The Portland daily press., 1863-11-30
Mechanics Association.

The regular meeting of the Mechanics As
ISOLATION for lectures and debates was held at
the Library Room of Mechanics Building on
Friday evening. The same question was be-
fore the meeting for discussion as last week,
viz:
Resolced That it is not desirable TO restore the
States now in rebelion with the institution of
Slavery remaining in them, with the constitutional
guarantees for its protection.
Mr.. Bailey opened the discussion After
referring to several points that had been made
on the negative of the question, he said it was
not necessary to change the Constitution to
secure the universal emancipation OF slaves
that the institution of slavery was virtually
dead by the act of the President If the re-
bel States should come back with the right to
hold slaves the circumstances are so changed
that they could not maintain the system.
Slavery cannot be again established; not only
has the constitutional right TO hold slaves
been lost by the act of the slave States, but
the power to hold them growing out Of the
condition Of the slaves themselves, they hay
ing tasted of liberty cannot again be enslaved.
Mr. Emery said he was willing to submit
the whole question to the American people
was in favor of the Crittenden compromise
said he would abide by the decision of the
people, but did not feel bound to sustain the
administration in trampling down the Consti-
tuition. He quoted from speeches made by
Seward at different times, to show that he
made contradictory statements.
NJ Nasb e;Jora,l tho n t;a, ;n,Dn,
tant one; the question was, whether we will
have the old Constitution or a new one; he
thought the only way to settle the question
was by compromise - that Congress had no
right to interfere with slavery, but it must be
put down by change in the Constitution,
which the people have right to change and
ought to change SO as not to allow slavery
ever to be restored again.
Mr.. Coyle said the great question of the
day is, how the States shall come back into
the Union and on what terms. He hoped
they would never be allowed to come back
with the right or power to perpetuate slavery
he hoped the day was not far distant when
peace should be restored and freedom extended
over the length and breadth of the land, and
we be happier and more prosperous people
than ever before, after throwing Off such a
weight Of guilt and wrong.
Mr.. Foster said the only question at issue
was, whether or not the States in rebellion
had forfeited any right they possessed under
the Constitution. He thought they had for
feited all their former constitutional rights
except the right to be hung-that the murder
er might say he would submit to the law, but
that would not restore to him the right to lib
erty which he had before he committed the
crime. The rebels who have taken up arms
against their government and attempted to
destroy it, have stepped out from the protec-
tion Of the Constitution, and nothing but the
clemency of the government can save them
from the halter; and the government, when
they shall be conquered, must establish the
conditions on which they shall be allowed to
become States of the Union.
Mr.. Kimba said if he believed slavery
could be destroyed constitutionally he should
be in favor of its destruction. He had no
more love for slavery than any other man, and
was in favor of carrying or the war until re-
bellion was put down. He did not think the
rebellious States had lost their constitutional
rights as States-spoke of the rebellions that
had broken out at various times and how they
were suppressed - contending that all who
took part in those rebellions retained their
constitutional rights, or they were restored to
them.
The debate was continued by Mr.. Blanch-
ard, Mr.. Cole and Mr.. Walker, when the vote
was taken and decided in the affirmative.
The question for discussion for the next
meeting i. to be announced by the committee
through the papers.