The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-04-21
Reverdy johnson on the Consti-
tutfonal Abolition of Slavery.

day last, Oh the-great question Of ainehuln8
the FederafaC Constitution so as forever 10
abolish slavery Ina the United States. Alter
STATING Iiissobiectiobs to the abolition OF
sIavsrv tlpder tie war power and the legls-
Iative war power, he said:
Then, Mr.. gPresident, II, as all men,
think, must admit, who permit themselves
to consider the question fairly, all prejudice
apart. that slavery is a sin, IS a wrong, cries
for redress, should be redressed, the only
practical difficulty which stands in our way,
In my judgment, is, can it be done without
worse evils than would result
from its present eontinuance2 In my judg-
ment the continuance of the right and au-
thority of this Union aud Government ad-
upon the principles to be found
in the Constitution OF the I'M
States, Is much more Important to the wei
fare Of the human race and to our own por-
ton of the human race, than IS the continu
ance Of slavery. Can the two 60 on togeth-
er now ?r--H OH ar-... r..f.
There was a time when believed that for
ages and ages they might 60 on; that the
abolition of the institution would be the re-
suit Of peaceful causes, influences. though 81
lent. persuasive but as I think, owing to
misjudging philanthropy in one section, and
to a traitorous purpose in another, that time,
in my view has passed. Let the institution
be abolished, and the subject is taken from
the political controversies Of the day on
which and in relation to which alone the
Southern people can be excited to madness
by the traitors who may come into existence
from tine to time. Their first effort to de-
stroy the Government was by the declared
asserted expressions Of the tariff and its
urconstitutionaHty. That failed thirty odd
years ago. The present incumbent Of the
Presidential chair is elected elected by a sec
tiouaI vote, and the moment the news reach
es Charleston where some Of the leading con-
spirators, were, and here in this chamber
where others were to be found, it was hail
ed not with regret but with delight. Why?
Because, as they thought, it would enable
them to drive the South to madness by APP
pealiug to the dangers in which such an
event involved this institution which the
people were made to believe was so essential
to their power, and to their happiness, aud
that will be repeated over and over again
Just as long as the institution is suffered to
remain. Terminate it, and the wit Of man
will, as | think, be unable to devise any 9th
er topic upon which we can be involved i'll a
fratricidal strife. God and nature, Judging
by the history of the past, intend US to be
one. Our unity is written in the mountains
and the rivers, in which we all have an in
terest. The very differences Of climate rem
der each important to the other and alike
important That mighty hord which from
time TO time have gone from the Atlantic
imbued with al the principles of human free
dom which animated their fathers in run
ming. the perils Of the mighty deep and seek
ing liberty here are now there, and as they
have said they will continue to say until
time shall be no more. We mean that the
Government in future shall be as has been
in the past one, an example Of human free
dom for the light and example Of the world,
and illustrating in the blessings and the hap
piness it confers the truth of the principles
Incorporated in the Declaration Of lndepend-
ence, that life and liberty are mans inalien-
able right. #
Mischiefs may be the result of such a
measure; but, as think, they will be tenn
porary But mischiefs must be the result of
what has already occurred; the institution
is now fatally wounded ii can survive but
to tester and to trouble US; and it would be
a disgrace to the nation if we could suffer
these Africans, whom we are now calling
around our standard, and asking to aid us in
restoring the Constitution and the power of
the Government to its rightful authority, to
be reduced to bondage again. Upon a ques-
ton like that, the heart gives the answer in
advance Of the intellect 1t proclaims at
once, in tone that would fill the land, car
rying rebuke, stern and crushing, to who
ever may deny it. 'sNo, no, never! Free
dom, once enjoyed, none but a brute, in
this age Of the world would take fronits ob
ject." f
Now, sir, word or two more, and shall
be done. The honorable member from
Pennsylvania Mr.. Cowanl inquired what
difference there will be, on the cessation OF
this war, between the condition Of an APP
prentice or a child who has been summoned
into the service of the country and the con-
dltion of a slave. All the difference in the
world, all the difference imaginable Ia the
first, justice has nothing to plead, the mas
ter's authority may be reinstated, the rela-
ton of apprenticeship restored, no wrong.
civil or moral, perpetratcd but, in the last,
to restore the victim to slavery is a cruelty
not less but more in degree than to take
away his life. have always thought that.
Terminate whenever the strugglemay what
ever may be the condition of this race when
it shall terminate, if it be, as / trust in God
it viii be- a state Of freedom, that is to be as
permanent as is our own freedom. We arc
to share the same dangers, enjoy according
to our power and our means and our ability
the same prosperity, and when we die. die
as men and not as chattels.
The only practical mischief of the meas
IRE is the condition of the slaves. They are
uneducated If there was nothing in the
teachings of morality which, as think, be-
long to an unduIterated moral constitution.
the wickedness Of this institution.
showing how Inconsistent it is with such
and with religion, it might be
shown by appealing to the conduct of the
slave-owners themselves Why are these
poor creatures kept in a state of absolute ig-
norance? Why is education the most hum
Bile denied them Why are the HOLY Strip
lures kept from their novels? Why? Can
there be but one answer: that if they knew
what knowledge inparts, if they knew what
the Gospel Of our Saviour incuIcates they
would be freemen, or sooner or later die in
the effort to obtain it?
Mr.. President, | feel that have taken up
much more Of the time Of the Senate than |
had right to exact, and | conclude with
saying not truth which every Senator here
does not feel as strongly as feel, but with
saying what is indelibly engraved upon my
soul, that we owe it not only to ourselves
and to those who are to follow US but to hu-
mainly, to bring this war to a successful re-.
suit All other considerations should, for a
time, be forgotten. One single object should
ever be before us-the restoration Of the I'm
ion; and when it shall be restored, as I trust
in Providence it will be, and unquestionably
can be, if the power of the. Government is
exerted as it may be, we shall be restored, !
trust, with a Government, National and
State IN which human bondage has no place,
and when we shall be able to say to the
world, However late we were in carrying
out the principles Of our institutions, we
have at last accomplished it. - The Union
rtseN -