"I hope the gentleman will make no objection," said Mr. Le Blond, addressing his remark to Mr. Rogers.
Mr. Ward suggested that "the Democrats should choose their leader, and not confuse us in this way."
Without further parley, the vote was one hundred and four in the affirmative, thirty-three in the negative, and forty-five "not voting." The Speaker then announced, "Two-thirds having voted in the affirmative, the bill has, notwithstanding the objections of the President, again passed."
The Clerk of the House of Representatives immediately announced the action of that body to the Senate. Other business was at once laid aside, and the Veto Message was read in the Senate.
Mr. Hendricks and Mr. Saulsbury then addressed the Senate in support of the position of the President. The question being taken, thirty-three voted for and twelve against the bill. Thereupon the President pro tempore announced, "Two-thirds of this body have passed the bill, and it having been certified that two-thirds of the House of Representatives have voted for this bill, I now pronounce that this bill has become a law."
[Illustration: Hon. Eben C. Ingersoll, Representative from Illinois.]
CHAPTER XIII.
FIRST WORDS ON RECONSTRUCTION.
Responsibility of the Republican Party — Its Power and
Position — Initiatory Step — Mr. Stevens steaks for
Himself — Condition of the Rebel States — Constitutional
Authority under which Congress should act — Estoppel —
What constitutes Congress — The First Duty — Basis of
Representation — Duty on Exports — Two important
Principles — Mr. Raymond's Theory — Rebel States still in
the Union — Consequences of the Radical Theory —
Conditions to be Required — State Sovereignty — Rebel Debt
— Prohibition of Slavery — Two Policies contrasted —
Reply of Mr. Jenckes — Difference in Terms, not in
Substance — Logic of the Conservatives leads to the Results
of the Radicals.
Having traced the progress through Congress of the great measures relating to civil rights and protection of the freedmen, it is now proper to go back to an earlier period in this legislative history, and trace what was said and done upon a subject which, more than any other, awakened the interest and solicitude of the American people—the subject of Reconstruction.