Mr. SUMNER. I was about to say that the groposition involved in the resolution of the Senfrom Connecticut is so important that it may be considered as perhaps always in order to discuss it. I do not know that we ought to pass a day without discussing it in some way. certainly do not deprecate this discussion; but while I say that, I am very positive on another point: I should (lcprecate any effort now to precipitate a decision on that question; and I most sincerely hope that the Senfrom. Maine, the chairman of the ComReconstruction, who has this matter in charge, will hear that in mind. I do not believe that congress at this moment is in a condition to give the country the best proposition on this important subject. I am afraid that that excellent committee has listened too much to voices from without, insisting that there must be an issue presented to the country. For myself, I have always thought that that call was premature. There is no occasion now for an issue to be presented to the country. There are no elections in any States. The election in Connecticut is over. The election in NewHampshire is over. There are to be no elections be ore next autumn. What is the occasion, then, for an issue to be presented to the country? Isee none, unless Congress afteramost careful and mature discussion of the whole subject, is able to present an issue on which we can all honestly and as one phalanx go forward to battle. I do not intend to be drawn into a prema, ture discussion of the issue presented by the report of the ComReconstruction. I merely speak now to the question of time. I am sure that that report could not have been made in the last wee r of March. Iaui equally sure that if the committee had postponed their report until the last week of hIay they would have made a better one than they have made in the last week of April. I hope, therefore, following out that idea, that all decision of this question will be postponed as long as possible, to the end that a ljustinfluences may come to conrcss from the countr, and that Congress itsel may be ins ired by the fullest add amplest consideration of the whole question. Why, sir, there is the evidence which has been laid before this committee. We have not yet seen it together. That evidence ought to e together; it on ht to be laid.before the whole country: an we ought to have returning to us from the country the just influence which the circulation of that evidence is calcu lated to cause. I am sure that wherever that evidence is read the people will say Congress is justified in insisting upon security for the future. To that end, I take it, the evidence was taken, and I hope that Congress will not act until we get the natural and legitimate influences from that evidence. But, sir, allow me to say, by way of comment on the proposition of the Senfrom connecticut, that it seems to me my excellent friend, when he brought forward his proposition, for 0t 2 things.