The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-02-08
+ .'ls ,3,I. 'a' >. sPEECH oFs',li Of sal 4.,u
GEORGE BLISS,
Delivered in the House Of Representa-
tiuts, upon The proposed amendment! .
y. .". of the Constitufion Of fBs Uai.HVH
.o,.ss TED States iqbolishiag- ,f
tq7 igsupg lr.g sSlduery.airalisnl 90 o.

If4N lHthe3 y. ouSSIy'N .'H'tHH- w v. III
~ nGdlpoMi sssnilG--Aar IT9dt ~
Mr.. Speaker, 1 deem II my duty to-
the people whom | represent as . mem.
Der Of this body, to- utter in their
name some words Of protestatiop against,
the immolation Of the Constitution Of
the United States which is threatened
lby the representatives of the party |
which holds the majoriiyof this House.
In that sacred instrument is contained
the life.b blood Of our Government, and 10
Il its fate is involved the highest mortal in
terest Of the American people ae I'D
Revolution, leapiDg in the dark, is ev.
er OF the most dangerous tendency. We
shall act foolishly as nation if we allow
ourselves for rny selfish motive to forsake
and spurn the well-tried principles and
policy upon which our fathers built our
Government, and from the just applica..
ton of which nothing has resulted in Op
position 10 peace, prosperity, and unpre-
cedented national advancement. We.
shall act foolishly and rashly if We aban-
don the approved guarantees of national
happiness and greatness which Heaven
and the oftiest human wisdom have per.
mitted us TO possess, and adopt in their
sicad some untried and speculative policy,
the realization of which is only in vague
imsgrations Of an uncertain and imper-
lied future. aNI 'H. i.tr a,sw
There are mary reasons why cannot,
consistently with my conscience and my
views Of the true interest Of my country,
accord my vote to the sinitiatory step. to
q what regard as the revolutionary meas.
ure proposed. In the FIRST place, and
which alone is sufficient for my dster-
ment, it would involve ne in the guilt
of wllful violation Of the solemn oath
without which | could not have become
a member OF this body That oath buds
, me, like many taken before it, to support,
maintain. and defend the CONSTITUTION ol
sd the United States. ajThat solenin obliga,
ton have crer Intended to keep, and
Icanpot relax in my purpose now when
D the ax OF, ? party mplorityllls falsed ins on
IS iilegltimate way toss'r'ke'ldcwn ''s pro
10 visions The plain terms OF thepobliga
- tIon P'so'uue Aay a..s%PS .;1;S w s"a"sS y
tees, except By the lawful mode whel
itself provides, and which ia laid down il
'' NV" a,''' " w s '0s w." o
}, a'.Ine congress, Whspeyet swoWsHirp' . .
both Houses sna'i ueem u necessary
shall propose amehamea'S 70 'nls Cons'l
!. tu'inn' Or on toe aPPuea''on oI 'ne i'ee
lsla'ures 0, t%V 'N'ras VI 'se seveia i'
stnt's' shali cali u conVeh.'o" ior ProPos
ing amendmen'S' wh'eh' IN ei'net ease
shall DC VaI,o 70 a'' MEMS . @ anu purpose .s
&c as part q !n's 1cns's'u''on wnen 'a,'ue'
P BY the legislatures OF 'hree'lOur'nS mere
of' as the one or 'ne o'ner mouS oi ra''
hc"tion may be proposed Dy the Vongres'
provided, tnat no s"e'pniens ,aos m"ivh u ,na
c be made prior 10 'he year iovo sns'l
9 any manner ahect the nfs' ana ioart
clauses 10 the hinth secion Oh ,ne nr'
=, article and ,hat no ola's' wi!noul i
consent, snail 90 deir,'eu noi iH equ
suffrage IN the senate ,-..r.n
d. Upon what reasoning aud recoariiic
Of facts does any member OF this Coz
gress claim the possible power, under Il
= foregoing article, 10 take the iuitiator
steps to The change proposed? Arc ii
ra, States whose people, in part, are in reb'
III lion against the General Government, o
ea of the Union in theory and in fact ? A
u they foreign Powers, md their iinhal
,uuis foreign people, not subject TO Il
= Constitution and Jaws Of the Unit
States? If so, why do We raise and sci
ice mighty hosts to enforce, by the swor
cir the bayonet, and the cannon, obediep
ln- and subineation to that Constitution aI
0'r io thoselaws? If the people Of the
!" called seeded States, nre not citizens
- the Unien, why are our courts engage
nnder an act q Congress, in con6scati
. q their estates Cor acts oftrrsson pgair
sh' their ,GoSernment? Treason implies G
ing izenship; it cannot be committed by
alien or an enemy. If those States Q
= no, odt Of the Union ia theory Of Ia
and if their people owe the allegiance
the Governmeut of the United, Sta
n, which is claimed Of thems ,theoy cIea,
ses: those States are umong the number
III States ,hrc.fourths ofiwhom must un
,Ea! their. voices upon appy proposition
amend ~ their Constitution. .sao' Ijly
- That they arc not, soy Ioeallybin |
!, % Union, and so lto' be regarded az Sta