Mr. CONNESS. This bill was considered with a good deal of care in the office of the ComPostOffices. I cannot see that it is obnoxious to the objections made by the honorable Senator, my friendfrom Nevada. As stated by the chairman of the committee, it is not imposed to retail stamps on credit. It is well known to the honorable Senator, as it is to every Senator and to the country, that it is exceedingly ditheult to obtain agents for the transaction of all the business of the Government in the States lately in rebellion. What shall be done? Does the Senator propose that they shall have no government there? Does the Senator propose that in every instance we shall appoint men from the North or from the States formerly free to so down there and fill every office? I apprehend that I am as strenuous in my love of lay alty, that I am as desirous that loyal men where it can be done, shall be the agents, an they only the agents of the Government, as the honorable Senfrom Nevada or any other Senator. But, sir, if you are to have a government there at all, if the influence of the Government is to reach that people at all, theymust be reached to a greater orlesser degree at some time through their own citizens. I would have the honorable Senator think of this, and think ofit, not simply with reference to the crimes these men have committed, but Mth reference both to the present and the future. I do not propose to impose the higher ran e of duties upon men who have come out of the rebellion with their hands stained with its crimes; but the Depts of this Government must have agents in those States. Agents already employed by the Treasury dept, the Interior Dept, and other depts of the Government, will be employed in this connection by the postoffice Dept; stamps will be sold to them on credit. I apprehend that the PostMGenl is as anxious as the honorable Senator can be to find loyal men", and willfind loyal menin every instance where he can do so, to do this and all other business connected with his Dept. But if we are to conduct ourselves toward these States, orTerritories, ifyou pleaseI do not care what you call them if I we are to conduct ourselves toward the people of the South upon the basis now suggested by the honorable Senator, there can be no reconstruction. There is not the most extreme advocate of a congressional plan for reconstruction who does not suppose, Ia iprehend, that at some period, say not further istant than 2 yearsfrom this time, those States will resume their place in the Union, and the people who were formerly rebels assume a position of loyalty again to the Government. Now, it is proposed that the officers appointed by other Depts of the Government in these States, and found faithful in their trusts, shall be intrusted to buy postage stamps from the Government to facilitate postal business among the people there. Sir, I be etat the course of opposition to this billwil not be pursued. As I said before, I feel as strenuous on the subject of loyalty as any Senator, but I cannot go to the length proposed hy the Senfrom Nevada. I am for peace; I am for a lasting peace as much as the Senator can be; but I think it cannot come by denying to the peeple of the South every facility that is proposed to be extendedto them by the Depts, who have fully considered the matter. I hope the Senfrom Nevada will not persist in his objections. I hardly think they are well founded, and I think we cannot proceed upon the basis that he presents.