“Mr. Sumner submitted resolutions declaratory of the relations between the United States and the territory once occupied by certain States, and now usurped by pretended governments without constitutional or legal right.” In these resolutions it is declared, that, after an act of secession followed by war, “The territory falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress, as other territory, and the State becomes, according to the language of the law, _felo de se_.” The resolutions conclude as follows:-- “And that, in pursuance of this duty cast upon Congress, and further enjoined by the Constitution, Congress will assume complete jurisdiction of such vacated territory where such unconstitutional and illegal things have been attempted, and will proceed to establish therein republican forms of government under the Constitution, and, in the execution of this trust, will provide carefully for the protection of all the inhabitants thereof, for the security of families, the organization of labor, the encouragement of industry, and the welfare of society, and will in every way discharge the duties of a just, merciful, and paternal government.”[242] Sir, there was the beginning of Reconstruction in this Chamber. That was its earliest expression. On the 8th of February, 1864, it appears that “Mr. Sumner submitted resolutions defining the character of the national contest, and protesting against any premature restoration of Rebel States without proper guaranties and safeguards against Slavery and for the protection of freedmen.”[243] And on the same day it appears that he submitted the following Amendment to the Constitution, which, had it been adopted then, would have cured many of the difficulties that have since occurred, entitled-- “Amendment of the Constitution, securing Equality before the Law and the Abolition of Slavery.” It is as follows:-- “All persons are equal before the law, so that no person can hold another as a slave; and the Congress shall have power to make all laws necessary and proper to carry this declaration into effect everywhere within the United States and the jurisdiction thereof.”[244] There, Sir, was the beginning of Civil-Rights Bills and Political-Rights Bills. On the same day it appears that Mr. Sumner introduced into the Senate “A bill to secure equality before the law in the courts of the United States.”[245] The debate went on. On the 25th of February, 1865, a resolution of the Judiciary Committee was pending, recognizing the State Government of Louisiana. Mr. Sumner on that day introduced resolutions thus entitled:-- “Resolutions declaring the duty of the United States to guaranty Republican Governments in the Rebel States on the basis of the Declaration of Independence, so that _the new governments_”-- that is, the reconstructed governments--