Mr. WADE. In the Louisiana case I acted in accordance with many of my fellows, and all of us had the conviction that the measure was unconstitutional., You do not pretend that this is unconstitutional, or that it is any infraction of the usages of this body from time immemorial; but you allege that there is something connected with this proposition different from what has ever before been presented. Not at all. You say I am going against human rights. No, sir; in my judgment I am going in favor of human rights, to strengthen a body who are the advocates of human rights, to strengthen our arm, so that we may resist, ii it becomes necessary, any and all depts of this Government that may seek to trample down human rights. Your view of the subject is an exceedingly narrow one. I am anxious to reenforce this body with elements that go for liberty and right, while you seek to exclude them and thrust them out on a mere technicality. I know, sir, that the cause we have in view will be greatly promoted by carrying out this measure to admit these States and the worthy men whom they have sent to represent them here; and I think it is very ungracious now as an after thought to bring up objections to their admission that were never dreamed of till lately. How long is it since you let in a State with a constitution exactly like this? If the Senfrom Massachusetts, made objection to it then, I am not aware of the fact. When the enabling act was passed without imposing any such condition as he now contends for, he made no objection that I know of. These o: have complied with every demand you have made; and now all at once it is proposed to treat them as though they were rebels seeking to destroy this Union, instead of forming a most loyal and worthy part of it. I am not standing here to contend against human rights. I am in furtherance of the rights of man going to bring into this body those who can aid and assist us, and will do it always to maintain our great principles. The Senfrom Mas: sachusetts takes a narrow view. He would thrust them out and leave it uncertain whether the Territory may not be consigned to the hands of our mortal enemies. He has no regard to the consequences. A little miserable technicality, a “sticking in the bark, “ as Lord Coke would say, is the guide to his action here, and renders him too often entirely impracticable. I believe before high Heaven that the great cause of human rights would have been further advanced today than it is now if he had been more practical. I remem. ber well how at the last session the Senfrom Massachusetts withstood the 1st proposition to amend the Constitution reported. the reconstruction committee and threw it bac 5 or 6 months, in opposition to almost every one of his friends here. It was, as a consequence, delayed till after the adjournment of the State Legislatures. There stood Maryland ready to adopt your constitutional amendment, if her Legislature could have received it in time; but it was opposed here, I will not say factiously, until the time for action there had passed by, and thus you lost one State, perhaps for many years; and the senator finally voted for a proposition, just as objectionable on the point upon which he made his opposition as the one that he contended against so strenuously. Sir, it will not do always to stand upon these narrow grounds. It is not always statesman like to do it. I think it is better to look to consequences, to see what great bearing measures before the Senate will have. I want these loyal States in the Union. I am more anxious that they should come in than I am that the southern States should be reconstructed. They can well wait and undergo a probation until we are satisfied that they have reformed, repented, and become loyal. But, sir, I do not wish to pursue this kind of argument; I know it is taking time. Now, let me say to the Senfrom Missouri, [Mr. HENDERson, ] who says that all the questions have been taken here early, at 4 or 5 o'clock, that I do not remember of one single great question that ever has passed this body since I have been here except after just such a scuffle as this late in the night. We always debate them until gentlemen are tired of debate and submit to have the question taken. I cannot remember, I say again, unless an arrangement has been made, an occasion when any question of considerable importance has been settled in this Senate in the daytime.