The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-04-04

ON THE
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY

Mr.. WILSON. Mr.. Chairman, on the
irst day of the present session of Con-
gress gave notice Of my intention to In
Iroduce joint resolution submitting to
the Legislatures of the several States
to amend the Constitution Of
the United States. On subsequent day,
in pursuance of the notice thus given, /
and had referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary the following joint
resolution:
Be II resoired BY the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentafves Of the United States Of America, IN Con-
gress assembled, (two-thrds of both Houses concur
ring, That the following article be proposed to the
Legislatures Of the several States an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States, which,
when ratified by three fourths Of said Legislatures,
shall be valid to all ntents and purposes, as part
of said Constitution, namely:
ARTICLE KILL
sEc.I. Slavery, being incompatible with free
Government, is forever prohibited In the United
States; and involuntary servitude shall be permit
ted only punishment for crime.
SEC 2 Congress shall have power to enforce
the foregoing section of this article by appropriate
legislation.
I am well aware, sir, that proposition
in the Congress of the United States to
SO amend the Constitution Of the Repub-
lie as to weaken or destroy slavery is q
novel thing. With bills, resolutions. and
prop sitions to amend the Constitution to
more firmly establish, extend. and perpet-
gate slavery the country has been perfect
amiliar. 1t was long The custom in
his body, whenever slavery became ex-
cited. to try to appease its wrath BY offer
ing it some new hold Cd the life Of the
nation, some greater advantage over free
government and human liberty. When
slavery cried Give. give. by force Of hab-
ii and loss of conscience We always re-
sponded by offering more than it demand
ed Of us. We were the slaves of the slave
power.
When slavery became political pow
er. and held in it's hands the rewards
which ambition covets, the nation became
its most Bringing, fawning, stupidity de-
based slave and most cruel task master
it proved. Its political career was an in
cessent. unrelenting, aggressive warfare
upon the principles Of the Government,
the objects for which the Constitution was
ordaiLed. the rights of the people, the de
velopment Of national resources, the ad-
vancsment Of education. the establishment
Of public morals, and the purity of relig-
ion. It touched everything, defled eve
rything. And we submitted quietly,
tamely. cowsrdly; while the work of de-
struction and death was carried on by this
insatable enemy of all that is lovely, de-
sirable. just. and sacred. No political
power, whether found in republics or des-
puisms, ever welded so bsneful an infiu-
ence on the affairs of nations or men as
the one to which We SO 'passively submit
ted, and under whose shadow we so fear
fully dwaried. Its progress was con-
slant. crushing dead march over every
thing which stood in the way of its own
sggrandizenent and everything desira-
bic TO free people stood in its way. The
nation grew stupid under the maNipula-
tons OF slavery, and seemed to know but
little, and to care less, of the danger
which threatened the free institutions oil
the country with destruction.
The public opinion now existing in this
country In opposition to this power is the
result Of slavery overlapping itself, rather
than OF the determination of freemen to
form it. But, however formed, thank God
it is formed, aud is our priceless posses.
sion of real, active. national life, never te
be surrendered We must hold all We
have gained, and add to the strength o.
public opinion by daring to do our duty
as if 10 the immediate presence of Hin
who directs the destinies OF nations We
may now talk of freedom, act for it, leg
isate for it, and above all other acts We
may place enc which shall stamp uuiver
sal freedom on our national Constitution
never to be erased, never to die while the
Republic lives. To accomplish this grea
end, l introduced the joint resolution tt
which have alluded, and believe itf
passage Is desired by the truly loyal PEG
pie Of the country almost without an ex
option.
10 preparing the resolution was care
'ai - present but one issue, the incom
patlbiity of slavery with free Govern
lnent. Tbis issue is no reflection on III,
wise and good men who laid the firm
foundations and fashioned the sublims
architecture of our Con stitu.ion. The,
entertained not the remotest idea thai
they were toleratiug tenant in the GRAND
structure which would, when warmed int,
life and developed ioto the form Of DO
Utica power, endeavor to tear down tn,
alters of liberty, and erect in their steac
throne of absolutism and death. Th,
oft expressed and universally understood
views Of the fathers fully attest that the,
regarded this tenant as the thing to b,
tolerated only because it promised speed,
dissolution. They found it in the hous,
they We're erecting for the protection 0
thtn selves and their children, locked up
on 1t With horror. and left it to die, neve
suspec''ng the dreadful power il embed
led. Surrounded BY the grand teaching
OF successful war, based upon princi
pies utterly destructive Of slavery. If en-
forced. they looked forward 10 the deatl
of the latter by the mere develonmen
and power Of the former. They bekevst
in the incompatibility of slavery with
free Cow rnment: but they regarded tn,
latter 10 be the stronger, not yet havin;
had experience with slavery as ! politics