Mr. HOWARD. Mr. President, I cannot vote for that amendment. I prefer the resolution as it came from the HoRep, because, whether the concurrent resolution has or has not the effect of law, it certainly contains within itself a pledge on the part of the 2 Houses, given the one to the at or, that until the report of this important committee shall have been presented, we will not readmit any of the rebel States either by the recognition of their Senators or of their Representatives. I think, sir, the country expects nothing less than this at our hands. I think that portion of the loyal people of the U.S. who have sacrificed so much of blood and treas ure in the prosecution of the war, and who secured to us the signal victory which we have achieved over the rebellion, have a right to at least this assurance at our hands, that neither House of Congress will recognize as States an one of the rebel States until the eventto which I have alluded. Sir, what is the present position and status of the rebel States? In my judgment they are simply conquered communities, subjugated by the arms o the U.S. communities in which the right of selfgovernment does not now exist. Why? Because they have been for the last 4 years hostile, to the most surprising unanimity hostile, to the authority of the U.S., and have during that period been waging a bloody war against that authority. The are simply conquered communities; and we old them, as we know well, as the world knows today, not by their own free will and consent as members of the Union, but solel by virtue of our superior military power, which is exerted to that. effect throughout the length and breadth of the rebel States. There is in those States no rightful authority, according to my view, at this time but that of the U.S. i and every political act, every governmenta act exercised within their limits, must necessarily be exercised and performed under the sanction and by the will of the conucror. In short sir, they are not today loyal tates; their population are not willing today, if we are rightly informed to perform peaceably, quietly, and efliciently the duties which pertain to the population of a State in the Union and of the nion; and for one, I cannot consent to recognize them, even indirectly, as entitled to be represented in either House of congress at this time. The time has not yet come, in my judgment, to do this, and I object to the amendment for the reason thatit leaves the implication and the implication will be drawn and clearly understood by the publicthat one or the other House of Congress may, whenever it sees fit, roadinit Senators or Representatives from a rebel State as! it sees fit, without the concurrence of the other House, and I hold it to be utterly incompetent for the Senate under the present condition of things, and for the HoRep, under the same condition, to admit Shoators or Representatives into Congress without the consent of both Houses and the formal recognition of the fact that hostilities have ceased and that loyalty is restored in the rebel States. I think, air, that under present cirepmstam cos it is due to the country that we should give them the assurance, such as the HoRep has “van in the resolution they have sent to us, thiat we will not thus hastily readmit to seats in the legislative bodies here the representatives of constituencies who are still hostile to the authority of the U.S., and unwilling to cooperate with us in our legislation. I think, sir, that such constituencies are not entitled to be represented here. I ask,tions of its own members. for the yeas&nays on the amendment which is now pending. The yeas and pays were ordered.