Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-12

take part IA the deliberations upon ina
Take Louisiana also. IN which an eiD'' ~"
being made to form Free State II 'ne peop'e
OF Loaisiana. acting throsgh CONVENE" S.ot
erly selected, shall make that State rec o1''e'
/ shall be very happy to hear it. II the people
of any State see ft 20 change their constitution
so As TO make their State free instead OF save !
shall be very glad OF the result 4 heh y
properly dune. But sir, an not Wiling " see
our institutions come 70 that condition "hlch
would be upon u If one tenth oil the peOp'e =.
State could control not only the State Oohsii'u-
ton but the modification of the Constitution o.
the United Suites.
Can there be IN the States that nave men
toned, or in suy considerable number OIL them'
that elaboration siieh is necessary when We
propose to change the organic lawE TAKE the
State If Kentucky. so ab!y represented IN this
body; i Kentucky IN a condition today 10 say |
whether she wants her Federal Constitution
chaneei or no-hentucky, that one week IN /
yaded BY rebel troops and the next week : uh /
der the control of Federal troops-hentncky 4
that can lay no claim to free electlon9 axe
Maryland, that has free election; or Deia- /
ware that Is controlled as was illustrator III Tue
able speech of her Senator Mr.. SALISBURY The
other day, by provost marshals appointed the
Sunday night before the election. Is TINS the
condition in which this country ought to be when
We propose to change our Federal Constitution!
say not, sir; and without reference TO the merits
of the proposed amendments. | say we are not
IN condition in any of the States and especially
IN the States 10 which | have referred, because
of the excitement caused by the condition of the
country and the state of war, for deliberate
consideration Of the questions involved on the
part of the people
One more suggestion. sir, and have said all
that desire on this subject. | am not satisfied
el,.a -,
made TO the Constitution. The institution of
slavery is domestic institution 1t exists. not
by virtue of the Federal Constitution not BY vir-
tue of any Law passed pursuant 10 the Coustitu
ton of the United States but it had its existence
before the formation of the Federal compact,
before the establishment of the Federal COnsti-
tuition 1t was an institution of the colonies |
will not discuss with the honorable Senator from
Iowa Mr.. Harlan the question whether the
Shareholder has good title to his property Ii
is enough TO know that this institution existed
before the revolution IN the colonies; that it con
tinued during the revolution; that it came with
the colonies INTO their state of independence and
separate sovereignty: and when the colonies
came into the Federal compact they did not sub
NIT that il Institution, or their other domestic IN
stltutOns TO the control of the Federal Govern
ment The Federal Government has had notn-
ing TO do with the institution of slavery, except
50 far rs by compromise it was protected and re-
spected. 1t was a basis of representation in the
other House; IL Is basis of taxation IN "A Ger
tain contingency, and fugitive escaping from
one State TO another shall be returned without
respect 10 the law of the State into which he es-
capes.
These are the connections of the Federal
Government with the institution of slavery but
State in the formation OF the Federal COM pact
agreed to lay that institution any other inst
tuition OF a domestic sort 1T the foo. of Federal
authority. | am not satisfied (althOugh have
not examined that subject maturey as would
desire il intended to discuss it at length, that
this is nm amendment which it is competent to
make short of the agreement Of all the States OF
the Union; and then that amendment thus agreed
70 would have its force not because il was a ,,art
of the Constitution. but because each State for
itself had agreed to abolish slavery. When each
Stare agrees to it. it is settled. All of our great
men aud juri>is have held that this institution
lists by virtue of State law. That State law NAV
be the common law of the State the usage of the
Safe or II may be that system OF statutes which
recognizes and regulates the institution; and |
take it that il il very grave question whether
three fOurths of the States lake hold of an in
stitutlOn in'the remaining fourth, without the
consent OF those dissenting States. which those
States never agreed in the original compact
should be under the control in any way of the
Federal Government.
But, sir, my main objection to the adoption OF
this measure now Is that the people are not in A
condition to consider proposed amendments 70
the Constitution This year we are to have the
excitement of Presidential contest, perhaps a
very bitter one. Men will take their sides &C
cOrding to party relations | submit To Senators
whether time like this, when the mind of the
people is wrought As the sea is by the orm, is n
- l.. l.. IL,
mental law of the Government, and To change
the foundation stones of that Government
whether We had not better let these times pas:
by, and when peace shall come, as it was in
1857 and l1cy when our fathers considered the
original Constitution. then consider the proposed
amendments Ii the people of the United States
shall then decide TO abolish slavery, and it i:
found that 1t is question that may be controlled
by three fourths OF the States shall have no ob
lection to it il slavery passes away | shall mo-
be found regretting it,
suppose have less personal know ledge o.
the institution of slavery than almost any Sena
tor in this body. | have never spent whole
day scarcely in my lie upon slave soil Nv lite
has been spent among the free people OF the State
of Indiana | have no attachments TO the instiiu
ton; but | have an attachment to the cOmpact
and agreements of our fathers. | was taught as
part Of my pOiltlc> ana inOr4Jlty 10 stand by wha
was agreed to- The moral question of slavery
save never discussed before the people | do not
end { discuss it here. because with the mora
question Of slavery the Federal Government ha,
nothing 10 do That is question tor the con
sheraton of the States that regulate the nsti-
tuition, the States that allow il, the States By
whose authority 1t exists; and by no other au
thority does il or can it exist
Although voted with my friend from Ken
lucky Mr Powell in favor of his three amend
ment-, still if il had come to final vote sepa-
rate from the amendment now before the Senate
whether We should submit those three PROPOSE
tons. which should like To see in the Consti
tuition, should. upon the final vote, have vote,
mo. for the reason that at this time ! wOHl'
not submit any proposed amendment to tn
people
would agree, a Senator. 10 submit Al
amendment of the Constitution to the people fo
but one reason If could become satisfied tina
proposed Amendment 10 the Constitution
would put end 10 these hostiliies woul,
restore this Union. and bring peace again 10 III
couatry. would vote for any Amendment tina
was consistent with the right ami honor
Senators could satisfy me that the adoption
of this amendment right and within
the power of three tourths of the Suites, ant
that It would promote an adjustment and settle
ment of the difficulties between the sections
should vote for il, but for other consideration
On the contrary sir, | believe that this amend
meut II adOptel will be in the way OF final al
! lustment and the restoration of the Union Wha
/ good it dOg Just the same good precise
/ that the Presidents proclamation dit. Tn
/ President hy hiS nrOcl amatOn said I'VE nay