Mr. BLAINE. I want to say to the Gentfrom NewYork that he ignores one very important fact of the last session. The Reconstruction Committee, so far as their action could go, attempted to make a basis such as he speaks of. reported the bill distinctly, declaring that on the adoption of the constitutional amendment by any of the rebellious States, such State should be readmitted. But that bill did not rise to the dignity of being rejected in Congress. It never received a hearing. It was absolutely kicked under the table in both branches. It was so far seouted that it never had a 3rd reading at the Clerk's desk. And when Tennessee was admitted there was no possible implication in the act or JtResolution admitting her that the adoption of the constitutional amendment was the sole basis on which she was admitted. In proof of this I beg to read the preambleto the Tennessee resolution. It is as follows: “Whereas in the year 1861the government of the State of Tennesseewas seizedupon and taken possession of by persons in hostility to the U.S., and theo: of said State, in pursuance of act of Congress, were declared an to be in a state of insurrection against the U.S.; and whereas said State government can only be restored to its former political relations in the Union by the consent of the lawmaking power of the U.S.: and whereasthe people of day said Statedid, on the 22d of February, 1865b, y a large popular vote, adopt and ratify a constitution of government whereby slavery was abolished and all ordinances and laws of secessionand debts contracted under the same were declaredvoid; and whereas a State government has beenorganizedunder said constitution which has ratified the amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. abolishing slavery, also the amendment the 39th Congress, andhas done other acts proclaiming and denotingloyalty, ” &c. Now, I submit, Mr. Speaker, that this recital distinctly shows that the constitutional amendment was very far from being the sole basis on which Tennessee was admitted to rePresentation here. It was the last, if not the least, of the many reasons that made Tennessee exceptional and peculiar and secured her recognition here in advance of her sisters in rebellion. [Here the hammer fell]