, 1864-04-12
Kcyerdy johnson on the C0ns1ltus
1f0nal A Abo1Itfon Of Slavery.

Kcgerdy johnson on the C0ns1Itus
1tenal Abolition Of Slavery.
Ne print below III interesting extract from
the speech OF Hon. RcyerdY johnson, Sena-
tor in Congress from Maryland, on Tuesday
last, on the great question Of amending the
Federal Constitution so as forever to abolish
slavery In the United States. After stating
his objections to the abolition Of slavery un-
der the war power md the legislative war
power, he said:
Then, Mr. President, II, as ill men, think,
must admit, who permit themselves to con-
slider the question fairly, all prejudice apart,
dress, should be redressed, the only practical
difficulty which stands in our way, In my
Judgment, is, can 1t be done without intro.
duciug woree evils than would result from
its Present continuance? In my Judgment
the continuance Of tie right and authority Of
this Union and Government, administered
upon the principles to be found incorporated
in the Constitution OF the United States. is
much more important to the welfare Of the
| human race, and to our own portion Of the
human race, than is tie continuance Of
slavery. Can the two go on together now?
There was q time when believed that for
abolition Of the institution would be The re-
suit of peaceful causes, influences, though ST.
| lent, persuasive; int as I think, owing to
misjudsing philanthrophy In one section. and
| to traitorous purpose in another, that time,
| in my view has passed. Let the institution
! be abolished, nnd the subject Is taken from
tie political Controversies Of the dog on which
| and In relation to which alone the Southern
| people can be excited to madness By the tTai.
| tors who may come into existence from time
| TO time. Their first effort to destroy the Gov
| ernms nj was b. the declared asserted oppres-
sions Of the tariff and its uncoustitutiouality.
1 1&pf fns1 OIL rE ntA[anf
Incumbent Of the Presidential chair Is elect
| cd, elected by sectional vote, and the mo-
| ment the news reaches Charleston where
some Of the leading conspiratofe, were, and
| here In this chamber where Others were
! tn Ge found, it WINS bniled not with regret but
with delight Why? Because, as they
thought, it would enable them to drive the
South to madness by appealing to the dan
] gers in Rhict euch an event involved this in-
stitution which the people were made to be-
| lievc was 80 essential to their power, and to
| their happiness, and that will be repeated
| over md over again just as long rs the insti-
tuition Is suffered to remain. Terminate it,
and the wit OF man will as think, be unable
to deyise my other topic upon which We can
be involved in fratricfdal strife. God and
nature, Judging by the history Of tue past,
intend us to be one. Our unity il written In
I the mountains and the rivers, in which
| We ill have IN Interest, The very DIFF
ferences of clim.te render each important
to the other and s1ike important. That
mighty horde which from time to time have
gone from the Atlantic imbued with all the
principles Of human freedom which anisnat-
cd their fathers in running the perils of the
mighty deep and seeking liberty here are
| nov; there, and as they have sa1d they will
continue TO say until lime shall be no more.
We mean that the Government in future
ample Of human freedom for the light and
example Of the world, and illustrating in the
| blessings aud the happiness it confefs the
truth Of the principles incorporated 1nto the
Declaration Of independence, that lite and
llbcrtY are mans inalicnablc right
sure; hut, as l think, they will be temporary.
| But 1niecLiefs must be tie result of what has
| already occurred; the Institution ia now ta-
| tally wounded; it can survive but to foster
aud to trouble MS; and 1t would be Il disgrace
| to the nation If VIC could suffer these Afri-
| standard, and asking to aid us IN restoring
the Constitution and the power Of tue Cor
erumeDt to its rightful authority, to be re-
| duced to bondage again. Upon question
like that, the hcaIt gives the answer in ad
yaucc Of the intellect It proclaims at ouce
rebuke, stern and crushing, to whoever may
deny 1t, t.No, no. never! Freedom. once en-
joyed, none but brute in this age Of tht
world would take from Its object" j,
Now, sir, q word or two more, and shal
be done. The honorable member from Penn
encc there will be, on the cessation of thf
| war, between the condition Of M apprentice
or child who has been summoned into tbf
service Of the country and The condition Of 4
slave. All the difference IN the world, all thu
difference imaginable. In the first, justics
nay be reinstated, Tie relation Of apprentice
ship restored, no wrong, civil or moral, per
peirnted; but, in the last, to restore the vic
Tim to slavery is cruelty not less but NOR
in degree than to take away his life har'
alva 5 thought TINT; Terminate wheneye
dltiou Of ills race when 1t shall terminate, i
It he, as ! trust in God it will be, state c
freedom, that is to be as permanent as is on
own freedom. We are to share the sam
dungcrs, enjoy according to our power an
! our means and our ability the same prosper
IL, e25a,tte1s. aea WILL " ''' ~ -,
The only practical mischief Of the meanr
is The condition Of the slaves. They are uu
educated. If there was nothing In the te icl
ings Of morality which, az / think, belong I
i, ; an unadu1tcrated moral constitution, snoN
ing how inconsistent it is with such prime
pies and with religion, 1t might be shown b
appealing to the conduct Of the slaye-oWnel
themselves. Why are these poor creature
| kent in state OF absolute ign0Fauces "
is education the most humble denied them
Wig arc tic Holy Scriptures kept from the
novels? Nhye Can there be but one o.
swer: that if they knew what knoWleds
} imparts, II they knew what the Gospel Of Of
Saviour inculcates, they would be freeme
or sooner Or later die in the effort to obta
= it,
Mr. President, feel that I hare taken Z
, much more Of the time Of the Senate tlan
!. lad right to exact, and conclude with So
ing, not truth which cvery senator be-
does not feel as strongly as feel, but vii
SAVING what is indclibly engraved upon n
soul, that We owe it not only to ourselys
aud to those who are to follow rs, but to hl
mainly, to bring this W'ar to successful r
snlt. All other considerations should, for
time, belorgotten. Que single object shoul
ever he before us--the restoration Of tt
Union; and when 1t shall be restored, as
trust IN Providence It will be, and unique
!, tionably can be, il the power Of the Cover
i mcnt is exertcd as it may he, we shall be r
. stored, I trust, with q Government, Nation
and State, in which human bondage has I
place, and when We shall be able to say
4ha xt.nrId 4t tHnwevtr late He We're in carr