The national Republican., 1861-03-06
REMARKS OF HON.~R. E. FENTON,
/, OF NEW YoRK,
! In the House Of Representatives, p.

In OF NEW YoRK,
In the House Of Representatives,
Ftbrsory 20, 1861
The House having under considerasion the
report from the select committee Of thirty
three ~ "a 81 M M
Mr.. FENTON sid Mr.. Speaker, blush to
see the record Of our proceedings on this ques.
ton which now agiates the country. They
resemble the Advertisements of patent medi.
cnes-each man adjurng you to give his,nos.
trums only . fair trial. Gentlemen do not seem
to reflect that the disease is of character which
only requires time, deliberatiou, and q firm but
mild treatment with the medicines which the
doctors Of our Constitution and liberties adver.
tised to the world three.fourths Of . century
ago or it is one that all your palliatives will
in vain exert their effects to restore health and
visor and sounduess to the body polite.
The great founders Of the nation formed our
Constitution in the maXius of equality and jus.
tice and they adopted the scheme Of deter.
mining political disputes and the character OF
administration by popular majorites, as the pc.
culiar distinction Of our free institutions, and
the security of the freedom which they made
the substratum of government. The danger
now lurking in our pathway arises from mis-
application of the true democratic principles
which are forever associated with the llustri.
ous trainers of the Constitution and whenever
the majority Of the people shall be untaithiul
to the precepts and genius Of these principles,
their danger is imminent, the peril is great, and
all true patriots will have cause for the deepest
anxiety for the fate Of civilization, social and
political, in our once proud and boasted Union.
1t is said, Mr.. Speaker, that permanent dis
ruption of this Union will inevitably follow,
unless something is done, and done quickly;
some compromise or some concession, on the
part of the North, is made. ! know, sir, that,
in most countries, the science Of governing, to
q great extent, is the practice Of expedients;
and it is true with US that there may be, and
should be, sometimes, q variance between the
theories and practical action Of legislators and
rulers. But, ask il any gentleman can give
me the assurance that, in yielding again, by
adopting some Of these schemes, beyond we
shall have living peace and the unbroken march
of advancing freedom? Oh, mol Your pledge
would be deceptive, and all your promises
|" turn to ashes on the lips" Of the future.
A Just nation, Mr.. Speaker, like just man,
the virtues & early and constant uprightness.
But suppose, sir, in the case before US, which
threatens the existence Of the Government, that
something should be done, and that something
could be done not to fetter or circumscribe iber
ty in the present, or in the ages hereafter; is it
not better, more in accordance with the spirit
| and genius Of our institutions, to first establish
the great truth that the Constitution, framed
by our fathers in the spirit Of liberty, aud the
Union of the States, cemented by their patriot
ism and blood, and the enforcement Of the laws,
instituted for the peaceful working and per.
petuation Of our institutions, are permanent
and indestructible realities, except the people
the source of all power-under and within the
forms prescribed in the Constitution, decree
changer
Mr.. Speaker, it seems to me that a Govern.
ment, or Union, maintained by concession, in
demorslization-soo losing the power to en-
force itself; and in the end, as the varied pre-.
texts arise, must fall wreck to the mad
schemes or open violence Of faction, rebellion,
or treason. We are not left to conjecture as
to what now confronts us. Six States in open
rebellion, in the spirit of svowed enemies, they
have seized the public property they have
contemptuously spurned the public authority {;
converted our Government defences into block.
ades for the conspirators; they have robbed
our Treasury, plundered our mints, and refused
to pay over the public revenue.
| Mr.. Speaker, with treason in these contuma-
cious States-treason, by men who are sworn
to support the Constitution, in the Executive
Departments Of the Government and in the
Halls of Congress, we talk about compromise.
do not hesitate in the course shall pursue !;
and in this shall disappoint no just expecta.
ton Of those that sent inc here. Sir, cannot
consent that slavery shall receive any new or
additional guarantees. would not purchase
the allegiance of the South and especially
would not by the unconditional or gradual
surrender of oil we fought for in the last cam.
paign. I other words, will not consent to
the settlement Of the present dispute on terms
which give slavery any better footing, or great
er security, than it has now. All that it has,
and all the guarantees that it is justly entitled
to- myself and the people represent will faith.
fully observe but no action Of mine shall be
directed against that political progress which
the spirit OF our system was intended to foster
and promote, and which to-day, in the free
North, is illustrated by the wealth, the intelli.
gence, the industry and invention, the love Of
equal liberty and Of equal laws, of her citizens.
And yet, Mr.. Speaker, meet this alarming
posture of our national affairs in no spirit ol
bravado or intimidation, but with generous
and conciliatory message and intent; and
therefore, while opposing all the plans Of I'D
justment and compromise that have been sub
mitted TO this House, as misplaced in point oi
time, and mischievous in principle, have not
thought it improper or unwse that delegates
from the people, elected upon the issues and
questions that now disturb the peace of the
country, should assemble in Convention, in the
mode prescribed in the Constitution and then,
if possible, compose and adjust our troubles
In this spirit, and with this end in view, pro.
posed a substitute (now before this House) for
all the pending measures of the committee Of
thirty-three, as follows:
Whereas the Constitution prescribes in ar.
ticle five that "the Congress, whenever two.
. thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary,
shall propose amendments to this Constitution
or, on the application of the Legislatures Of two
thirds of the several States, shall call Conven.
ton for proposing amendments, which, in either
case hall he valid IN all iptanta nd nurnooa,