In the course of this debate there has been an iteration of assertion on certain points. I mention two,--one of fact, and the other of law. It has been said that we are pledged to admit Virginia, and this assertion has been repeated in every variety of form; and then it is said that in point of law the test oath is not required. Now to both these assertions, whether of fact or law, I reply, “You are mistaken.” The pledge to admit Virginia cannot be shown, and the requirement of the test oath can be shown. It is strange to see the forgetfulness of great principles into which Senators have been led by partisanship. Certain Senators forget the people, forget the lowly, only to remember Rebels. They forget that our constant duty is to protect our fellow-citizens in Virginia at all hazards. This is our first duty, which cannot be postponed. In the reconstruction of Virginia it must be an ever-present touchstone. Look at the text of the Reconstruction Acts, or their spirit, and it is the same. By their text the first and commanding duty is, “that peace and good order should be enforced in said States _until loyal and republican State governments can be legally established_”; and until then “any civil governments which may exist therein shall be deemed _provisional_ only, and in all respects subject to the paramount authority of the United States at any time to abolish, modify, control, or supersede the same.” Such are the duties and powers devolved upon Congress by the very terms of the first Reconstruction Act.[194] The duty is to see that “loyal and republican State governments” be established; and the power is “to abolish, modify, control, or supersede” the provisional governments. It is not enough to say that Virginia has performed certain things required by the statute. This is not enough. The Senate must be satisfied that her government is loyal and republican. This opens the question of fact. Is Virginia loyal? Is her Legislature loyal? Is the new Government loyal? These questions must be answered. How is the fact? Do not tell me that Virginia has complied with certain formal requirements. Behind all these is the great requirement of Loyalty. Let Senators who insist upon her present swift admission show this loyalty. There is no plighted faith of Congress which can supersede this duty. Disloyalty is like fraud; it vitiates the whole proceeding. Such is the plain meaning of the text in its words.