Mr. BLALNE. He hopes so. Is it not a faint hope? Does the gentleman indulge very lively hopes in that direction? Now, for myself, there is one thing I have a great prejudice against, and that is being duped and humbugged. If gentlemen wish to admit Nebraska here without any condition at all, just as States have been admitted heretofore, leaving the question of suffrage to be settled by that State in its own legislative or constitutional convention, I can understand it. That is a fair, square, and manly proposition. If, on the other hand, you mean to say that Nebraska shall be admitted on this condition only, and that you will exact her concession to Iit, can understand it. But to dodge between the 2 positions, to say, upon the one side, that this provision effects the object, and then turn round and say to the other side that it does no harm because it is a mere placebo to certain prejudices here, I confess I think it o:lation; and I have not heard any gentleman here say that he has any confidence that this, amendment will amount to anything as a legal and binding condition on the people of Nebraska. The Gentfrom Pennsylvania [Mr. BRoom.ALL] says that if subsequent action occurs it will be presumed that they have ratified the condition, and that action is if they send Sens&Reps to congress. Now, I understand that if this act goes through and the President approves it, his sig nature will not be dry upon it before a representative will be sworn in here and 2 Senators at the other end of the Capitol. How does that become the popular assent of the people of Nebraska? How do you impose any obligation upon them by letting in 3 gentlemen, who are anxious to take seats here, to come in and swear their oaths and take their seats. How will that affect the question? Now, if this thing is valid, if the EDMUNds amendment, as it is popularly termed, has any validity at all in it, why the reconstruction problem is very simple. If the Gentfrom Ohio [Mr. AshLEY] will tell me that as chairman of the ComTerritor or as a member of the House he believes in this, why not apply, it to Virginia tomorrow and to SCarolina the next day? Let us apply it right through and settle the question of reconstruc.tion at once. If it is valid in this case it must be valid in any case. But I repeat there is scarcely a gentleman here who has the slightest confidence in it or who does not confess that it is a legislative humbug; and for one, while under certain circumstances I might be willing to bte for the admission of Nebraska and I wish she was in; she is a growing, prosperous State that ought to be in the Union of protest for one against humbugging myself, or being humbugged, or assisting in humbugging my constituents. I protest, therefore, against the bill in its present form. I wish to ask the Gentfrom Ohio, before I take my seat, a single question. Is he willing to let me offer an amendment providing that the people of Nebraska, either do their Legislature or convention, shall assent to and ratify this condition?