Responsibility of the Republican Party -- Its Power and Position -- Initiatory Step -- Mr. Stevens speaks for himself -- Condition of the Rebel States -- Constitutional Authority under which Congress should act -- Estoppel -- What Constitutes Congress -- The First Duty -- Basis of Representation -- Duty on exports -- Two Important Principles -- Mr. Raymond's Theory -- Rebel States still in the Union -- Consequences of the Radical Theory -- Conditions to be required -- State Sovereignty -- Rebel Debt -- Prohibition of Slavery -- Two Policies contrasted -- Reply of Mr. Jenckes -- Difference in Terms, not in Substance -- Logic of the Conservatives leads to the Results of the Radicals. CHAPTER XIV.--The Basis of Representation in the House. (Page 324-372.) First work of the Joint Committee -- The Joint Resolution proposing a Constitutional Amendment -- Mr. Stevens' reasons for speedy action -- Protracted Discussion Commenced -- Objections to the Bill by Mr. Rogers -- Defense by Mr. Conkling -- Two other Modes -- How States might Evade the Law -- Not a Finality -- Wisconsin and South Carolina -- Amendment for Female Suffrage proposed -- Orth on Indiana and Massachusetts -- Obscuration of the Sun -- More Radical Remedy desired -- A Kentuckian gratified -- Citations from the Census -- Premium for Treason -- White Slaves -- Power to amend well-nigh exhausted -- Objections to the Suffrage Basis -- "Race" and "Color" ambiguous -- Condition of the Question -- Recommitted -- Final Passage. CHAPTER XV.--The Basis of Representation in the Senate. (Page 373-414.) The Joint Resolution goes to the Senate -- Counter-proposition by Mr. Sumner -- He Speaks Five Hours -- Mr. Henderson's Amendment -- Mr. Fessenden -- Mr. Henry S. Lane -- Mr. Johnson -- Mr. Henderson -- Mr. Clark's Historical Statements -- Fred. Douglass' Memorial -- Mr. Williams -- Mr. Hendricks -- Mr. Chandler's "blood-letting Letter" -- Proposition of Mr. Yates -- His Speech -- Mr. Buckalew against New England -- Mr. Pomeroy -- Mr. Sumner's second Speech -- Mr. Doolittle -- Mr. Morrill -- Mr. Fessenden meets Objections -- Final Vote -- The Amendment defeated. CHAPTER XVI.--Representation of the Southern States. (Page 417-433.) Concurrent Resolution -- A "Venomous Fight" -- Passage in the House -- The Resolution in the Senate -- "A Political Wrangle" deprecated -- Importance of the Question -- "A Straw in a Storm" -- Policy of the President -- Conversation between two Senators -- Mr. Nye's Advice to Rebels -- "A Dangerous Power" -- "Was Mr. Wade once a Secessionist?" -- Garrett Davis' Programme for the President -- "Useless yet Mischievous" -- The Great Question Settled. CHAPTER XVII.--The Reconstruction Amendment in the House. (Page 434-451.)