Mr. TRUMBULL. Most of us are here under RFGs just like this in Tennessee. Nearly every one of us holds his seat under a similar State constitution. This constitution, as appears by a proclamation ofAndrewJohnson, military governor of Tennessee was ratified on the 22d of February, 1865, by a very large popular vote. He states in that proclamation that the amendments which were reposed to the old constitution and to the schedule have been adopted by the people. That fact is recited in this preamble, which is not in the House preamble. It is also recited in the preamble that the State of Tennessee has repudiated the rebel debt, has abolished slavery within the State, has declared the ordinance of secession and laws under it null and void, all of which facts are omitted from the recital in the House preamble; and the resolution itself differs materially from that adopted in the House. The House resolution makes it a point that the State of Tennessee is entitled to be represented by Sens&Reps in congress, duly elected and qualified, on their takin the oath of office required by existing laws. the ComJudiciary preferred to leave that matter with the general declaration that this State government which had been organized in Tennessee was a legitimate State government, on titled to all the rights which belong to a State government in the Union, and then it will be the ft for each House to determine for itself, when the credentials are presented, upon the right of persons who claim seats to occupy them; and we think it is preferable to the she e which has been adopted by the HoRep u, and for that reason present it in this form. I do not propose to enter into an extended remarks at this time, as I said; but will make one further remark in reply to the suggestion of the Senfrom Ohio, that the POTUS will necessarily veto this resolution. I do not see how he can. Will the POTUS object to congress declaring that this very government, which l he has been insisting upon was a legitimate government all the timc, is legitimate? That is what we declare in our resolution, that this State government, organized in Tennessee is a legitimate State government, a government which he himself organized a year and a half ago, and entitled to all the rights appertaining to any State government in the Union. Can it be that the t‘xecutive can have any objection to our declaring that which he has alleged to be a fact all the time? But the senator objects that we assert that it is for the lawmaking power to declare this. I think so; we have declared so; and I am for adhering to the rosition that Congress has taken upon this subject. I forbear to go into that because it is an extensive subject which would lead to extended remarks. But it seems to me a proposition as clear of demonstration as any political question can be, that it belongs to the lawmaking power of this Government to deter mine whether a government exists in a State that is entitled to be regarded as the legitimate government of that State.