The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-04-19

H'OPeNU ~ |" WV VI tii ~ -ti5he w Sin
AYES.
Anthony, rep, r.. Howe, rep Wis.
Brown, rep, No Johnson, opp, Md.
Chandler, rep, Mich. Lane, rep, Ind.
/ Clark, rep, NH. Lane, rep, Kansas.
Collamer, rep, Vt. Morgan, rep, -N.Y.
Conness, rep, Gal. Morrill,, rep, Maine.
Cowan, rep, Penn. Nesmith, W dem, Or.
Dixon, rep, Conn. Pomeroy, rep, Kansas.
Doollttle rep, Wis. Ramsey rep, Mnn.
Fesscnden, rep, Nc. Sherman, rep, Ohio.
Foot, rep, Vt Spraguc, rep, Ri
Foster, rep, Conn. Sumner, rep. Mass
Grimes, repr Iowa. Ten Eyck, rep. N j.
Hale rep, n. IL. Trumbull, rep, Ill.
Harding rep, Oregon. Van Wrinkle, rep, Va.
Harlan, rep, Iowa.. Wade, rep, Ohio.
! Harris, rep, n. Y. Wilkinson, rep, Mimi
Henderson, rep, Mo. Wiley, rep, Va.
Howard, rep, Mich Wilson, rep, Mass.
NAYS.
Davis, cop, KY Powell. cop, Ky.
| Hendricks, cop, Ind. Riddle, cop. Del
McDougall, cop, Cal. Salisbury, cop, Del.
Before the vote was taken, Charles
Sumner addressed the Senate in favor
of the amendment:
Mr.. Sumner (Rep.) of Massachusetts,
said the first that would strike an angel
from the skies, or a stranger from ano-
ther planet, if either could be permitted
to visit this earth, with surprise, after
viewing the extent and resources of our
people, would be the fact that there arc
four millions of human beings held in
the most abject bondage, driven by the
lash like beasts, and deprived of all
rights, even that of knowledge, and the
sacred right of family. The strangers
astonishment would be doubly increased
when he was pointed to the Constitution
as the guardian of this many-headed
wickedness. He would interpret the
Constitution in It's true sense, and say
that slavery could not exist by its posi-
tive text. He (Mr. SUMNER Gontended
that the words slave" and :. slavery
did not appear in the Constitution, and
if the pretension of property in man
turks anywhere in the Constitution, ii
was under a feighed name. He consid-
cred the preamble the key to open the
whole instrument to freedom. He wo'd
call attention TO those chain-b breaking
words "No person shall be deprived OF
life, liberty, OF, property, without due
1
terpretations and glosses, which may
have been fastened upon the Constitu-
ton as a support of slavery, he would
declare there was nothing in the text on
which the hideous wrong could be foun-
ded. In dealing with this question in
the past, il has not been the Constitl-
ton so mach as human nature which
has been mt fault. Let the people change
and the Constitution would change al
so; for the Constitution was the shad-
ow, while the people were the substance.
Under the influences of the present
rstruggle, the people have changed, and
in nothing so much as on slavery. Old
OPINIONS and preiudices have dissolved,
and the traditional foothold which sla-
very once possessed, has been gradual
ly lessening, until now it scarcely ex-
lists. Naturally this change must show
itself in the Interpretation of the Con-
stitution, and it is already visible in the
concession of powers which were for
merly denied, and the time has come
when the Constitution, so long inter-
preted for slavery, may be interpreted
for freedom. lie contended, among the
concessions of power over slavery rs a
military necessity, many join with Pat
rick Henry, who, in the Virginia Con-
vention, declared the power of manu-
plission was given to Congress in the
Constitution, and argued against it on
that ground. Slavery receiyingn no sup
port in the Constitution, he contended,
was cleary under the control of Con
gress, under the act giving Congress
power TO "provide for the common de
fence and general warfare. To all who
would deny the power Of Congress
over Slavery, he referred to the words
Of Patrick Henry, when he said that on
that subject the Constitution Speaks to
the point. He contcndcd that under
the war power no one could deny its
complete efficiency in enfranchising the
toldicr slave and his family. In the
words of Shakespeare, when he makes
Harry, on the eve of the battle Of Agin.
court, say to his men to encourage them,
"For he to-day that sheds his blood
with me shall be my brother; be he ne'er
so vile, this day shall gentle his condi.
tor" He contended also that the
clause guaranteeing a republican, form
of government to each State, made il
our Llain duty to abolish slavery, con.
sidering the essential elements that con.
stitute it, as understood by our fathers.
The clause that no person shall be de.
prived OF life, liberty, or property, with
out due process Of law, throws protec
ton over every person without regard
to color, class, or condition lie held
that this was not only a guarantee a
gainst, but a prohibition of slavcry.-
On the very face Of the Constitution
slavery was an outlaw, and in its cx
press provisions, he had shown, from
sources of power, which, if executed
rendered it impossible. Nothing bu
hcsitancy and delay in cradicating sla
very was unconstitutional. Slavery wa,
not only a nuisance, but public enemy
and traitor in the rebcllious States, len
ding succor to them, and holding on
blue lights TO encourage and direct thci
operations, and IL must be abolished
In reference to the question Of compen
sation, founded on the shameful assump
ton that there was property in man
there was time when he was willing 3,
Ipay money for emancipation. But i
was as a ransom, and not compensation