Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-25

Chandler, Clark, Dixon, Doolittle, Dur
kee, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes,
Harlan, King, Morrill,, Summer, Ten Eyck,
Trumbull, Wade Wilkinson, and Wilson
--2O'
"If these seceoing Southern Senators
had remained, there would have passed,
by a large vote (as il did without them),
an amendent, by two-third vote, for
bidding Congress ever interfering with
slavery in the States. The Crittenden
proposition would have been endorsed by
a majority vote, The subject finally going
before the people, who have never vet,
after consideration, refused Justice, for
any length of time, TO any portion Of the
country. I
81 believe more, Mr.. President, that
these gentlemen were acting in pursuance
Of a settled and fixed plan 10 break ap
and destroy this Government @
Whan we had II qn our power 10 vote
down the amendment of the Senator
from New Hampshire, and adopt the
Crttendeh resolutions, certain Southern
Senators prevented it; and yet, even at
late day of the session, after they had
seeded. the Crittenden proposition was
only lost by one vote. Ii rebellion and
bloodshed and murder have followed, to
whose skirts does the responsibility at
tach?
Senator JOHNSON continued
"What else was done at the very same
session? The House of Representatives
passed, and sent to this body, PROPOSE
lion to amend the Constitution of the
United States, so as to prohibit Con-
gress from ever hereafter interfering
with the institution of slavery in the
States, making that restriction a part of
the organic law of the land That con-
stitutional amendment came here after
the Senators from seven States had sece-
ded, and yetit was passed by a two third
vote in the Senate. Have you ever heard
of any of the States which then seeded
or which has since seeded, taking up
that amendment to the Constitution, and
saying they would ratify il, and make it
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 for,
that they intended to have? 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 members of this body, the two
Houses passed a proposition to amend
the Constitution, so as to guaranty to the
States perfect security in regard TO the
institutions Of slavery in all future time,
ana prohibiting Congress from legisiating
on the subject"
The Press adds:
On the 18th of December, 1860, shortly
after the election of Mr.. Lincoln, and be-
fore Secession had taken place, the House
of Representatives of the United States
adopted the following preamble and res
olution:
"Whereas, the Constitution of the
United States is the supreme law Of the
land, and its ready and faithful observ-
ance the duty of all good and Iawabidinq
citizens; Therefore,
"ResolUed, That we deprecate the spirit
of fdisobedience to that Constitution wher.
ever manifested, and that we earnestly
recommend the repeal of all statutes, in.
cluding personal liberty bills, so-called
enacted by State Legislatures, conflicting
with, and in violation of that sacred in
strument, and the laws of Congress made
in pursuance thereof"
This resolution, calling upon all the
States TO repeal their personal liberty
bills, loas passed By q unantmotls vote; and
the States, acting in the same spirit, die
proceed to reconsider them, and, in some
cases, repeal them, although they were
shown to be totally ineffective, and fol
ten years they had never caused the es
cape of single fugitive slave.
And again, on the motion of the Bon
John Sherman, Of Ohio, at later day
the following resolution was passed by
the same body;
"Resolyed, That neither Congress mol
the people or Governments Of the non,
slaveholding Stsies have the right t.
legislate upon or interfere with slavery
in any Of the slayeholding States in The
Union"
11ts resolution cas ad9pted Jyo 1aani
nous r0te