April 6, 1864 (2)

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question before the Senate is on concurring in the amendment made as in Committee of the Whole to the joint resolution No. 16.

Mr DOOHTTLE I understand that the Senator from Missouri, [Mr. Henderson,] who introduced the original proposition which was sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, has been sick and confined to his room for two or three days, and he is prepared and expects to speak on this question to-morrow. 1 think it is due to him that he should have the opportunity, and for that reason I for one am willing to consent to an adjournment. But for that fact I should be entirely opposed to an adjournment until we settled this question; and if we adjourn now, I think it should be with the express understanding that we shall close this question to-morrow. 1 do not know any persons in the Senate who have intimated a disposition to speak on the question, with the exception of the honorable Senator from Missouri [Mr. Henderson] and the honorable Senator from Indiana, [Mr. Hendricks,] except that I understand the honorable Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. Sumner] desires to propose some amendments to the Senate for its action.

Mr. HOWARD. I hope that no such understanding will be had. I trust the measure before the Senate will undergo a full and thorough diseussi H that eve y member of the Senate who desires to say a word upon it will have a full and fair opportunity; because I, for one, regard it as of the utmost importance not only to us but to our country and our posterity. I hope there will be no such understanding as that.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. 1 beg the Senator not to misunderstand me. I did not desire to say that any Senator should not have an opportunity to be heard; but st> far as I had heard expressed among Senators about the Chamber, I was not aware that any other persons desired tospeak but those whom I stated; and it was therefore that 1 was willing to consent to the adjournment.

Mr. HOWARD. I understood the Senator to press upon the consideration of the Senate the necessity of bringing this question to a final vote to-morrow. I understood that to be the understanding which he desired to have entered into. For one, I object to any such understanding.

Mr. HENDRICKS, As the Senator from Wisconsin has alluded to me, I desire to say, lest it might be misunderstood, that I expect to occupy the attention of the Senate for but a very short time, if I shall feel well enough, to-morrow. I was not well enough to day or I should have said what I desired to say to day very briefly.

Mr. RAMSEY. I move that the Senate adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate adjourned.