Mr. SAULSBURY. On the question of the reference of this resolution I should not say a word but for the remarks made by the Senfrom Massachusetts in so port o that motion. The proplosition now be ore the Senate is to disarm the militia of a State. I shall vote against the reference of the subject to a committee of the body, because the congress of the U.S. have no power under that old, obsolete instrument, the constitution of the U.S., to disarm the militia of a State. I know that there is one provision of the constitution which says that Congress shall have power “ To provide for o nailing. arming and disciplining the militia and or governing such art of them as may be employed in the service of the U.S. reserving to the States respectively the appointment of the officers and the authority of train the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress.” That does not give power to Congress to disarm the militia of a State, or to destroy the militia of a State, because in another provision of the constitution, the 2nd amendment, we have these words: selfregulated militia being necessary to the State the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The proposition here is not to carry out by legislation of Congress any right or authority vested in Congress, but it is an application to Congress to do that which congress as no right to do under the 2nd amendment of the constitution. Mississippi is a State in the Union recognized by the POTUS, the chief executive officer of the country. As such, she has her own Governor, she has her own judiciary, she has her own State machinery, as any other State has, for protecting the interests of her people; and unless the power is ledged in Congress to disarm the militia of Massachusetts, it cannot be pretended that any such power is lodged in Congress in reference to the State of Mississippi. We hear a great deal about the oppressions of the negroes down South, and a complaint here comes from somebody connected with the Freedmens Bureau. Only the other day I saw a statement in the papers that a negro, in violation of the laws of Kentucky, was found with concealed weapons upon his person. The law of Kentucky, believe, is applicable to whites and blacks alike. An officer of the Freedmens Bureau, however, summoned the judge of the court before him, ordered him to deliver up the pistol to that negro, and to refund the fine to which the negro was subject by the law of Kentucky. The other day your papers stated that one of these negroes shot down a Federal officer in the State of Tennessee. Yet, sir, no petitions are here to protect the white people against the outrages committed by the negro population; but if a few letters are written to members here that oppression has been practiced against negroes, then the whole white population of a State are to be disarmed. I protest, Mr. President, against even the reference of such a proposition to a committee, on the ground thati the committee were to report in favor of disarming the militia of the State of Mississippi, the Congress of the U.S. have no power under the constitution, but are solemnly pprohibitedby the constitution from taking any such action.