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

] htMAlthS OF
HON. JACOB COLLAMER.
IN T. Senate. Fe5. 7,oa pre,enny the ncioriai from
IerRont ~ faror gfhe H0faer Nafe proportions.
/ Mr. COLLAMER. Ihavc memorial which desire
! 90 present present the memorial Of J. Blake, and
eshty-one Others inhabitants Of Swautou. Vermont.
praying f1r the adoption Of the measure commonly
known the border State propositions IL IS rarely
think that trouble the Senate; but desire now Co make
some rcmafks, fur which beg indulgence flr few mo-
men's 90 relation TO this subject am not proposing
make remarks about secession or coercion slavery or
the merits " any Of these topics at all but the petition
winch nave presented nyukcs the exercise of The power
90 Congress IN relation 10 amendments 20 the Cunsfitu
ton II is upon that topic that wish to speak fora few
Mr. President. am willing all times when the ocoa-
properly calls for it, To exercise the powers that
cgiumatey have by the Constitution but 10 my estna-
on no oxigencies justify In rcsortng 20 any
SORT of devices aud expedien which the occasion may
call for that are not consistent with the fair on,treo1
Of The provisions OF that instrument Now SIR what is
the true meaning the fair import Of the powers which
are given in the Constitution to Congress in relation to
/ is amendment
When the Constitution was adopted, and those who
made WIRE about TO put In exercise this great expert
meut having created for the rst time General Govern
ment with all its departments and curiaed m large pro-
portion The powers which the States had previously
csed 70 correspond with IT, they said Now, it may he
mat ths Cnnshuon does not invest sufficient powers in
the General Government for its smooth and successful
operation Experience may show that What, then,
snail be done in such contingency 1t will be contin
gency IN which Congress will have ascertancd by expert
nent precisely what further power they need We say,
therefore that when Congress have thus Ascertaned that
they need any delegated power. they shall have
hnrty % propose amendments the Constitution, which
they shall send to the States to the people Of the Unit
ed States Of you pease in their States either in oonven-
lion or in their Legislatures for their adoption and il
three-fourhs Of them adopt them, they shall become
portion of the Constitution"
This wanted for the use Of Congress No occasion
was required for calling any national conventonj bat
me occasion would be which experience mld deye
ope and which Congress would feel the need o. and such
the arrangement TO that contingency. But they
further said Perhaps upon experience pom trial Il
viii turn out that have transferred much power
from the States 20 th6Genera Government; il may work
hard for the States they need TO have amendments
now, what provision shall make what arrangement
shall We prepare. for such contingency II cannot be
reasonably expected that Congress will. in such event.
make any propositions for amendment TO strip them
selves Of power which has been already delegated TO
them. We therefore must not look Congress for re-
lief in such an emergency al an Hence il Was tt pro.
vision was made in the same article for such event for
such contingency BY providing that II wothirds Of the
states shall pass resolutions requesting the call Of gen
era convention for the purpose o proposing amendments
To the Constitution, Congress shall call It.
They said, if the States want the Constitution amend
cd, let them amendU as it made by national
Venuon le them see each other all around leg them
compare their views let them each other face 10
face and then make such arrangements as the crcum-
stances at the time may require; and when they have
thus proposed thciI amendments. Congress shall send
those propositions 70 the States either IN their Legsla
lures or their conventions Tor adoption It will be OBJ
served that in the latter arrangement the first leading
feature is this when the people the States
mendments which they suppose they need they are to
have them whether Congress will or it they call a
national convention in this way Congress has power
to stop H. but Is obliged to call il without knowing what
amen ndmcnts will be proposed The States bound
IN their resolutions which ask for general convention,
to state what amendments they want but simply de-
clare mat they want convention; and Congress- la
wo-hirds of the States join in the call is bound 90 call
ii and again. when it is called and it propose amend
mens, Congress has right 90 examine into the merits
m those Amendments but is bound to send them out TO
the states at once tits imperative Congress do
Hence 1t is see Mr. President provision Is here
made mat amendments 10 the Constitution are 10 come
from those who want them No idea entered into their
heads in those days that the old rule Of common
would be overthrown which s that propositions for re
lief Of any kind should those who IT, and
not from those who do not want IT, Now, let apply
this 10 present condition Does this General Cow
ernmeni feel the want Of any delegated poweri
Has experience shown that General Government does
not operate smoothly for the want Of some other deega
ed power that we need Not at all. No suggests
anything OF that kind want nothing Of that kud.-
What next What is wanted what's said 10 be want
cd II Is said that number Of the States desire amend
ments to the Constitution for their security. not
bout to enter into the merits Of those amendments but
say that Is said to be the Now, is IL not from the
provision Of The Constitution 70 which have alluded
perfectly obvious TO how such object Is 90 be reach
ed thnkt is clear it leaves no doubt about it,
Wei sif nave any OF these states ever made any at
tempt u call national convention to get redress Of
grievances according 10 the Constitution Not one
some of them have flown into secession; others are
threatening t but not attempt has been made by any
ot them TO redress within the Constitution all
have nothing TO say Of that particularly; but say
that Congress ought not 10 undertake 10 exercise the
power which is given 70 get amendments which they
need for the purpose Of getting amendments ior the
uses for which given 70 them by doing Such
attempts will always fail and hi obvious why hey viii
want. We going about here framing amendments 10
send out 10 the people What amendments Anything
- H" - 80" +'" ~ '''"'b ",' % 'Nt'-
lectuFea the States need who knows what hey need
Who knows what they want; who knows what they
will be satisfied with Have they manifested il 10 usi Ia
way. Ii isa matter of conleoture and however
much respect may have for the source from which these
eonjeetres come, still for all cannot but see thar
lame aud impotent attempt 10 power whirl,
granted for one purpose TO effect another and entirely
different one.
Now Mr. President. let me 20 halle further, to show
lfs d
here. Have the people Of the diheTen, States seen
each other ia e'u,en"n' and Understood each others
views about them Never at all, but We are going 20
make them up here. aud invent them ourselves miuate
them, aud send them uu o the Staes aud ask them 90
act upon them without seeing each other at ALL
ne attempt never can succeed In the nature OF ihe
thing, it cannot succeed The provision ofthc Conuu
ton is not adptcd never meant 70 secure any ,leh
purpose by The action OF Congress, originating ahrnu
ments fot the States, which they have not asked f'r
The coneusi IN, then. come 60 aher wha reflection
give IT, is that view this part Of the Constitution
which think very clear whun read aud considered la The
light Of the circumstances In which u was made never
can undertake 10 participate here In undertaking o. mako
up and Invent aud contsc and conjecture amendments
f1r States, which the States themselves have ssked
for think is entirely maapropos. Il will be entirely |
odds and ends such various upinons about Whai ihey
shall be- aud thousand projects that are presented ous,
the very fact hat you hnd yourselves la This condition,
manifcsA that the principle which state Is nght lt |
shows that you are in this condition because you are try
ing to use an instrumenlay which you nave los one
purpose ur another, for which Was never prepared and
TO which il is Al all adapted Now, Nj President
have one uther--
MrBIGLER ask the Senator from Vermont TO tell
how he feconces the theory which he lays down with
the fact that the very st amendment made 70 the Con-
sdtuion with reference TO the sovereignty o States
Mr ooLLAMEa. will answer you entirely. II you
The PRESIDING OFFICER Iii. the duty Of the
Chair announce that the hour for the special order has
arrived.
l' Certainly r. "Certainly''l