MR. SUMNER. In Boston, if anywhere, perhaps. [_Laughter._] But I do not know him there, I am free to say. MR. FESSENDEN. Resign, and take charge of it yourself. [_Laughter._] MR. SUMNER. I do not know but that is the best thing I could do [_laughter_]; but then I should despair of getting through the work. MR. FESSENDEN. I would agree to serve as your clerk. MR. SUMNER. Then the work would surely be done. [_Laughter._] All this brings us to the conclusion that what we do should be well considered and laid out in advance. I think, therefore, it is important that the resolution should be recommitted, that we should have the benefit of all the information we can obtain from the Department, and, if possible, provide in advance the method, the arrangement, and the way in which the collection should be indexed. As much should be done in advance as possible. Sir, we may derive instruction on this subject from what is doing in other nations. At this moment the French Emperor is publishing the writings of his uncle, the Emperor Napoleon. The collection has already proceeded to nineteen or twenty quarto volumes, elaborately edited, the purpose being to bring together every scrap, military, diplomatic, or personal, which can be found proceeding from the First Napoleon. All is under special editorship. Some of the first men of France are a committee superintending it. If we undertake our work, I think we ought to do as well by it as the Emperor of France does by the writings of his uncle. The joint resolution was recommitted to the Committee on Military Affairs and reported back with an amendment. It finally passed both Houses, and was approved by the President.[32] EQUAL RIGHTS A CONDITION OF RECONSTRUCTION. AMENDMENT IN THE SENATE TO A RECONSTRUCTION BILL, MAY 29, 1866. April 30th, Mr. Fessenden, from the Joint Committee on Reconstruction, reported a bill “to provide for restoring to the States lately in insurrection their full political rights.” There was no requirement of Equal Rights as a condition of Reconstruction. * * * * * May 29th, Mr. Sumner introduced the following amendment as a substitute for the first section of the bill:-- That, when any State lately in rebellion shall have ratified the foregoing Amendment, and shall have modified its constitution and laws in conformity therewith, and shall have further provided that there shall be no denial of the elective franchise to citizens of the United States because of race or color, and that all persons shall be equal before the law, the Senators and Representatives from such State, if found duly elected and qualified, may, after having taken the required oaths of office, be admitted into Congress as such: _Provided_, that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to require the disfranchisement of any loyal person who is now allowed to vote.