The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-02-09

EOESS cf---2 EAG NatlOKA EntGES
upon n New and Better Life.
| The following is the Associated Press
account of the deliberations resulting in
the adoption by the National House of
| Representatives OF the Constitutional
Amendment abolishing and forever pro-
hibiting Human Slavery within the Uni
| ted States =
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Jan 81, 1865.
The House resumed consideration of
the Senate joint resolution, proposing
| amendments 10 the Constitution of the
United States.
Mr.. NJ ALLISTER said: When this sub
ject was before the House on a former
occasion, voted against the measure. [
haze been in favor Of exhausting ali the
means of Cancellation to restore the Union
as our fathers made it. [ am for the
Union, and utterly opposed to secession
or dissolution In any way or shape. The
result Of all the peace missions, and es-
pecially that ot Mr.. Blair, has satisfied
me that nothing short of recognition of
their independence will satisfy the South
ern Confederacy. 1t must therefore BE
destroyed, and in voting for the present
measure, | cast my vote against the cor
ner-stone of the Southern Confederacy,
and declare eternal war against the enc
mics of my country.
Mr. CoFFRoTH addressed the House in
favor Of the amendment, not, however,
speaking for or against Slavery He ar
gued the power of Congress 20 submit the
amendment to the Legislatures Of the
States that the South could defeat the
amendment; that it must be submitted to
the seeded States, or it would be recog-
nizing their independence that if this
were done, it would apply only to those
who adopted it. He also argued that the
South would not remain In the Union
under the Constitution as it now is, aud
that ttey would net come back after four
years fighting. All relating to Slavery
should be stricken from our statute books,
and then when the people of the South
are tired and sick of this barbaroUS ard
inhuman war, and demand a cessation of
hostilities until it be ascertained if peace
cannot be obtained, there will be no OBJ
stacles in the way of giving new guarau-
tees to every person who shelters himself
under the American Constitution. He
also argued that Slavery was the fruitful
theme for the opponents of the Democracy.
1t 5reaGhed lie and existence into fanati-
cism, and unless that which sustained and
fed fanaticism be removed from the polit-
zeal arena, the country would be entirely
destroyed. He was in favor of removing
it, and then the people would place in
power the Democracy. He gave his vote
after much consideration, and as Demo
crat, and would consistently stand by the
organization of his party. No power on
earth should prevent him from voting for
the candidates Of his party. His desire
was the triumph of the party which has
made this country great.
Mr.. MILLER (Pa.) said he owed it TO
himself and his constituents to reply to
the sentiments of his colleage, just uttered
on the floor. He wished to so act that
when he returned home, he would not be
found derelict to the duty with which he
had been entrusted, having taken an oath
to protect, defend and preserve the Con-
stitution of the United States. Long as
the matter had been discussed here, it was
very strange that no man had answered
the question, what was to be done with
the freed people should such an amend
ment to the Constitution prove effective !?
Gentlemen on the other side had failed to
make out case. During this administra-
ton, the Constitution had been violated
in all It's important features.
Mr.. HERRICK, in the course Of his
speech, said it was inconsistent to remain
stationary when all the rest of the world
is moYing-change is the universal law of
nature. What he had heretofore regarded
as impolitic, had ceased to operate. Hav-
ing at the last session voted against the
proposed Constitutional amendment, he
would now vote for it. He had no doubt
of the power to make the amendment in
the manner proposed. In amending it,
three-fourths of the States represent the
whole. The time has arrived to exercise
this power. He believed that if Demo
cratic policy and measures had been adop-
ted, we should not now be engaged in war;
but in the late Presidential election, the
people had endorsed the anti-Slavery
issue He was prepared to follow them.
The question had been settled by the YER
dict of the people, and, SO far as the Ma
tional Government was concerned, it was