The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-04-19

Representatives that is all. You are not
even required to do that. but merely to
vote for proposition submitting the ques-
ton to the people of the States whether
they will make constitutional amend
men, affirming the equitable partition of
the Territories, which the people have al
ready made there Why not? If it was
right for you to sustain it in the Senate,
why is it not right for you to permit the
people to confirm it? If you made no
unworthy concessions in retaining 1t upon
the statute book, certainly you ought 10 al
low them to ra.ify your act.
You may ask, why does the South want
US to do it by constitutional amendment,
when we have just done it voluntarily by
law? The President of the United States
in his inaugural, has told you the reason.
He has informed you that all of these
troubles grow out of the absence of a con
slitutional provision defining the power Of
Congress over the suffice, of slavery.
Hence he recommends national couven
ton for the purpose Of supplying such a
provision in the con-ti.ution. There ore
inasmuch as the President of the United
States is in favor Of constitutional amend
ment and recommends national conveu-
tion for that purpose, | trust the S-nator
from Wisconsin will pardon me for say
ing that am in favor Of constitutional
amendment, too. He thinks the Consti-
tuition good enough as it is, and wants no
amendment. Mr.. Lincoln does not agree
with him. He thinks that the trouble
has arisen from the absence of such a cons
stitu,ional provision, and suggests a nation
al convention to enable the people to sup
ply the defect, leaving tie people to say
what it is, instead Of dictatng TO them
what it shall be
Now, inasmuch as we are to have ma
tional convention to supply this acknowl-
edged defect in the constitution, | have
got compromise to propose to the Sena
tors on that side of the Chamber, aud 1t
is this that the constitutional an endment
SO far as slavery is concerned, shall legalIze
and confirm forever the exact equitable
partition that now exists by law in the
Territories, aud which you have sanctioned
this year by your votes.
Is not that fair Go for such consti-
tutional provision, affirming wha, you have
done, either by your positive action or by
non action confirm the principles of the
Colorado bill, the Nevada bill, the Daco
ia bill, the Nebraska bill, the compromise
measures of 1850, and there is an eud o
the controversy. You all voted it in the
Senat7. Nov sIlow :he people to vote il
into the Constitution. Why not! You
ought to allow the people to rs,ify ahd
confirm what you have done 1t will be
complimentary to you; it will be a proud
Endorsement of your patriotism, if, after
you bad the t3ldness TO lead OF ard estab
lish t4is great principle il ell the territory
we nov possess, the people come forward
with plaudits, with unanimous voice, anc
confirm what you have done
| It, therefore, that we may assure
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee. Ken
tuckv, Arkansas, Missouri, and Maryland
that they have obtained equality in th'
Territories; net only equally by Law, bu
an equitable partition ia fact; that they
haze not only got the legal night, but so
the actual substance, the e,joym in tac
OF one bali degree more territory iaor'
than they claimed. This has been don'
by the acquiescence in part and in part b,
the affirmative votes Of the Republican
party.
give them credit for it, and | ask thes
slaveboding States to do the Republican
the justice to believe that they viii stan'
by the principles Of the Colorado bill, E
least until Congress meets, and they sho'
the contrary. | 90 not believe that the.
are ever going to depart from that prnci
pie hereafter. They have seen that de
par,ure from it could not he made wit
safety to this Union and hence, rathe
than break it up, they have made this con
cession. ! know it was a bitter pill fo
some others did it cheerfuly; but it
done and now let us close this drama and
by a unanimous vote, incorporate tha
principle into the Constitution, and max
it perpetual; and then you will have in
sured the domestic tranquility, and tn
safety of all the States, and have restore
peace, unity, and fraternity to the Who'll
country.