March 3d, on motion of Mr. Sumner, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions. In reply to Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, he remarked: “The resolutions speak for themselves, and I content myself by simply asking for a vote.” Then, in reply to Mr. Carlile, of West Virginia, he said: “These resolutions proceed from the spontaneous deliberations of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, without a suggestion or hint from the Secretary of State or from any member of the Administration; but I am able to state, that, since the resolutions have been reported, they have the entire and cordial approval of the Secretary of State, who has authorized me to say that he takes a special interest in their adoption by Congress.” The resolutions passed the Senate by a vote of 31 yeas to 5 nays. On the same day they passed the House of Representatives,--Yeas 103, Nays 28. Being concurrent resolutions of the two Houses, and not a joint resolution, they were never submitted to the President for approval; but, according to the request in the last resolution, they were communicated by the Secretary of State in an official note to our ministers abroad. * * * * * The reception of these resolutions at the time will appear by an extract from the _Evening Post_ of New York. “Mr. Sumner’s resolutions, which have so triumphantly passed the National Legislature, and which receive at the same time the cordial approval of the President and the Cabinet, will deepen and justify the feeling in our favor. They define our position with a distinctness that has not always been attained in our official acts. They describe boldly and vividly the nature of the Rebellion which has destroyed our peace, tracing it wholly to the ambition and selfishness of the Slaveholders, and warning foreign nations of the awful crime they commit in lending their aid to such an infamous assault upon all the principles of orderly government, all the rights of humanity, and all the best interests of Christian civilization. Every reflective mind in Europe will know, after reading them, that whatever encourages the Rebellion will encourage the most odious tyranny that human cupidity ever devised.” The speech on Foreign Relations, at New York, September 10, 1863,[151] was a vindication of these resolutions. INEXPEDIENCY OF LETTERS OF MARQUE. LETTER TO A CITIZEN OF NEW YORK, MARCH 17, 1863. The following letter, which appeared in the papers at the time, was written in the hope of preventing any action under the law of Congress authorizing letters of marque. WASHINGTON, March 17, 1863.