Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-04-12

as given in the Associated Press dispatches
Mr.. johnson, Of Maryland, (Cond. Union,)
said we had heretofore kept four millions of slaves
ia bondage. They had been kept 10 a state Of
almost absolute ignorance. lhs waa thing oi
which the worlds history affords no paaliel
Whether this was for veal " woe, tie future
must declare. The only question for statesmen
to consider was whether emancipation srighiI
independent Of its consequences, il those canse'
Quences we're such as to render it sxpediert at
this time, There vas pepod ID eur history
when there was but one opinion about the que'
ton of right. The men who fought through Tie
revolution and recommended the adoption by he
American people Of our Constitution, thought
,hat slavery vas not only an oyIl, but 40 evil Of
the highest character which il was the duty Of u
Christian people to remove. The history Of thote
times would bear hin out in the assertion, that t
The men by whom he Constitution va, forued
and the people by whom II was adopted, had an
ucipated our present troubles, hey you'd have
provided cOnstltu iOna Il eiacmeat, at some unIe-
note period, 10 revoke the clause psrmiu &
slavery. Almost every man Of reh-c oa, 30 that
time, vas satisfied that sooner or later tho country
would be involved in trouble on ccount Of IL and
they looked with confidence to the time when 10
should BE- eradIcaled Iae proyi ions 10 The csu.
,.Guuon protecting slavery were sdIp e4 upon
political aud matcrll reasons, and not grounds OF
morality and religion, and because they believed d
would b. difficult TO have q Union at all without
slavery. Whether hoy were light or wrong lt
Is impossible to say now II they had voted 10
idop, our constitution thout tbc recognition Of
slavery, 20 one now spectator Of he fceres
around us, would regret u. lie en,erMaed lho
same opInion Of slavery now tbat lie bad from tne
time first studied the .uoIec. Of human rshts.
Ia advocating this measure ae was not Depart &
from bis carrier conyic ions, aud would appeal 10
The constitution ,lse Justification oi lht vote
he should give lor tie measure. lie would not
inquire whether slavery had produced the war or
oot. The wat vas upon us, and slavery had pro'
d4ced mischief. Unless III measure before The
Senate should be adopted, there could be 10
permanent peace. He at eugth proceeded 10
can,royeft The idea thai The abolition OF slavery
could be accomplished either by direct legislation
or by toe exercise Of the var power by ihe Pres-
derl lie believed that the rebels still owed a.
legduce to The United Sn.ts, ana were 20 be
proceeded against as traitors under the Consttl-
ton Any other idea would bs mons fous. lie
believed th5l there we're hundred. Of thousands Of
c,tzs, 10 lhe .nsurfec,io13y district, who were
Just as devoted 10 ,he Uli5n as any member Of
ibis body, but they o5eyed lbe de (ocio govern
ment as . power whic hey could rot resist, and
SO lhe.r obedience vas no crime. IIe claimed
that the war power was 70 tie bands # Congress
sud the power Of the President vas derived from
bis hight as CJmmanderinChief Ibis being
The case, no slave could be mauumiued by proc
amation, uDless the proper physct. foica accom-.
panied U We must &c, the sAyes leiare We
mlnumi, hem The President h'm'ef uttered
gfoat truth when he a.d bis proclamation Old
be like the Pope's bull against The comet In Il
districts unocCuped hy our troops. i is lus' IS
lJle fr Va TO declare the SLAVES free in the 5 les
where our armies Go not march, as 10 would b. 10
declare the rebel armies dl,0auded b} pr1camt-
ton. If the Wal should terminate to-dsy, the
saves who come actually under cur control
would be slaves stl. M. Johnson conttndtd
tLaI The only practical way % accomplishing what
llI Christian pitTiols desired, vas by iIe adoption
u the present measure. lie clutendtd .h4l ihe
veo preamble to The C0nNitui.01 which stated
that ts objects were TO establish justice, pr mote
Tranquility hnd insure tbe general welfare, ni
int t,si ol oil, that liberty might re pfeseyed,
gave fIi warrant Tot lhs proposed auenlueai.
~as there no justice 10 putting an end 10 hums
slavery Was slavery doing no injury TO Tie
tranquility OF jhe couairy Was it not agaiaN
The general welfare aud 1saiasi all ilue il,ls %,
human liberty In conclusion, he 'Aii au- '.la
consideration sh1uil be 10 bring thi' Nsr to
successful close and secure The restoration q tue
Unoa. lie believed lhe Union would be restored
and W. would have our Nlt.Jnil and Sia'e GOV
ernmen,s without human bondage.