Mr. PAINE. Mr. Speaker, I cannot vote for the 2nd section of this bill. Unless it shall be stricken out I shall be compelled to vote against the bill itself. I am not a little surprised that the Gentfrom Pennsylvania [Mr. STEVENs] should be ready voluntarily to assume this burden of responsibility for the anarchy of murder, robbery, and arson which reigns in these socalled defacto governments which he proposes to recognize as valid for municipal purposes. He may be able to get this fearfully upon his back, but if he does I warn him of the danger that the sands of his life will all run out before he will be able to shake it off. In this 2nd section he denies that these governments are free republics, and yet he recognizes them as valid governments for municipal purposes until “duly altered.” Mark the words: “valid governments for municipal purposes until duly altered.” By whom duly altered? By the rebels themselves, on their own motion, or by virtue of congressional legislation? i take it for granted these governments are to be altered in pursuance of congressional legislation, either by virtue of this bill or some other. But, sir, is the gentleman sure that this plan of reconstruction proposed by the bill will be realized in all of these lately rebellious States? Is he sure that it will ever be realized in one of them? Why, sir, unfortunately this bill is not so framed that it can run alone in the South. Somebody must vote there. These constitutional conventions must have members if they have any existence. Somebody must frame these constitutions if they are framed at all. Now, suppose nobody votes there; suppose no members appear in these constitutional conventions; suppose no constitutions are framed; suppose, in a word, that this southern horse will not drink, even after the Gentfrom Pennsylvania shall have led him to water; what then 2. Will not the gentleman have found himself in a most unfortu mate predicament? He will have these piratical governments on his hands voluntarily recognized as valid, for municipal purposes until duly altered. He will have gratuitously become a copartner in the guilt which hitherto has rested upon the souls of AndrewJohnson and his northern and southern satellites, but which thenceforth will rest on his soul also until he can contrive duly to alter these governments. And so it will happen that the great Union party to which he belongs, and to which I belong, will become implicated, for how long a time God only knows, in this unspeakable iniquity which daily and hourly cries to Heaven from every rood of rebel soil for vengeance on these monsters. Sir, I shrink back appalled at the temerity of this rash;Gentfrom Pennsylvania. [Laughter. Mr. Speaker, I want to know what occasion there is for any such provision as this in the bill? Not one single function is assigned by this bill to these governments which they are to perform if they are recognized. Why is the gentleman so anxious to share the responsibility and guilt 'of AndrewJohnson? What occasion have we to recognize these governments at all for any purpose? They play no part in the drama of reconstruction. }. the gentleman has presented in this bill. Why, then, recognize them? What occasion is there for this gratuitous self. stultification? Why, sir, the out rages perpetrated under these governments and with their sanction have been daily discussed in this very Chamber. This Hall has been for 30 days fairly blue with the smoke of the righteous wrath and indignation of the Gentfrom Pennsylvania, and now he proposes to othe atmosphere by absorbing all the guilt himself by taking upon his own shoulders the burden of this guilt. Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell what load of sin long experience may enable the gentleman to stag ger under, but I know full well that my own shoulders are neither broad enough nor strong enough to bear up any portion of this guilt. If 12 or 18 months ago he had proposed to recognize these governments there might now be some excuse for him. If he had dong so then, and we should now, in view of the anarchy which runs riot at the South, upbraid him for what he then did, he might very well say to us, “Gentlemen, I did not foresee these horrors.” But now he has actually seen them. Why, sir, he has made this Hall ring with his malediction hurled at these pretended governments; and he undertakes to make us, as well as himself, partners in their guilt. This bill goes into effect in May next, 4 months hence. He has waited already more than 20 months for reconstruction without recognizing these governments as valid for any purpose. He can wait for 4 months longer. }} he cannot, I can. The Gentfrom Pennsylvania often lectures, with or without cause, my distinguished friendfrom the Cleveland district [Mr. SPALDING] for wandering away from the true faith in search of presidential bread and butter; but, sir, time may disclose what presidential bread and butter the vener able Gentfrom Pennsylvania has singly hidden away here under the 2nd section of this bill.