Mr. CONNESS. During the progress of the pastyear particularly, there has been very much said upon the exactissue that is now before the Senate; that is, the power of this branch of congress and the other, or to use the language of tire honorable Senator who has so often spoken here from Wisconsin, [Mr. Doom r Ti.s;] of each House for itself to determine the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members under the Constitution of the U.S. Whenever it has been asserted that the legislative dept of this Government had a right to determine whether a State was len titled to representation or not, Senators like the Senfrom Wisconsin have taken the position that Congress was restricted from dealing with the question, and that each House must deal with the question, under the Constitution, for itself. Now, a case is presented; a senator applies for admission; he 2nd from the State of Tennessee. The 1st has been admitted, there bein no question in regard to his capacity for ta 'ing the oath and entering upon his duties; and he took the oath and took his seat. The 2nd applies and nquestion is raised. miat question ‘! It is stated that the candidate for admission, or rather the Senator who proposes to take his seat in this body, was elected to an office under the socalled confederate government; that he took the oath of office to support that government; that the nature of his office required him to pass upon the confiscation of the property ofloyal men; that those acts were inconsistent with his fcalty to the U.S and now constitute an in consistency with his taking the oath that the law prescribes for a Senator. The objection is made to his takin his seat, and it is put upon that ground, on which it is moved to refer the case to a committee of this bed. The Senator making the application statest at he desires it to be so referred; he wishes the whole record examined that it may be determined before he takes the oath whether he can do so or not, whether it is a casein the judgmentof the Senate to which the Senate can take exception; and Senators rise here and oppose the reference. The Senfrom Wisconsin particularl, who has so often declared that each House for itselfunder the Constitution must determine the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members, opposes the reference, and the Senfrom Kentucky, last onthe floor, says: “Let the Senator take the oath 1st, and then if it be found that he could not have taken the oath properly and legally, I will vote to expel him.’ A very pretty proceeding!