The power here referred to was that conferred by Article III., section 1, of the state constitution; The election for members of the general assembly shall begin on Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every second year ... but the general assembly may by law change the time of election, and members shall hold until their successors are elected and qualified. The constitutional term of the present legislature (except of one-half of the senators, who held four years) would expire in November, 1870. But this section of the constitution, Butler pointed out, would enable the legislature to postpone the election and perpetuate its power. This grave danger he proposed to remove by the clause of his bill above quoted. In order to prevent the legislature from prolonging its tenure forever, he proposed, not to forbid prolongation, but to allow it for two years. I also propose [he said] by this [clause] to give to the present State officers of Georgia a two years' term of office in that state as a state in this Union. That Congress should pose as the defender of the people of Georgia against a usurping legislature, and at the same time by the guaranty of its approval encourage that legislature to double its constitutional term--this was a conception of political genius which, independently of its realization, should make Butler immortal. The moderate Republicans of the House of Representatives were willing, for the sake of settling doubt, to pass a bill declaring Georgia restored, but were decidedly opposed the scheme to use the bill as a means of prolonging the tenure of the Georgia Radicals. An amendment to Butler's bill, known as the Bingham amendment, was offered, to the following effect: ... neither shall this act be construed to extend the official tenure of any officer of said state beyond the term limited by the constitution thereof, dating from the election or appointment of such officer.[250] The bill with this amendment passed the House by a large majority on March 8.[251]