Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-02-22

shall have concluded his remarks I presume The whole
senste are desrous to hear him upon this point Cer
The PRESIDING OFFICER II there be no obiee.
'ion, The Senator may proceed The Chair hears none
Mr COLLAMER have said nothing, and shall SAY
nothing which possibly involve the feelings Of differ
snt sides or different parties In the Senate A. this time
have nothing say about that rise 20 make remarks
due TO myself ~ relation 70 the memorial which have
pfesened which nvokes the exercise Of the power u
Congress 10 eation to constitutional amendments.
An illustration may be drawn from history, ia
hrnstion of the principles which have stated In the
election Of President Of the United States in 1901 1t
bund that the arrangements which had been made In the
Constitution did not operate smoothly There was al
most failure ia the Government. Congress then
vision was made. aud Congress proposed an amendment
IN order % be relieved Of that difficulty They sent il
out to the States That was exactly what Couggess
ought 20 have done. IL was adopted.
como now 20 another thing, which was just abDutto
speak Of when the Senator from Pennsylvania nterposed
" is quite easy TO maRneaud own history presents
precedent Tor t-ths state Of things suppose Tor In
stance, State, certain number Of States-no two.
thrdsio not desire TO call general convention either
because o want OF time or some other excuse no mat
ter what they desire general revision they only de-
sire one or Two particular amendments and suppose that
one two three more States should state 70 us that they
desired tho following articles Of amendment to Dc adupt
ed as part Of the Constitution of the United States nam
ing them and they present these 20 Congress- with the
petition OF request that Congress will submit them 20 the
conventions or the Lsglaures OF the different satci for
adoption NOW suppose such a state Of things presents
itself; how would that fall within the principles which
have before remarked upon When Congress prepares
amendments to the Constitution, aud sends them to the
u
plies that they their amendmcnts they make them
and Il requires two-thirds 10 do II which implies, take
H. the exercise Of their Judgment and judgment de-
,.'ve As WI carry twothrds Of the Senate and Of the
House Of Representatives. They arc the amendments
which Congress want, and which Congress approve.
But suppose one, two, three States should draw up
slme amendments that they say they do want that
We conjecture at not that guess but which they say
hey do wonti what will you do In such case Sup
pose somo of the States prepare and reduce proper
iom the amendments which they desire aud they have
much confidence in their sister States that they arc
[ 10 fur ire AM
request 20 submit them implies confidence, now, what
should Congress DO on an occasion Of that Kind think
It is quite clear what they should do. believe Congress
should not pass the merits Of those amendments It
petition, respectful petition suitable petition.
think that Congress should not present hom their
mendments. Well, how would you do it q | would do
1t in this way would recite that whereas such and
such certain States (namng them) had prepared such
and such articles Of amendment to the Consttuton and
had presented them TO Congress- and had requested Con-
gess to submit them to the States and in pursuance Of
mat request congress present them TO the states for a.
dopuon and do II by the twothids majority required
by the Constitution to render the proposal effective
grant, when they arc amendments which Congress
prepared undoubtedly il implied that they express their
appreciation Of them but in the case Am supposing,
and which consider middle case between the two no
appreciation dsapprobaon Of Congress is expressed
or implied, is it necessary Let read the article
The Congress, whenever two-thirds Of both Houses
shall deem it necessary shall propose amendments to
this Constitution, the application Of the Leglsla
lures Of twothrds Of the several States, shall call
yenon for proposing amendments, which, in either
shall be valid to all nents and purposes part Of this
Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures Of three
tourhs OF the several States three
ourh thereof as the one or the other mode OF ratea
ton may be proposed by the Congress"
1t does not say that Congress shall recommend the
nendments or any Of them 1t is said that they shall
propose We amendments, but that they shall
mend them think Congress-, when there is respect
ul petition by any State for articles Of amend
ment, should pass such joint resolution have just
indicated with the recital or preamble thereto.
Now, come to the that the Senator from Penn
sylvania audes When the States adopted in their
several conventions, this United States Constitution
eral OF the states recommended certain amendments
IN u 10 ufn do EuaNg Nrhe hnrf
thirds, or all but number Of them recommended GER
tain amendments to the Constitution. What did Con-
gress do with them They not amendments that
Congress prepared. What did they do The States, in
their conventions had requested these amendments to be
adopted What did Congress do will tu-n gentlemen
20 whst they did on That occasion as, II you please,
preesdsnt for wkat state In l7s9 in the First Con.
| gress, was passed the following.
The conventions Of anumber OF the States, having at
the time Of their adopting the Constitution, expressed
desire in order 10 prevent misconsruetion abus9 Of
its powers that further decaratoy and restrictive claus
es should be added and extending the ground pub
lo confidence in the Government will best insure the be-
neheent ends Of It's institution
Res0fped by the Senate and House Of Representatives. of
ne UHed STATES Of AB,srlca m Congress assembled two
thirds Of both Houses eoncurrng That the following
tcles be proposed the Legislatures Of the several
States, as amendments to the Constitution Of the United
States. all, or any Of which articles, when ratified BY
three-ioueths Of the said Legislatures to be valid to al
intents and purposes, as part Of said Constitution"
There is direct precedent for the case TO which the
gentleman from Pennsylvania calls my attentions that is
the very case which have now supposed There the
States several Of them did request amendments to be
made stating what they and Congress did pro-
pose those amendments theirs but they passed Joint
resolution, stating the fact that several States had
quested those amendments be mhde and therefore they
presented them to the people for adoption. That
the very That is in confirmation Of my view. 1t
is a direct precedent.
Now, Mr. President without taking up the time Of the
Senate, which dislike TO do exceedingly, these views
govern in my action in relation amendments TO the
Constitution, though they probably may govern any
body else. should like to have them understood
at large because think the people have been,
now other led 10 look Congress for relief by const
tuuonal amendments when the powers OF Congress,
understand them utterly unadapted to them. But
cannot say, frequently hear said in this body that
desire TO speak to the country. have idea thai the
country will ever hear what say about Il but still
have presented my views OF what regard trne du os.
And now have 70 say that though little lros-
peci ofamending in this way confident il sue
eeed' yet AFTER all something may be done. have moth
ing To say about calinga national convention. That
matter for the states and the people do they please
upon II is perfectly evident from the Constitution that
intended 20 be called whenever il desired by
the States without any action Of Congress az all but
even in despite ofts opinion II you will Though men
may not agree upon amendments here, may agree
upon amendments in the conference tina, going on now
in this city still conceive 1t possible that two,
three, more States might agree amend
mcnts aud send them here proposed In the resolu
tons of Virginia. with the request that shOuld send
them to the Legislatures of the States. say
conceive tna that contingency may happen and my mode
Of treating that subject would be what have Indicated
gency Congress should pass resolution, such they
DID In 1889 reoiting that this had been requested, and
presenting it to the people by two-thrds vote, and
stand up and say they did like the amendments and
would permit the people TO have chance 10 vote on
them. Such my views, sir,