Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-22


Cured in this Congress upon this question,
| should treat it az remark made by the
gentleman without due consideration. But
! think see kind Of side bar arrange.
mept here among those gentlemen who pre-
tend they are the sole defenders Of the Con.
stitution, by which they are to get up ma
tional convention in aid, as the gentleman
declares, of these rebels.
do not think, sir. that national conyen.
ton under the Constitution can be extern
porized in the way suggested by the gentle.
man. | should like to know Of the gentle
mas from Missouri Mr.. NORToNl how he
would ask for national convention to amend
the. e.Constitution?
Mr.. NORTON. The Constitution Of the
United States, in reference to the calling Of
a national Convention, is plain AMI specific
in its terms, aud would call for that ma.
tional convention in the mode desiguatsd
by the Constitution Of the United States.
Mr.. BINGHAM. should like to know
how the gentleman would call for a national
convention through the State Legislatures.
The State Legislatures, as l understand,
can impose upon the Congress Of the United
States, whenever two-thirds Of them think
fit 70 do so, the obligation to call a national
convention. But how the gentleman would
call for national convention through the
State Legislatures is thing which do not
comprehend. What right has he to call on
the State Legislatures for national conven-
ton; and if he has, what right have the
State Legislatures to do it? They simply
call on the Congress of the United States
to order national convention, and when
two thirds Of the Legislatures of the States
have done it, Congress is bound to obey
their mandate. | should like to know Of
the gentleman also how he desires to amend
that sacred instrument? thought his par.
ty of late claimed to be "for the Constitu.
ton as it is and the Union as it was"
Mr.. NORTON. said in my remarks,
as | say now, that, had the power, would
! disband both armies in the field, and call a
national convention. In reply to the inter-
rogatory of how would call q national con
vention, say that | would solicit the call.
ing Of that convention by the State Legis-
latures. do not profess nor claim to have
the power to call a national convention. -
The gentleman is misinterpreting or mis-
understanding the nature and effect of the
remarks which made. The Legislatures
of the States have a right to call on the
Congress Of the United States for national
convention.
Mr.. BINGHAM. That is just what 1
said but we have no right here, as Repre-
sentatives, until the States demand it, to do
anything about it.
Mr.. NORTON. do not assume TO dc
it, mol do | assume to Judge of it.
Mr.. BINGHAM. Now ask the gentle
man what amendments he would have?
Mr.. NORTON. That would be matter
which would submit to that convention
l would submit to it all the matters in dis
pute between the two sections. .....-
Mr.. BINGHAM. A national conven.
tion is not called to settle disputes, but tC
amend the Constitution.
Mr.. NORTON. That would settle the
dispute.
Mr.. BINGHAM. But a substantive
amendment of the Constitution would not
maintain the Constitution as it is. / have
asked the gentleman what amendments he
would have. He cannot answer but he
would amend and change the Constitution
| This is the new lesson taught by the pro
gress of this rebellion: amend and change
the Constitution. | remember the time
when the fires of this rebellion were being
kindled, and think you do, too, Mr.. Chair
man; make the reference to it with the
more pleasure because saw in you, sir, 8
disposition to do something to try to provide
for the crisis, The Constitution was suf6
cent for the purpose Of all needful legisla
ton, but the legislation under it was moi
sufficient. There were some Of US then who
thought that it was well to make the legis
lation adequate to the crisis, SO that the
people, without the restraints of the law O
1895 upon them, restrioting their term o
service as volunteers to ninety days, nigh
be summoned out in their strength for the
war, and by their sublime uprising strange
the rebellion in its very inception, before
blood had flowed and before our flag haG
been dishonored. Standing in nay place
here, in the month of January, 1861, while
the rebellion was being iorganized in this
very city, while companies were being. drill
ed midway between the Capitol and the
Presidents House under cover Of darkness
and which afterwards bore arms against tn,
Constitution in the first battle in Virginia,
asked this House to enact laws to enabl
the people to defend under the law thei
own Government, and suppress the. rebel
swer from that side of the House? lie
the difficulties by amending the Constitu
JSUu huu luCiS tWCiO oiSS
amendments introduced here during tina
period for the purpose of changing tha
instrument from what Madison said it was
"a charter of human liberty" into writer
II despotism. These amendments came chief
ly from gentlemen on that side Of th'
. House; and yet we are to be told that thel
are ''for the Constitution as it is, and fo
the Union as it was. =.
The gentleman from Missouri, in hi
speech to day, arraigns the venerable chair
man of the Committee of Ways and Mean
because he dared to say that the Union as
was cannot be organized under the Consti
, tuition as it is. That is what he said. Tn
gentleman is opposed to him for saying that
and against him his wrath kindles into fer.
indignation.
Where was the gentleman and his part,
, in the winter of 1861, when this rebellion
: was being organized all over the land, whil'
batteries were being built around your doom
, ed Fort Sumter? Why, sir, they were of
| ,ering every other day here amendments Il
! the Constitution, some of which, for thei
internal wickedness, would make eveTdevil
blush. When now you shout the Constitu
tion as it is, you have stolen our thunder
gentl emen. Laughter.
n A VoloE. Not all of it.
| NJ RlNGHAM stond in nv Dlac