That report was made by Mr.Stevens on Monday, the 30th of April.( 1) It consisted of a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, in which were consolidated under one article the several amendments which had been proposed, and which in their aggregate, as finally shaped, made up the famous Fourteenth Amendment.

In addition to this was a bill reciting the desirability of restoring the lately revolted States to full participation in all political rights, and enacting in substance that when the Constitutional amendment should be agreed to by them, their senators and representatives in Congress might be admitted.
A further bill was reported, declaring certain persons who had been engaged in rebellion to be ineligible to office under the Government of the United States.
The debate on the consolidated Fourteenth Amendment was opened on the 8th of May by Mr.Stevens.

The House had agreed that all speeches should be limited to half an hour.

The debate was therefore condensed and direct.

Mr.Stevens complained of the Senate for having defeated the amendment relating to representation, and though assenting to that which was now reported by the committee, thought it inferior to, and less effective than, the one which had failed.