M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1862-02-13

VINO Is an honest patrluk IOiu US 10
the, beginning, and tells US now, thai
by virtue OF his oath he must preseve
protect, and defend the Constitution
aud thai iS what no Intends to do
nothing more, nothing leas. SO far
air. he has adhered othat declaration,
and | have every confidence that be
will continue to adhere 10 the same
lihe Of constitutional polieg, whicE an
honest man must adhere 10 ifhs reads
HE constitutional obligations as they
have been read 10 days that are past
and gone, by the men who founded the
Republic.
Mr.. Lane. nf Kansas, ] desire 70
AK the Senator q question. 1.-The will
permit me.
Mr.. Carlisle. Certainly,
Mr. Lane, ofKansas. Do | under
stand the Senator from Virginia to ex
yress the opinion that il is the consti
'utionl duty Of the Government tc
maintain the slsves Of rebels. traitors
n arms, All 10 restore them to their
masters.
Mr.. Carlisle. NJ. President, my
opinion ss to what the duty Of the
Government is, go just ss tar as Con
Iitutional obligation, and further
| at the TINS Of the adoption Of that
Constitution, twelve OF the States oI
this Union wsrs no.Ainally slavehold
ng, and only one non-slaveholding
hut in fact. there we're but fiVo or six
really slavehol!ing States. The auth,
nrs Of that instrument found It neces
!ary to the formation Of the Republic
hat they aiapt Themselves to the cir.
cumstances that surrounded them, and
that the Constitution would have to I've
wha, al. other systems OF Government
founded on the will ofthe people pus'
lever be, the subject Of compromise
While the Slaveho!ding States did no
iesire to force their peculiar institu
tion, as it has been called. upon thu
non slavsholding, the non slavehold
ing States did not desire to enforc,
Upon the slavehOlding their views;
but, for the sake Of the interest Of all
Ithey did so far recognize the iDstitn-
tion as to solemnly pledge themselvG
| land here | believe il was pledge oI
faith more in the nature of a treaty Oh.
litigation than anything else) to deliVe
Iup every fugitevs slave to the owner
upon lain. Frankncss requires me
to say that | have had my donbts about
the constiintionality OF your slave law;
ont il was solemn obligation, in my
npinion. entered into by the people oI
the non slovaholding States that they
would upon demand and claim, de.
liver to the citizen of slaveholding
States his fugitive slave that may
have escaped. And while would not
affirm by resolution that it was the du,
ty OF the Army to deliver fugitive
to his owner, whether loyal or rebel,
would not, on the other hand. affirm
that il was not the duty ofthe Army.
regard onr citizens who have enlist
ed in the cauSe Of their country 40 ctti,
zens still, and | hold il to be the duty
Of every good citizen, wherever he
NAV be. tv obey the laws OF the land.
Mr.. President, from the hour that
we took our seats here, met here "a
| had supposed, to aid such constitu.
tional Legislation as the exigencies Of
the country required, the executive
authorities in restoring peace TO dis
tracted peopie-ws have been deluged
with antislavery resolutions, and com
pslled 10 listen to anti slavery speec.
hes. Instead of coming up as one
man from the loyal Republic to aid
in this ito death struggle. we seem to
have met here rs partisans aud sec.
tionalists. Nightly party eancnses
are called, where Senators and Repre-.
sentat. vel, representing non .slavehold
ing Constituencies, are engaged in plot
ting tUr party success, are although it
may he over the PROSTATE body Of .
ruined country Common humanity,
to gay nothing Of patriotism, vonld
have susgested that in the midst oI
ths scenes by which we are surround
ed, the croaking voice OF party should
have been hushed. Sir, | know nc
Darty but the party Of tho Union; NJ
causs but the csuse Of country. will
assai. no rights;l'll not attempt under
doubtful war power to abolish insiitu-
tions: | will not 60 within States ioI
;he purpose OF despoiIing them of &C.
knOwledged State authority.
Mr.. President would not ever
lave said what | have suggested BY
the remarks of the SsEator from Kan
iss. If ! had MT felt more keenly and
leeply than the Senators representing
ION slayeholliDg States can feel, the
LANCER TO Be apprellended not alone tc
he slavsh ,l'linS State, but to the exis
,nce OF the Union by such argument,
a 4 n =.