Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-12
SENATOR SUMMERS RESOLUTIONS


l. Resolved, That, in order to determine the
duties of the national government at the present
moment, it is Of the first Importance that we
should see and understand the real character OF
the contest which has been forced upon the
United States, for a failure truly to appreciate
this contest must end dsastrously in failure Of
those proper efforts which are essential to the
re-establshment Of unity and concord that, re-
cOgnizing this contest in its real character, as 1t
must be recorded by history, it will be apparent
beyond controversy that this Is not an ordinary
rebellion, or an ordinary war, but that il is alb
solutely without precedent, differing clearly from
every ether rebellion and every other war, mas
much Us it is an audacoUs attempt, for the first
time in history, to found a wicked power on the
corner stone Of slavery and that such an at
tempt having this single Object-Hhether re-
gardcd as rebellion or AS warts 80 completely
penetrated and absorbed, 80 entirely filled and
possessed by slavery, that it eau be justly re-
garded, as nothing else than the huge mperson-
alton OF this crime, At once rebel aud belhgerent,
or in other words, as slavery in arms.
.. Resoived, That recognizing the unquesiion-
able identity of the rebellion and Of slavery, 30
that each is to the other as another self, 1t be
comes plain that the rebellion cannot be crushed
without crushing slavery, MS slavery cannot be
crushed without crushing the rebellion; that
the other, and every blow at the one is blow
at the other that oil who tolerate slavery tOle-
rate the rebellion aud all who strike at slavery
strike at the rebellion; and TINT, therefore, 1t is
our supremest duty, 10 which all other present
duties are contained, to take care that the bar
barisn Of slavery, in which alone the rebellion
has its origin and life, is utterly trahpled out
that it can never spring up again anywhere in
the rebel and belgerent region; for leaving this
duty uudone nothing is done, and all our blood
and treasure have been laylshel In vain.
B. RcsoIOsd, That, in dealing with the rebel
war the national government is Invested with two
classes OF rights-oue the rights Of soversignty,
inherent and ndeieasble everywhere within the
limits OF the UGited States and the other the
rights of car, or belligereut rights, which have
been superinduced by the nature and extent of
the contest that by virtue of the rights of sov
ereignty, the rebel and belligerent region is now
subje.t to the national government rs its only
rightiul government, bound under the CUnstitu-
ton to all the duties of sovereignty, aud by
special mandate bound also "to guarantee to
every State republican ioIm of government,
and to protect it against inyasiOn;" that by vir.
tue of the rights OF war; this same region is sub
ject 10 all the conditions aud incidents Of war,
according to the established usages OF Christian
nations, out of which ia derived the familiar
maxim Of public duty. "lndemnity fer the past
aud security for the tuture."
4. Resolved, That, in seeking the restoration
of the States to their proper places rs members
OF the republic, ~ that eyry State shall enjoy
again its constitutional functions, and every star
Oh our national flag shall represent State, in
reality ns well as in nume, care must be taken
that the rebellion is not allowed, through any
negligence or mistaken concession, to retain the
least foothold for future activity, or the least
germ Of future life that, whether proceeding
| by the exercise Of sovereign rights or of beig.
| erent rights, the same precautions must be ex-
acted against future peril that, therefore, any
system of "Teconstruclion" must be rejected
which does not provide by irreversible guaran-
tees against the continued existence or possible
revival Of slavery, and that such guarantees
can be primarily obtained only through The
agency OF the national government which tC
this end must assert temporary supremacy
military or civil throughout the rebel and belg
erent region, of sufficient duration 10 atamI
upon this region the character Of freedom.
8. RESOLVED, That in the exercise Of this es-
sential supremacy of the national government, d
solemn duty is cast upon Congress to see that nj
rebel State is prematutely restored to its con
stitutional functions until within its borders all
proper safeguards are established, no that loya
citizens, including the new-made freemen, can
not at any time be mOlcsted by evil disposed
persons, and especially that no man there may
be made slave; that this solemn duty beongs
to Congress under the Constitution, whether ia
the exercise of rights of sovereignty or rights Of
war; and that in its performance, that system
of reconstruction" will be found the best-how
soever ii may be named-which promises mos
surely to accomplish the desired end, so thai
slavery, which is the synonym of the rebellion
shall absolutely cease throughout the whole rc
bel and belligerent region, md tue land which il
has madiened impoverished and degraded, shal
become safe, fertile, and glorious from assured
emancipation.
q. Resoicfd, That in the process Of "recon-
struction." It's not enough to secure the death
OF Slavery throughout the rebel and bellgerent
region oulyi that experience testiies against
slavery wherever il exists, not only us crime
against humanity, but MS disiurber of the pub.
lilo peace and the spoiler Of the public liberties,
including the liberty of the press, the liberty oil
speech, and the liberty Of travel and transit
that obviously, in the progress of civilization, il
has become incompatible with good government,
and especially with that 'republican form Of
government" which the United States are bound
toguaranty to every State that from the OUT
break Of this rebel war, even in States protesting
! loyaliy, il has been an open check upon patriot
ic duty, and an open accessory to the rebellion,
30 as TO be source OF uuquestiOnable weakness
to the national cause; that the defiant preten-
sions of the MASTER claiming the control of his
slave, are in direct conflict with the paramount
rights OF the national government and that,
therefore, il is the further duty Of Congress- n
the exercise OF its double powers, under the
Constitution, as guardian Of the national safety,
to take all needful steps TO secure the extinction
OF slavery, even in States protesting loyalty, so
! that this crime against humanity this disturber
Of the public peace, and this spoiler of the public
liberties shall no longer exist anywhere to men
ace the general harmony that civilization may
DC no longer shocked that the constitutional
guaranty of republican form Of government to
every State may be fulfilled that the rebellion
may be deprived Of the iralOrous aid and com.
foit which slavery has nstiuctvely volunteered;
and that the master, claiming an unnatural pro-
perty, in human flesh, may no longer DEFY the
national government
Z. Resotped, That, in addition to the guaran.
tees stipulated by Congress, and MS the cap stone
10 It's work ot restoration and reconciliation the
Constitution itselfmust be 50 amended as to pro.
hibit slavery everywhere within the limits of the
republici that such prohibition, leaving all per.
sonal claims, whether of slave or moster, to the
legislation Of Congress and OF the Sntes, will be
In itself sacred and invOlable guarantee, rem
Tesenting the collective will Of the people OF the
United States, and placing universal emancipa
lion under the sanction Of the Constitution, so
lnat freedom shall be engraved on every foot Of
the national soil and be woven into every star
OF the national flag while it elevates and inspires
our whole national existence, and the Consti-
tullon, so often invoked for glayery, but OF last
~ harmony with the Declaration Of Indepen
dence VIII bcoome, according to the holy asppira-
tlons Of ts founders. the sublime guardian Of the
inahenable right of every human being to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness all of
which must be done in the name Of the Union,
IN duty to humanity and for the sake of perma
nent peace.
SMALLPOX ON THE DECLINE On Mnnln, ti0