I allude to them to condense their monstrous enormities of guilt into one crime, and to point the gentleman from New York to it and tell him that that was the _specific act_." Mr.Voorhees of Indiana followed on the day succeeding Mr.
Shellabarger's speech, in support of a series of resolutions which he had offered on the same day that Mr.Raymond addressed the House, and further embarrassing Mr.Raymond by the proffer of Democratic support, and proportionately discouraging the Republicans from coming forward in aid of the Administration.

The resolutions of Mr.Voorhees declared in effect that "the President's message is regarded by the House as an able, judicious and patriotic State paper;" that "the principles therein advocated are the safest and most practicable that can be applied to our disordered domestic affairs;" that "no State or number of States confederated together can in any manner sunder their connection with the Federal Union;" and that "the President is entitled to the thanks of Congress and the country for his faithful, wise and successful efforts to restore civil government, law and order to the States lately in rebellion." Mr.Voorhees made an exhaustive speech in support of these resolutions, indicating very plainly the purpose of the Democratic party to combine in support of the President.

He was answered promptly and eloquently, though not without some display of temper, by Mr.Bingham of Ohio, who at the close of his speech moved a substitute for the series of propositions made by Mr.Voorhees--simply declaring that "this House has an abiding confidence in the President, and that in the future as in the past, he will co-operate with Congress in restoring to equal position and rights with the other States in the Union, the States lately in insurrection." Up to this period there had been no outbreak of the Republican party against the President.

There had been coolness and general distrust, with resentment and anger on the part of many, but the hope of his co-operation with the party had not yet been entirely abandoned.

Mr.
Bingham's resolution represented this hope, if not expectation, but the Republican members of the House were not willing to make so emphatic a declaration of their confidence as that resolution would imply; and when Mr.Bingham demanded the previous question he was interrupted by Mr.Stevens, who suggested that the whole subject be referred to the Joint Committee on Reconstruction.