November 21st, on the first day of the meeting of Congress after the adjournment, Mr. Sumner introduced the same bill as it had passed both Houses, and asked the Senate to proceed with it at once; but this was prevented by the objection of Mr. Davis, of Kentucky. Mr. Sumner forbore calling it up for eleven consecutive days of the session, to see if within that time it would be returned to Congress, with or without objections. It was not returned, and on application at the Department of State it was ascertained that it had not been received there. December 5th, the bill was taken up, on motion of Mr. Sumner, discussed, and again passed,--Yeas 32, Nays 8. December 9th, it passed the House,--Yeas 104, Nays 39. December 11th it was presented to the President. December 20th, Congress adjourned for the holidays. The President, by a message, January 24, 1868, in reply to an inquiry of the Senate, stated that it was presented for his approval December 11, 1867, but that “Congress by their adjournment [December 20th] prevented the return of the bill within the time prescribed by the Constitution.” January 7th, Mr. Sumner a third time introduced the same bill. Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, thought “we ought to consider whether it is not already a law.” Mr. Edmunds, of Vermont, said that “this bill has become a law, if it has not been returned with a veto.” Under these circumstances, the bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee to consider its true condition and the question of further legislation. February 11, 1869, the bill being once more before the Senate, Mr. Sumner moved it again, as appears by the following passage. MR. SUMNER. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Senate bill No. 228. MR. DRAKE [of Missouri]. What is it? MR. SUMNER. A bill for the further security of Equal Rights in the District of Columbia. I will make one minute’s explanation, and then the Senate will see that it ought to be passed. This bill has already twice passed both Houses of Congress, but immediately before recesses, and it has fallen from the President failing to return it with his veto, and from the unsettled condition of the practice or law in such cases. THE PRESIDING OFFICER [Mr. MORGAN, of New York, in the chair]. It requires the unanimous consent of the Senate to consider the bill at this time. MR. DRAKE. I appeal to the honorable Senator from Massachusetts on behalf of a poor and most worthy woman---- MR. SUMNER. Why should the Senator make that appeal to me? I appeal on behalf of all the colored people in this District, who ask the passage of this bill.