“And such notes herein authorized, and the notes authorized by the Act of July 17, 1861, shall be receivable in payment of all public dues and demands of every description, and of all claims and demands against the United States of every kind whatsoever, except for interest upon bonds and notes, which shall be paid in coin, _and shall also be lawful money and a legal tender in payment of all debts, public and private, within the United States, except interest as aforesaid_.” Mr. Collamer stated that some desired him to try the sense of the Senate on the question of private debts, but he preferred the above amendment, “that these notes shall not be tenderable upon any debts due by the Government or by individuals.” On this proposition he had already made an elaborate speech. Mr. Fessenden also spoke elaborately upon the whole bill; but he characterized the legal tender clause as “the main question.” Here he said:-- “The question, then, is, Does the necessity exist?… If the necessity exists, I have no hesitation upon the subject, and shall have none. If there is nothing left for us to do but that, and that will effect the object, I am perfectly willing to do that.” Mr. Sumner spoke last in the debate, and at least one Senator acknowledged that on the question of constitutional power he had been changed by this speech. The vote was then taken on the amendment, and resulted, yeas 17, nays 22. So the motion to strike out the legal tender clause was rejected. Mr. Doolittle moved an amendment so as to make the notes “a legal tender in payment of all public debts, and all private debts hereafter contracted within the United States,” which was rejected without a division. Mr. King also moved a comprehensive amendment, which likewise struck out the legal tender clause; but it was rejected without a division. The bill was then passed, yeas 30, nays 7. MR. PRESIDENT,--I am sorry to ask the attention of the Senate at this late hour; but the importance of the question must be my apology.