The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-22
Amendments TO the Constitution.
REMARKS OF MIR CoLLANEE OF VERMONT IN III
L. :. SENATE. FEB. 1861

L. ;. SENATE, FEB. 4 1861.
Mr.. COLLAMER. l have memorial which
desire to present. present TIE memorial of
J. Blake. and oighty-one others. inhabitants of
Swanton, Vermont, PRAYING for the adoption of
the measure commonly known as the border state
propositions 1t is rarely, think. that trouble
the Senate; but desire now 20 make some re-
marks. for which beg indulgence for few mo-
ments. III relation to this subject. | am not pro
posing to make remarks about secession, or
coercion. or slavery. the merits ofany of these
topics at all; but the petition which nave pre-
scented lnvokes the exercise of the power of Con-
grcss IN relation to amendments to the Constitu-
ton 1t Is upon that topic Tat | wish to speak
for few moments.
Nh President, am willing at all times. when
the occasion properly calls for it, to exercise the
powers that We legitmately have by the ConstI-
tuition but IN my estimation. cXigcncics can
ever justify Us resortng TO any sort Of devices
and eXpedlentS which the occasion NAV call for
that not consistent with the fair construction
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 III relation TO It's amendment:
When the Constitution was adopted, and those
who made il were about to put in exercise this
great experiment, having created for the first
time General Government with all its depart
ments, and curtalled i'll large proportion the pow
ers which the States had previously exercised to
correspond with it, they said Now, il NAV be
that this Constitution does not invest sufficient
powers in the General Government for Its smooth
and successful operation. Experience NAV show
that. What, then, shall be done in such a con-
tingency: 1t will be contingency in which
Congress will have ascertained by experiment
precisely what further power they need We
say. Therefore, that when Congress have thus as
certaned that they need any more delegated
power. they shall have authority to propose
amendments to the Constitution which they shall
send to the States or to the people of the United
States u! you please in their States, either in
convention or IN their Legislatu for their
adoption; and if three fourths of them adopt
them, they shall become portion of the Consti-
tution.'
IhlS was wanted for the use of Congress. No
occasion was required for calling any national
convention :; but the occasion would be one which
experience would develope. and which Congress
would feel the need Of, and such was the arrange
ment to meet that contingency. But they fur
ther said "Perhaps upon experience and upon
trial. 1t will turn cut that have transferred too
much power from the States to the General Gov
ernment; 1t may work hard for the States ; they
may need to have amendments; now, what pro-
Vision shall we make, what arrangement shall We
prepare, for such a contingency 1t cannot be
reasonably expected that Congress will, in such
an event, make any propositions for amendment
10 strip themselves of power which has been al
ready delegated to them. We therefore must not
look to Congress for relief in such an emergency
al all. Hence 1t was that provision was made III
the same article for such event, for such a
contingency, BY providing that two thirds oi