atements -- Fred. Douglass' Memorial -- Mr.
Williams -- Mr. Hendricks -- Mr. Chandler's "Blood-letting
Letter" -- Proposition of Mr. Yates -- His Speech -- Mr.
Buckalew against New England -- Mr. Pomeroy -- Mr. Sumner's
Second Speech -- Mr. Doolittle -- Mr. Morrill -- Mr.
Fessenden meets Objections -- Final Vote -- The Amendment
Defeated.

The joint resolution, providing for amending the basis of
representation, having passed the House of Representatives on the last
day of January, 1866, the action of that body was communicated to the
Senate. The Civil Rights Bill at that time occupying the attention of
the Senate, Mr. Fessenden gave notice that unless something should
occur to render that course unwise, he would ask that the
consideration of the proposed constitutional amendment should be taken
up on the following Monday, February 5th.

On the second of February, Mr. Sumner gave notice of his intention to
move a joint resolution as a counter-proposition to the proposed
constitutional amendment. Mr. Sumner's resolution was as follows:

_Whereas_, it is provided in the Constitution that the
United States shall guarantee to every State in the Union a
republican form of government; and whereas, by reason of the
failure of certain States to maintain Governments which
Congress can recognize, it has become the duty of the United
States, standing in the place of guarantor, where the
principal has made a lapse, to secure to such States,
according to the requirement of the guarantee, governments
republican in form; and whereas, further, it is provided in
a recent constitutional amendment, that Congress may
'enforce' the prohibition of slavery by 'appropriate
legislation,' and it is important to this end that all
relics of slavery should be removed, including all
distinction of rights on account of color; now, therefore,
to carry out the guarantee of a republican form of
government, and to enforce the prohibition of slavery.

"_Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled_, That
in all States lately declared to be in rebellion there shall
be no oligarchy, aristocracy, caste, or monopoly invested
with peculiar privileges or powers, and there shall be no
denial of rights, civil or political, on account of color or