Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in briefly stating, during the short time which is allowed me, the reasons which shall induce my vote upon this question, I shall not enter into a discussion of the merits of the proposition. I feel that in speaking I am actuated by no political consideration or influenee of as socintion. nor am I disposed to discuss the question with any unkind feeling toward the source om which it emanates. My objection to the adoption of the proposed amendment to the Constitution I base Simply upon the fact that the States in part to be af fected by it, and the States hereafter to conform to it as the fundamental lay! of the country. are not here present to participate in the consideration and the action by which it is to become the law of the land. We are without the Representatives from 11 States, and it is pro. poofsed to make this binding upon them as apart the Constitution of the country. The allirmative action of a portion of those 11 States are necessa to the adoption of this amendment before it can become a part of the organic law. lliat 27 States are necessary to the adoption O a constitutional amendment cannot successfully be gainsaid by any gentleman on this floor. The SCOTUS have over and over again declared that these States are not.only now in the Union, but they never have been out of the Union. Moreover, the present Executive, adoptin the views of his predecessor, declares, under teseal of the SecyState, that 27 States are required and it will be impossible for this House or for the judiciary of this country to determine contrary to the explicit decisions of the Supreme Court and the firm and almOst unanimous belief of the people of the country. Again, I desire that any amendment to the Constitution shall be participated in by those who are loyal in the late rebel States. Sir, we have them Just ground to reect any amendment adopted by this Congress i we decline to give them participation in the discussion and action upon it here and our mouths will be closed to any complaint that we might hereafter make to a rejectiOn of these amendments wholesale on the part of the late rebel States. Why are they not represented here? I do not appeal in behalf of islO 111men. I do not want any rebels here. hat is not the position of those who oppose this anicndient. But we do say that the Congress of the U.S. having clcnrl y established the principle that these States are States in i the Union, when they come here with In all Representatives prepared to take the oath which relaw piescris and which you and I have takcn, it is revolutionary, it is unjust, to refuse them admission. It never will meet the approval of the American people to deny them that representatibn. For myself I go no further than to demand here the admission of Representatives from loyal people, who are loyal themselves, who have ever been loyal and who (dime here competent and willing to subscribe to the oath which we all of us, have taken. No further do I go. Now, sir, some gentlemen have said here that. they desire to examine into the character of the constitution of the State of Tennessee and other States, to see whether they are republican in form. You have been telling the American people that for 3 long months. Does it take 3 months to read the constitution of the State of Tennessee? No, sir; you hang your opposition simply upon a technicality, a legal obJection which is not logical in law, and one which is in violation of common sense. Sir, the American people desire that these loyal people of the South shall be represented here by O al persons. I believe, from information at have, that 99 out of every 100 of the people of the South are now truly loyal and inten hereafter to be true citizens of the country. Believing that, I claim for them simply the right of representation; they are now taxed. Ta bein levied upon them, representation shoulotbe euied. Gentlemen may say that this question of relresentation and taxation is a mere make weight argument. I tell them that it is a vital and fun dhmentdl principle of our Government. It is the principle which made the 13 colon; ies seek a separation from the mother country, and it is lodged as clearly, as intensely, and as deeplyin the American mind as any other principle of our Government. In the advocacy of these principles, I, as one of the opposition here, am 1 ihto association with the pOTUS Sir, in the language of Henry Clay, when twitted by his frien during the pendency of the compromise measures of 1850 for his association and conperation at. that period with the Democracy, who then said he was willing to join with any party or men who desired the continued peace and prosperity of the country, without regard to their antecedents, I say to you, gentlemen, that I am willing to associate with anybody, whether he be a Republican or a Democrat, or what not, regardless ofwhat his antecedents may have been; all I want to know is that he is not advocating a full and faithful restoration of the Union. In doing this I am not impelled by any desire to secure othee either for myself or my friends, but by principles which I have always regarded as sound and just. The majority here need not think that because we advocate or the people approve of the policy of the President we or they want offices. I firmly believe today that if every man here representing a Democratic constituenc were to array himself against the olic of the resident in restoring the Union, that the lmasses of the American people whom they represent would repudiate them. It is not because he is Andrew Jo nson that we sustain him; it is.because the policy that he has recommended meets the approval of the peeple that they support him; they support him from the urest and most patriotjc motives; their cup O patriotism is full in that respect. I have never yet, here or elsewhere, do ended rebels, nor have I been in any respect the advocate of the rebellion: but the rebellion is over; these men have laid down their arms; they now ask you to admit their Representatives who are loyal, and I urge that we should do it. That is the issue between us, and nothing else. That is the issue you must. meet and must face, and you cannot evade it. It is easy for you today to admit these Representatives who are loyal and can take “the iron clad oath, ” as you call it. Why do on not do it? That is the point you must exp sin to the American people, and I venture the opinion that upon this question you will be let in a deserved minority. That is the point and the only point that I, as an humble member of the Democratic party, wish to argue with you. If you are in favor of that I am with you; if you are against it, I, as an humble member of the Democratic party, am against you. I am no defender either of rebels or of the rebellion; neither, let me say, do I subscribe to all the doctrines enunciated by the distinguished Gentfrom NewJersey [ML Rooms] yesterday. So far as he goes in supporting the policy I have indicated, I will join and s with him; in some of his extreme notions, I separate from him. Mr. Speaker, I indicated whenI commenced that I meant simply to state to the House the reasons which would government in voting against this amendment to the Constitution. At the propertime, when the South is represented here, I am willing to go into the consideration of amendments to the Constitution. I have much confidence in the gentleman who proposes this amendment, and when we shal all get together here under one roof and in full communion, I shall be willinglto join with him in proposing and adopting such amendmentsto the Constitution as the changed circumstances and condition of the country may require. I hope that those who admit that these States are in the Union will be willing, having admitted that, to go along logically, and admit that therefore those States shall have a voice in the adoption of these amendments to the Constitution, and wait until such time as we shall have loiyal man here from the South, with knowledge of the wants, authentic information as to the condition of the people of the South, of their labor question, and every other question in Which their interests are invo ed and at that. time I shall consideritproper to look into those amendments, and not until then and until that time I shall feel myself compelled cast in vote in this House against any lOPQSltlpn loo in to an amendment of the constitution which is to hereafter guide and rule our countr.