Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-04-22
Hon. Rcverdy johnson on the Auti-sIavcry
Amendments.

Whlie The resolution TO amend tie Constltu-
ton to prohibit slavery was urder considera-
ton, Senator johnson of Maryland, said:
"We had heretofore kept four millions of
slaves in bondage. They had been kept in
state of almost absolute ignorance. This was
a thing of which the worlds history afforded
no parallel. Whether this was done for veal
or woe the future must decide. The only ques-
iion for Statesmen to consider was whether
emancipation was right independent Of its con-
sequences, if those consequences were such as
to render it eXpedient at this time. There was
a period in our history when there was but one
opinion about the question Of right. The men
who fought through the revolution, and recon-
mended the adoption by the American people
of our Constitution, thought that slavery was
not only an evil of the highest character, which
it was the duty of all Christian people to re-
move. The history of these times would bear
him out in the assertion that If the men by
whom ii was adopted had anticipated our pres
ent troubles, they would have provided Const-
tutinnal enactments at some unremoe period
to revoke the clause permitting slavery. AL
most every man of reflection at that time was
satisfied that sooner or later the country would
be involved in trouble on account OF it, and they
looked with confidence to the time when it
should be eradcated. The provisions in the
upon political and material reasons, and not
upon grounds of morality and religion, and be-
cause they believed it would be difficult to have
Union at all without slavery. Whether they
were right or wrong, it is impossible to say
now. If they had voted to adopt our Consti-
tuition without the recognition of slavery, no
one, now IA spectator of the scenes around US,
would regret it. He entertained the same
opinion OF slavery now that he had from the
m hl irSfs siu lial hn m of m
In advocating this measure, he was not depart
ing from his earlier convictions and would ap-
peal to the Constitution itself in justification of
the vote he should give for the measure. He
would not inquire whether slavery had produced
the war or not. The war was upon us, and
slavery had produced mischief. Unless tie
measure before the Senate should be adopted
there could be no permanent peace. Mr.. john
son al length proceeded to controvert the ideas
that the abolition of slavery could he accom-
plished either by direct legislation or by the
exercise of the war power by the President
He believed the rebels still owed allegiance to
the United States, and were TO be proceeded
against traitors under the Constitution. Any
olher idea would be mons,rous. He believed
there were hundreds of thousands of citizens in
the inSurrectionary districts who were just as
devoted TO the Union as any member of this
body; but as they obeyed the de .tdctO govern
.nent as power which they could not resist,
and so the obedience was no crime He claim
cd that the war power was in the hands of Con-
gress, and the power of the President was de-
rived from his right as commander-in- chief
This being the case, no slave could be manu-
nitted BY proclamation unless the proper phys
ical force accompanied it. We must get the
! ilaves before we can manumit them. The
! President himself uttered great truth when
ne said his proclamation would be like the
! Pope's bull against the comet in the districts
unoccupied by our army. 1t is just as idle for
us TO declare the slaves free in the States where
our armies do not march, as il would be to de-
clare the rebel armies disbanded by proclama-
ton. If the war should terminate to-day, the
slaves who come actually under our control
would he slaves still Mr.. Johnson contended
that the only practical way of accomplishing
what all Christian patriots desired, was by the
adoption OF the present measure. tie contend
ed that the very preamble to the Constitution
which stated that its objects were to establish
justice, insure tranquility, and promote the gen.
1ral welfare, and that first of all that liberty
might be preserved, gave full warrant for the
| proposed amendment Was there no Justice iu
! putting an end to human saveryp Was slay-
cry doing no injury TO the tranquility of the
couatryP Was il not against the general vel
Sare, and against all true ideas of human liber-
| TYP In conclusion, he said our sole considera-
tiOn should be TO bring this war TO a successful
close and secure the restoration of the Union.
He believed the Union would be restored and
we would have our National and State govern
ments without human bondage"