Mr. ASHLEY, of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to the motion of my colleague to refer the bill now under consideration, with the pending amendments, to the JtCom on Reconstruction. I am also opposed to the motion which the gentleman. Pennsylvania gave notice of the other day, to lay these bills on the table. I hope the motion to refer them, or lay them on the table, will not be adopted. If either of these motions should prevail it would operate practically as a declaration on the part of the House that no action may be expected during the remainder of this Congress upon the great question of reconstruction. I accept the suggestion of the Gentfrom Pennsylvania, and now withdraw my amendment to his substitute; and, so far as Ican, I will sustain the motion which he proposes to make on Monday, that the House consider these bills as in ComWhole under the 5 minute rule, and try to perfect a bill so as to be able to send it to the Senate within the next 2 or 3 days. Gentlemen at all familiar with the legislalation of the House, and the manner in which its business is now blocked out, will comprehend at once that unless some speedy action is had by the House, and the bill sent to the Senate, so that they may have time to examine it, and to review the veto message in case it shall come in, during the life of this 39th Congress, there can be no act passed that will bring relief to the loyal men of the South or carry out the pledges which the 39th Congress made to the country and to the loyal men of the South, that loyal and constitutional State governments shall be established there on the reassembling of Congress. As the Gentfrom Pennsylvania has a just remarked, there are but 20 working days practically left of this session. The 39th Congress went to the country in opposition to the policy of the President, and to what we were pleased to denominate his usurpations. The people in generous confidence have sustained Congress and returned to the Portieth Congress by majorities unprecedented men pledged too abolition of the governments established by the acting POTUS, in violation of all law, and, as I claim, in clear violation of the Constitution. A large majority on this side of the House were returned to the next Congress under the exPress pledge that they would not permit these rebel State governments to exist a single hour after this Congress had been in session long enough to declare them abolished. If this Congress fails to redeem that pledge it will commit a blunder which, in such an hour as this, is worse than a crime.