Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-05-21
VOL. S.---NO. 80.

I i"t '"S Nuole subject on the table. II you
VIII turn TO page AS, the same volume, you
VIII ma, when, at late period, Mr. Cameron,
| from Pennsylvania, moved 10 reconsideT the
vote, appeals having been made to snstsin
those who were struggling to preserve the
peace OF the country, that the vote lcGs recon
sidered and when, at last, the Critteudsn
propositions were submitted on the I'd day of
March, these Southern States having nearly all
seeded; they were then lost by but one vote.
Here is the vote:
"Yeas-Messrs. Bayard, Bigler, Bright,
Crittenden, Douglas, Gwiu, Hunter. johnson
of Tennessee, Kennedy, Lane, Latham, Ma
son, Nicholson, Polk, Pugh. Rice, Sebastian,
Thomson, and Wigfall-l9.
'Nays-Messrs. Anthony, Bingham. Chan
dler, Clark, Dixon, Doolittle, Durkee, Fessen-
den, Foot. Foster. Grimes, Harlan. King.
Morrill,, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbnll, Wade.
Wilkinson. and Wlson-20.
"If these seeding Southern Senators had
remained, they would have passed. by 4 large
vote, (as it did without them an amendment.
by twothird vote. for bidding Congress ever
interfering with Slavery in the States. 1he
Crittenden propositions would have been en-
dorsed by majority vote, the subject finally
going before the people, who have never yet,
after consideration, refused justice, for any
length OF time, TO any portion Of the country
ssI believe more, Mr.. President, that these
gentlemen rcTe acting IN pursuance or settled
4
erR1Renf."
When had il in our power to vote down
the amendment of the Senator from New
Hampshire, and adopt the Crittenden resOlu-
tions. certain Southern Senators prevented IT,
and yet, at late day of the session, after they
had seeded, the Crittenden proposition wss
only lost by one vote. If rebellion and blood
shed and murder have followed, TO whose
skirts does the responsibility attach l sum-
med up all these facts myself in a speech da-
ring the last session but have preferred to
read the speech of the Senator from Califor-
MIA, he being better authority, and haTing pre-
sented tbs facts better than l could.
1t may be alleged BY Mr.. Vallandinghan,
whose name is OF course attached to this sds
dress, and who was probably its author, that
because The Republicans did not vote foF the
Crttenden Compromise, therefore this formal
declaration of the esDemocratic members Of
Congress stand uncontradicted but Andrew
johnson in the same speech from which have
quoted, shows that the Republicans gave tbs
strongest assurances of their disposition and
determination to do everything TO convince
The people of the South that they intended no
violation of the Constitution, and no infrac-
tion of the rights OF any State of the Union.
He says:
s'What else was done at the very same ses-
sion? The Honse of Representatives passed,
and sent to this body, a proposition to amend
fhe Constitution OF the United States, so as TO
prohibit Congress from ever hereafter interfe-
ring with the institution of slavery ia tho
States, King that restriction part Of the or
ganic law of the land. That constitutional
amendment came here after the Senators from
seven States had seceded and yet it was psss-
hV irG n
you ever heard of any enc of the States which
had then seeded, whicb has since seeded,
tax ing up that amendment TO the Constitution.
and saying they would ratify il, and make il a
part of that instrument? No. Does not the
whole history of this rebellion tell you that it
was revolution that the leaders wanted, that
they started tor, that they intended TO have7
The facts TO which have referred show how
the Crittenden proposition might have been
carried and when the Senators from the slave
States were reduced to one-fourth OF the mem
bers of this body, the two Houses passed
TO amend the Constitution, so as
to guaranty to the States perfect security in
regard to the institution OF slavery in all iu
Inre time, and prohibiting Congress from legis-
lating on the subject
1t is in the face of such a record as this that
these s'Democratc members of Congress
now come forward and ssappeal to the journals
of Congress and to the Congressional Gl06e'' to
establish the deliberate allegation that, during
the last session of the'Thirty sixth Congress.
repeated efforts at compromise were made.
'sand at every stage all proposed amendments
with the sectional doctrines of
the Chicago platform were strenously and
resisted and defeated by the Re
publican party" Bat these fourteen Demo
cratic members of Congress are met By other
evidence equally overwhelming. On the l7th
Of December, 1850, shortly after the election
Of Mr.. Lincoln, and before Secession had taken
place, the House of Representatives OF the
United States adopted the following preamble
md resolution
"Whereas, the Constitution of the United
States is the supreme law of the land. and its
eady and f,ithiul observance the duty OF all
good and aw-abiding citizens Therefore,
ssResolred That we deprecate the spiri. Of
lisobedience to that Constitution wherever
manifested, and that We earnestly recommend
ne repeal of all statutes, including personal
liberty bills, so-called, enacted by State Le-
,islatures, conflicting with, and In violation
If that sacred instrument, and the laws OF
Congress made in pursuance thereof
This resoIutian, calling upon the States to
epeal their personal---very. bills, 'cGs passed
~ unanimous Uote and the States, acting in
he same spirit, did proceed to reconsider
hem, although they were shown to be totally
Ineffective and for ten years they had never
caused the escape OF a single fugitive slave
And again, on the motion of the Hon. John
Sherman, OF Ohio, at later day the following
esolution was passed by the same body
"Resoiped That neither Congress nor the