Mr. STEWART. Mr. President, my friendfrom Wisconsin [Mr. Hows] did not state my position quite fairly, nor exactlyas I put it. He stated that I was waiting to see whether i could serve the Lord before I broke with his adversary. Well, that really locks like a manifestation of cgotism on his part, as if he and the Lord were on intimate terms, so that he can say that he is on the Lords side. ButI beg leave to say that I do not exactly occupy that position. I believe that it is pretty well known thatIam not much afraid to brea. with anybody, that I do not watch the President to see how he is oing. I mean on all questions to consult my est judffment, and I am ready at any mement to hrea with the President or anybod else on principle, if he deserts principle. i ow I choose to state my position for myself. The President has attempted reconstruction; he has reared a kind of policy; I as a member of the Senate do not propose to aid in destroying it until I have got some may terials together whereb to build a better house. Until I have colle the materials I do not prepose to goto work tear in down and de stroying. It may mingle for Congress to construct a better policy; and if so, it is not the part of wisdom and justice on our part to destroy all that he has done. Istated that the object of this amendment was undoubtedly to prevent the President from using the patronage of the Government to sustain iis policy. If his policyis abandoned, or if we have a better one, I do not think there is anything so terrible in this law. If we have gota better policy that we desire to subserve if we have the ability to build a better plan O reconstruction, it is our duty to use all constitutional power to make that successful; but if we have not, and do not succeed in ettin it, we had better not pass any laws which shal embarrass the President in carrying out his policy. I want the States reconstructed; I want the Union preserved; and I believe that is the wish of the American people, and if Conwress is incapacitated to do that, then I say we 5 onld throw no obstruction in the way of the President using his patrons e and power to reconstruct in his way. But [I stated at the same time that I believed Congress would be able to construct a policy which would be better than the Presidents; and when we have done that, l still hope the President will gowith Congress. Congress, after it has sufficiently deliberated, will. l believe, iroduce a plan, but until that is accomplishe no harm can be done from delaying this matter; because congress will be in session, and we shall have all the power in our hands. I say we should not be led astray on this side issue which is calculated to distract, which is givine us additional weight to carry, until we shall have arranged our plan ofaction and then theremay be no need of any conflict with the President. We may then be in harmony, and the great Union party may Eo 0n again without trouble. The resident as not in the matter of appointments gone so far as to alienate himset from Congress. We have rejected Very few of his appointments; we have confirmed nearly all. lbelieve we have not rejected more than the usual proportion. There is as yet no violent contest on this subject. We are here able to reject any improper appointment that he can make. We are going to stay here for some time, until we agree on some plan of action. Then, if there shall be trouble in carrying out that plan, let us use our constitutional power. M position is, that I am willing to break with any man who breaks with principle; but I am unwilling to tear down what another man has done until I have some evidence that I cando better, until I am prepared todo better.