The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-22

Congress prepared. undoubtedly it is implied that
they express their appreciation OF them; out IN
the case | am surprising and which l consider
middle case between the two. no appreciation or
Instrumentation of Congress is expressed or i'm
nlied. nor is it necessary. Let me read the arti-
Gle:
"Thc Congress, whenever two-thirds Of both
Houses shall deem it necessary. shall propose
mendments to this constitution, or, on the appli-
cation of the legislatures of twothirdS of the sew
cral states. shall call convention for proposing
amendments, which. in either case, shall be valid
to all intents and purposes part of this consti-
tuition, when ratified bv the legislatures of three
fourthS Of the several states, by conventions in
three -fourths thereof, as the one or the other
mode of ratification may be proposed by the Con
gresS.'
1t does not say that Congress shall recommend
the amendments, or any of them. 1t is said that
they shall propose the amendments, but not that
they shall recommend them. | think Congress.
when there is respectful petition by any state for
certain articles OF amcndmcnt, should pass such a
Joint resolution as have just indicated. with the
recital or preamble thereto.
Now. come to the case that the Senator from
PennsylI ania alludes TO. When the states adop-
ted. i'll their several conventions. tins nlted
States con institution, several of the states recon-
mcndcd certain amendments; number OF the
u. L
all but a number Of them recommended certain
amendments to the constitution What did Con-
grcss do with them !: They were not amendments
that Congress prepared What did they do -
The states. i'll their conventions. had requested
these amendments to be adopted. What did
Congress do | will turn gentlemen to what they
did on that occasion as, if you please, precedent
for what state In 1888, i'll the first Congress
was passed the following:
..Tbc Of nun,bor ,f ,bo c+,tos
having. at the time of their adopting the constiu
ton. expressed desire. in order to prevent mis-
construction or abuse of It's powers. that further
declaratory and restrictive clauses should be add
ed and extending the ground of public conf
dcncc Ill the Government. will best insure the be-
neiccnt ends Of its institutions:
ReS0ired By tie Stnatc ond House Of Rep"eSen-
tatires Of the Lnjted suites Of .4mc,ica IN Con-
gress assembled. two thirds of both Houses con-
curring.) That the following articles be prOpOs-
ed to the legislatures of the several states,
mcndments TO the constitution of the United
States, all or any Of which articles, when ratified
by three fourth> Of the said gislatures, to be val
id, to all intcnts and purposes, as part Of said
constitution"
There is direct precedent for the case to
which the gentleman from Pennsylvania calls my
attention; that Is the very which l have
now supposed There the states. or several of
them did request amendments to be made, stat
ing what they were, and Congress- did not propose
those amendments, as theirs, but they passed a
Joint resolution, stating the fact that several
states had requested those amendments to be
made. and therefore they presented them to the
people for adoption. That was the very case
That is in confirmation Of my view 1t is di
rect precedent.
Now. Mr. President. without taking up the time
of the Senate. which dislike to do exceedingly.
these views govern me III action in relation to
amendments to he constitution, though they
probably may not govern anybody else | should
like TO have them understood more at large, be
Cause l think the people have been, somehow OF
other. led to look to Congress for relief by con
stitutional amendments when the powers of
Congress. : understand them are utterly una
dlptsd to them. But cannot say. az frequent
|. hear SAID i'll lhl, body. thst desire to spcah
Ia the country. | have To idea that the country
will ever hear what say about it: but still
have presented NY views Of what l regard true
duties
And now. have to say that. though see lit
tie prospect Of amending i'll this wav. confident il
never can succeed. Yet after all something may
be done. have nothing to say about calling
national convention. That is matter for the
states and the people TO do as they please upon
1t Is perfectly evident from the constitution, thai
II was intended to be called whenever it was de
sired by the states without any action of Con
3ie>S al an Du even IN despite or Its opinion
II you Will. Though men may not agree upon a
inendments here. may not agree upon amend
mentS IN the conference that is now going on in
this city. can still conceive it possible that two
or three. or more states might agree on some a.
mendmcntS. and send them here as is proposed
in the resolutions Of Virginia with the request
that we should send them out to the legislatures
OF the states | say | can conceive that that
contingency may happen. and my mode of treat
lng that subject would be what l have indicated
think. IN my humble Judgment. that on such a
contingency Congress should pass resolution
such "a they did in 1889. reciting that this had
been rcquc Nted, and presenting it to the people
by two-thlrdS vote. ard not stand up and say
they did not ike the amendments and would not
permit the people to have a chance to vote on
them. Such aye lny views. sir.
The memorial was ordered to lie on the ia
bic.