least a most careful and scrutinizing examination. It does seem to me that the tenor and effect of the amendment proposed here by this committee is to bring about a more radical change in the system of this Government, to institute a wider departure from the theory upon which our fathers formed it than ever before was proposed in any legislative or constitutional assembly. Listening to the remarks of the distinguished member of the committee [Mr. BlNGHAM] who reported this JtResolution to the House, one would be led to think that this amendment was a subject of the most trivial consequence. He tells us, and tells us with an air of gravity that I could not but admire, that the words of the resolution are all in the contitution as it stands, with the single exception f the power given to Congress to legislate. A ery important exception, it strikes me, but one o which the gentleman seems to attach very ittle weight. My friendfrom California, [Mr. Hiosr] who addressed the House this morning in support of this resolution of the committee, (and I speak of that gentlemen with the most entire respect and friendship) went a little further, and succeeded in showing that the exception of the honorable Gentfrom Ohio [ML Biso miil] was unnecessary; for, said the Gentfrom California, the words of this JtResolution are all in the Constitution asit now stands. He turns to the 8th section of the 1st article, and in the 1st clause of it he finds the words “the Congress shall have power.” He turns to the last clause of the same section, and there he finds the words “ to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper.” He turns to the 2nd section of the 4th article, and there finds the words: "Ihecitizens of eachState shall be entitled to all Eggfges and immunities of citizens of the several He turns to the 5th article of the amendments to the Constitution, and there fuids the words: pr"oNpeorty person shall be deprived of life, liberty or without due processof law." Thus, he says, you have included in the Constitution as it stands all the words of the amendment proposed by the committee. Theingenuity of the ar iment was admirable. I never heard it para eled except in the case of the gentleman who undertook to justify suicide from the Scii iture by quotin 2 texts: “Ju das went and auged himsel;" “ Go thou and (I5 likewise.” Now, Mr. Speaker, what is the theory of our Constitution? I will not undertake to elab orate this matter too for; but briefly, imperfectly, and within very scanty limits, let me attempt an answer to this question. In General terms, is it not that all powers relating to the existence and sovereignty of the nation, powers relating to our foreign relations, powers relating to peace and war, to the enforcement of the law of nations and international law, are the powers given to Congress and to the Federal government by the Constitution, while all powers having reereice to the relation of the individual to the municipal government, the powers of local jurisdiction and legislation, are in general reserved to the States? What is the effect of the amendment which the ComReconstruction propose for the sanction of this House and the States of the Union? I submit that it is in effect a provision under which all State legislation, in its codes of civil and criminal jurisprudence and procedure, affecting the individual citizen, me e overridden, may be repealed or abolished and the law of Congress established instead, I maintain that in this respect it is an utter de parture from every principle ever dreamed o y the men who framed our Constitution.