Mr. LeBLOND. Mr. Speaker, nothing that has been presented by the Gentfrom Tennessee [Mr. MAYNARD) is sufficient in my judgment to induce us to make an exception in this case in favor of Tennessee. The bill, as I understand, proposes simply that we shall grant to that State an extension of the time in which she may signify her willingness to accept the grant under the law of 1862. Sir, the fact that Tennessee has undertaken to change her form of government furnishes no reason, in my judgment, why this extension of time should e given to that State. In my judgment, it is a matter of no consequence. Laying aside o.consideration, it is no reason why Tennessee should be made an exception. This act of 1862, the time for the acceptance of which it is now proposed to extend, is a benevolent grant of lands to the States and Territories, for the purpose of encouraging agriculture and the mechanic arts. This being the fact, then, even on the theory of the Gentfrom Pennsylvania, [Mr. STEVENs,) who declares ten States of this Union “dead States” or “Territories” and we expect to vote today upon a bill based on this doctrine still, under the act of 1862 those States would be embraced as Territories and are entitled to the grant contemplated by that law., Sir, if an extension of time is to be granted it ought to be granted to every one of the States lately in rebellion. I am unwilling to make Tennessee an exception to the general rule that is to govern those States. All that Tennessee has one in the way of changing her State organization entitles her, in my judgment, to no pref. erence in regard to the grant proposed by the act of 1862. I hold that every one of the ten States now denied representation in Congress is today a State within this Union, able to sig nify, under its present organization, its acceptance of this grant and entitled to receive it. Nothing that any of those States has done should in my view deprive them of the privilege of accepting the tendered grant; and to my mind it is an illustration of the vicious system of legislation prevailing here that this House is willing to strike down the means of communicating intelligence to the people of that country simply because they have been charged with having been in a state of rebellion. Sir, my feelings upon that subject are not going to carry me so far as to induce me to destro or withhold the means of educating the children in those States because the fathers erred.