Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-02-14
eu.mner.'s Resolutioms---Amendfng
tIne Constitution.

+ CHARLES SUMNER Of Massachusetts,, Is
the great crazed brain Of the Radical Ad-
ministration party. But, as Is often the
case in lunacy, his monomania runs out in
an overfowing and inexhaustible stream
His special hobby is slavery and Its cog
nate subject, the negro. This absorbs In
his view all things else, and 1t would seem,
from his course and that of his brother rad
icals in Congress, that they regarded the
world as created solely to be held and oc-
cupied by negroes. ~
We find the Senator from Massachusetts,
to 90 no further back than Monday of Last
week, presenting petitions from persons Of
African descent, "praying. for the privi-
leges Of the elective franchise" A second
spasm comes on after brief space, and Mr..
SUMNER brings in bill, like to that of
SpAULpING, of Ohio, in the House, for the
arepeal Of all laws for the rendition of fu-
gitive slaves"
But to pass over minor matters, Senator
SUMMERS insanity assumes more violent
form, and nerves him to the task of remodel
ing and reforming the entire structure OF
our Government. He introduces resolutions
declaring them to be resolutions defining
the powers of the National Government"
consisting Of series of seven, the first as
serting that rebellion and slavery are iden-
tical; the second, that rebellion cannot be
crushed without crushing slavery; the third,
that it is our supremest duty, in which all
our present duties are contained, to take
care that slavery is utterly trampled out;
the fourth declares that "any system of re-
construction must be rejected, which does
not provide by irrsuersible guarantees against
slayery;" the fifth makes it 'the solemn duty
of Congress to see that no rebel State Is re-
stored to its constitutional functions" until
Abolition shall have been accomplished; the
sixth provides for the extinction of slavery
in States that are not in rebellion, and the
seventh and last pronounces that the ''Con-
stitution itself MUST be so amended as to
prohibit slavery every where within the
limits of the Republic"
These resolutions present in condensed
form the radical Abolition war programme,
to carry out which Gen. GARFIELD, of Ohio,
said in the House of Representatives the
other day, we could 'hold the insurgent
States in military subiection halfa century,"
as much as to say that he was for carrying
on an Abolition war for fifty years!
SUMMERS resolutions, with other matter
of the same sort, were referred to the Sem
ate Judiciary committee who, on, the 10th
inst. reported a resolution to amend the
Constitution Of the United States as follows !:
First: Neither Slavery nor involuntary
servitude, except as punishment for
crime whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted, shall exist within the United
States, or any place subject to their juris-
diction.
Second: Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legisla-
ton.
There is great furor in the minds Of the
revolutionary Jacobins all over the country
for amending the Constitution in this time
of civil commotion. How 1t is to be done
Is a pretty serious question, Of which we
do not propose now to speak. But though
the radicals who, for the time being, appear
TO be in the ascendent In the Administration
party, are thus bent on tinkering up the
Constitution to suit themselves, yet all the
men and organs of that party do not enter
fully into their fanatical views. The New
York Times, well known Administration
journal, says in its issue Of Thursday last,
speaking Of the proposition to amend the
Constitution: "
Whatever may be the merits OF the prop
osition ITSELF this is not the time to take ac-
tion upon it. Wedo not believe In the wisdom
of amending the Constitution at all notc.
We are I'm the midst of war. The whole
political atmosphere Is red-hot with revo-
1utionary fervor. Mems minds are excited,
their resentments are aroused, and their
passions are In the ascendant. This Is not
favorable mood for digging about the
foundations Of our great temple Of repub-
lican liberty. Things are very apt to be
done in such a temper which the very men
who do them will regret, and would gladly
undo, when cool reflection takes the place |
of heated and intemperate zeal. But least
Of all is this time for throwing into the |
seething caldron Of public debate such an
issue as the direct abolition Of slavery by an |
amendment Of the Constitution. NJ
The Times further says that 'the adoption
Of Mr.. SUMEER's amendment by Congress
would make the paramount issue in the
canvass Abolition instead Of
Union" This is the very thing the radi-
Gals desire; but the Times is afraid to risk it.
It says: 1--WE [the Administration partyl |
should be compelled to fight the battle on
the clear, sole issue of Abolition" Itdon't
ike that position; but, Mr.. Times, you might
IS well make up your mind to 1t, for you and
7our whole party are committed to it be-
yond the possibility OF evasion or retreat.
A rxiId Indictment.
Y