, 1864-07-02
SPEECH OF HON. ISAAC n.
ARNOLD, OF ILLINOIS,
In the House of Representatives, June
HIN, 1864, In Reference 10
Kle Amendment of the
Constitution.

) Mr. Speaker, l regret that this late day OF
the session compels m abridgmenf OF dis
cufelon upon subject of such overshaloW-
ing importance. yet cannot let the OCCASION
pass without briefly giving my reasons for
voting for this constitutional amendment
suAL1. SLAVERY STILL LIVE?
Slavery is to-day an open enemy. striking
at tl- heart of the hepabllc, 1t j. the eo9l
md bod., the spirit md motive Of the rebel
no,.. II is slavery which narshals yonder
rebel hosts which confront the pltriot ar
niles Of Grnnt and Sherman. It Ia the sAv-
age spirit Of this ha1baruus institution which
bsaIves TIC Union PRISONERS q R!ch1129na,
which murders the wounded on the field OF
battle, and which fills up the catalogue OF
wrong and outrage which mark the conduct
Of the rebels during all this war.
In yies Of all the long catalogue Of wrongs
which slavery has inflicted upon the conn
tE: demand to. day Of the Congress of the
United States the death Of African slavery.
Ne Gun have no permanent peace while slave
r. lfyes. ltnow reels and etaggers towards
lis lsst death-at1usgle. Let Us strike the
mopster this last decisive blow.
Tic Thirty seventh Congress wilt live In
history as the Congress which prohibited
slavery in al tue Territories Of the Union,
President Of the United States will be re-
mcmbered as the author. Of the proclamation
OF emancipation, as the lfberator Of race,
tue apostle OF freedom, the great emaactpA-
tor of his country. The Thirty eighth Con.
gress; ii We pass this joint resolution, will
i've in history as that which consummRted
the great work Of freeing continent from
tic curse Of human bondage.
Ncyer, since the day when John Adams
plead for the Declaration Of Independence,
has 20 important q question been submitted
to an American Congress Us that upon which
you are BOW about to vote. The signing Of
the immortal Declaration is q familiar pic
ture in every log cabin and palatial residence
ali over the land. Pass thi resolution, and
KNOCKS off the fcttres of whole race, Will
make this scene immortal
Lire century, nay, thousand years, and
no Euch opportunity to do great deed for
humanity, for liberty, for peace and for your
country Will eyer again present ITSELF Pass
this joint resolution, and you win victory
over wrong and injustice lasting as eternity
The whole world will rise up to do you
honor. Every lover OF liberty in Germany,
France, Italy, Great Britain, the world, Will
RTE up and cal1 you blessed. The gallant
soldiers in the field who are giving their lives
for liberty and The Union viii call down
upou Jon the blessing Of Heaven. Let tue
l]ghtnings Of God ut instruments for ths
glorious messa:e) transmit to the toiling and
I Struggling soldiers ef Sherman, mud Hunter,
and Butler, and Grant the thrilling words
"elarery abolished forever" and their joy.
ous shouts will Etrike terror into the ranks
Of the rebels and traitors fighting for tyranny
and bondage. The thousanls Of wounded
In the hospitals around this capital would
hail The intelligence as battle fought, and +:
great victory woD.
This constitutional amendment has passed
tie Eenute, long REGARDED us the cftAdel o
the slave power. How strange If 1t shonlt
fail In the popular branch Of Congresst Tht
people and the States are eager and impatien
sent the ancient Democracy refuse to give th.
people IN opportunity to vote upon IT. L
this your confidence In the loyal masses?
The passage Of this resolution will strtk'
the rebellion Mt the heart- 1appeal to Bor
der State Ren and Democrats OF the fre
Middle States; look over your country; se
the bloody footsteps Of slavery; see the ruiz
mud iiesoiation which 1t has brought upo1
our once happy land; and I ask, why sta,
the land now ready to strife down to dealt
the cause Of all these evilss Why seek Il
proloug the life, to restore to vigoT the IN
stitution Of s1avcry, now needing but tn tn
laft net to doom it to cSc1laetinE death an
dsmnationy
Gentlemen may flatter themselves With
restoratfon of the Elayc power In this coun
| ~: aI'he Union as 1t Was!" It Is dream
| neter again to be realized: The America 9
| the past is gone forever. A new nation is t
be born from the agony through which t1
people are now passing. This new nation
10 be wholly free. Liberty, equality oetor
the law ls to be the great corner stone
Much yet remains to be done to secur
this. Many battle on the field has yet I
be fought and Won n:gatost the mighty poWe
which lights for slavery, the baroarous syf
tenn Of the past. Many battle has yet
be Won on the higher sphere OF moral cor
fict While our gallant soldiers are subdr
ing the rebels in The field, let us second the
efforts By sweeping from the statute boo
every stay md prop and shield Of huma
slavery, the scourge OF our counu5, anu II
us crown all by incorporating into our o.
ganic law the glorious Prohib1tion OF SLAYER
for myself, 1 mean to tIght this cause Of II
war, this cursed cause Of all the cxpenditut
OF blood md treasure from which my coul
| is now suffering; this Institution which hi
filled cur whole land with desolation, SO
| row, and anguish; mean tn fight it unit
neither on statute book nor In Constitute
shall there be left stngle sentence or wol
|. which can be construed to sanction the st
pendous Wrong.
Nj. Speaker, thank God and aliberty 10
inr constituency for the privilege Of votir
for this constitutional amendment, for III
yersal emancipation throughout the countr
Let us now, to-day, in the name Of nbert
Justice, and Of God, consummate this grar
revolution. 4, Let us to day make cur countr
our whole country, the home Of the Tree.
conclude In the language OF the Pre-
dent: $50 much good las not been done
one effort In all past time % ln- the pro
. dtuce Of God 1t Is now your h3t1 Privilege
do May the vast future not hlTe to !ame
TINT ron hare neglected it."