The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-03-09
gausiaa State gspablifan.
Amendment of the Constitution.


the supreme Law OF the land, Is attracting much
attention mong the sblsst statesmen and best
thinkers in the Ialion.
Mr. Summers proposal covered four or I'VE
separate points If Legislation, but that introcOceo
by Nc. Trunbun, from the Judiciary Committee
Of the Senate, Fec "a, e@eTaee' OILY -" IN
number. which are as follows:
E,,,t-Y-jtber slavery nor Involuntary ser
I'D. .x,.,r a. A plr.ishment for crime rhere-
80 ~. n.rts shall have been duly convicted,
sb,uex,s, in tbe Unfed States. or any place sub
j-ct % their ifisd'cuon.
- sec,nd-Congress shall have power to en-
force this article by appropriate lrgislaiion.
These articles are short, simple, unamoigu-
on. and cover the whole ground OF prohibition
The question has been raised 10 various quar-
ter. Why this amendment cannot De made the
s,eat i.-ue before the American people, super
sadin0 ali others. and by ite determination, max
Ing sn end of all contests on the subject. This
question se regard as worthy Of profound consid-
Grafton.
The proposition TO make this amendment
rall,ing point for all men, TO be supported with
out distinction Of party, strikes us fAvoraoly from
these considerations
Tie ameldnent is so plain and simple
that il canno. be perverted or misunderstood.
The most iguOfsut voter can be made to com
prebend that this is proposal to abolish slavery
forever. and at oDc9, aod to do il by a solemn,
LEGAL enactme Ut Of the whole people OF the Unit
ed States.
2 Il supersedes all objections on the ground
Of coD-ututonality, which objections are urged
so vehemendy against the COuhscation Act, the
Amnesty proclamation, and other modes OF oP
Grating against slavery. This, certainly, is not
a new revolutionary measnre, inssmuch as the
Constitution expressly provides for its own
amendment. TSeVe such amendments have
already been made since the original in
strument vas formed :; and for none Of them we're
there reasons a. strong as those which demand the
action proposed. All the amendments now ex-
isling have been proposed by Congress, aud
have been ratified by State Legslatures, without
the call OF a national convention. Twelve srti-
c,s Of Amendments reGv P-s-sd in Congress on
the 25ih Of September, 1889, by the requisite
two thirds vote. Ten OF them were approved
by the Legislature Of three-iourths OF the States,
aud became amendments Of the constitution Of
the 18th Of December l79l-more than two
wears Afterwards. The eleventh amendment
was proposed in Congress oa the 5th Of March,
I7s4 AID became a part Of the constitution On
the sth Of January, l7ss. nearly four years af
terEards The twelfth was proposed in Con-
gress on the 18th Of December, 1908, aud was
adopted BY the constitutional number of States
in 1904
The constitutional provision is this:
"Tne Congress, whenever two-thirds of both
Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose
amendments 20 this constitution, or on the appl
cation of the Legislature oftWo thirds Of the sew
eral States. shall call convention for proposing
amendments. which, in either case, shall be val
10 10 ali intenJs and purposes, as pa { Of this
Constitution, when ratified by the L. gislatu lures
of three -iOurths OF the several States or By Con
veutous in three-fourths thereof as the one or
the other mode Vf ratification roay - r--re-a@d
by the Congre-
This is the plan now proposed. The ratihea
ton can be made by the State Legislatures. or
by State Conventions, and the whole might be
completed in a short time. But if not completed
at once, the pr. -ct can be perfected a, any iu-
ture time Thus Il requires twenty -seven States
TO ratify the amendment; but il only twenty
si1. should assent to it now, aud the twenty-sev-
enth should refuse for Eve, ten or fifteen years,
aud then agree 10 il, the amendment would take
effect at that time, without any further action
The seeding States, after their return 10 the
Union, will be quite as likely to be numbered
among the twenty seven as any OF the Others,
and it is not probable any long delay in the iOal
result would intervene.
8, Such an amendment, once made, would
never be repealed. for there would always be a
msilrity Vt the States aud people against rs-es-
taoHshiug the barbarous, obsolete institution.
A. Such an amendment is needed 10 prevent
the re-establishment Of slavery in any State
Thus, according TO the views of many persons.
Arkansas, although she has become free State,
NAV at any time hereafter change her constitu-
ton, and establish slavery again, and neither
Congres. or the General Government would have
any power TO prevent it. Whether this be 50 or
not, the proposed amendment would put an end
to all doubt on the subject.
s. THIS amendment is needed in order TO re-
move aud preclude sbe innumerable questions
which viii be brought before the Supreme Court,
if the extinction of slavery be left merely TO the
efficiency OF military power or 70 Congressional
action. The President, az COmmrnder.in Chief,
may free all the slaves in any State, and super
scede the action OF the State laws on that SUI ect
but neither he or any Of bis generals has any
power permanently TO alter the laws or consr
tu'iOn Of any State. A military proclamation
Affects persons and things Ouly {; aud il Affects
ihem only during the prevalence OF the military
occupation. The new constitutions made by the
people OF the revoted States, must be Assented
TO by Congress, and the qualifications OF the Sen
Ators and Representatives they may send, will
be judg, d Of by the respective Houses Besides,
the Proclamation Of Freedom covers only part
even Of the seeded States, leaving the condi
iiOn OF slaves in all other places without change.
Hence the necessity OF constitutional provision
which shall cover the case OF every human be
ing in the land, as veil as Of those who NAV be
brought 10 iron abroad.
9, The support OF the proposei amendment
would be no party measure A Democrat could as
Consistently vote for it as a Republican. A Dor.
der State STAKEHOLDER might as strenuously sup.
port it a. Phillips or Sumner. All who desired
si.varx IN ~ erti,cpishad m r,.,,.- - a: