Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-01-26

that il endangers flee institutions and a
republican form of government that II
is incompatible with the theory Of our
Government that both cannot survive,
cap it be said that there is ne power to
propose an amendment 10 the Constitu-
tioR which shall remove the danger
Sir, | think not No gentleman upon
the floor of the House has defended the
system save one-the gentleman from
New York NIX Fernando Wood and
when he said that slavery was the noF.
mal and best condition for the negro
race, II negro in the gallery exclaimed,
IdOn' Z think mGssa has CnAE his Bible
much or he would not have said that,
A Just condemnation 0: sentiment
which Outrages the moral sense OF the
civilized world. ! commend the gentle
man 10 the blessed Book which the poor
black man thought he had not read. In
it he will find that God made mau-not
the white man, not the black man Duk
man in His own image, and brealhed
| into his Rostrils His own breath Of
life. And for his encouragement let me
say to him that he will end there prom
ises Of inhuite mercy, and that by giving
even poor black disciple d cup o.
water in the name Of his Divine Master
he shall not lose his reward. Out Of
the mouth Of babes and stockings cometh
wisdom, and hope the gentleman will
! not scott at the lesson taught him Ov the
! poor black mar.
Sir, it is conceded, I thina, tina, the
| States wherein slavery exists, having
exclusive jurisdiction over the subject
matter, can pass an ordinance OF eman-
cipation freeing the slaves without re
muneratng the master. II this is So
then what becomes of The argument as
to vested rights in property The
| ground upon which State may thus
act is simply this the existence Of
slavery and property in slaves is injuri-
Gus and prejudicial to the safety 0. the
State; hence the State has a right TO
say to its people You shall no longer
own slaves as property. 1t is analogous
to a case where the State finds within
its borders an article Of property which
is injurious to the public health or pub
lie morals. It is clearly the right o.
the State to declare that such an article
shall not be held as property. Now, Sir,
if States, having the exclusive control,
persist in holding property which is in
the Judgment of Congress ruinOus to
the nation and will not yield it up. then
Congress may through the people. by an
amendment to the Constitution. take
away these reserved rights, and say such
property shall no longer exist as prop
erty,
Sir. l was surprised on yesterday at
the remark Of my learned friend from
Ohio Mr. Pendleton on the other side.
If | understand him, in the warmth OF
his zeal, his energy, and his anxiety in
this matter, he said to members upon
this side Of the House, as a matter
either Of threat or warning, Look to
it well, you yourselves, gentlemen, that
you do not do that which may strike at
the bonds Of this our great and glori-
Gus Union" What did the gentleman
mean by remark Of that kind Does
he not know that his great teacher, the
father of secession and notification,
himself said that the individuality OF
South Carolina was merged in the Leg
islatures OF three-fourths Of the States OF
this Union Would he 60 beyond this
great teacher
And what does the gentleman mean
when he SAYS " fraeta SIS "Ho jr@cta n o1-
,iB,4s 2n Does he mean that this Gov
eminent under our Constitution is q
compact between the States themselves
Does he not see peculiar significance to
that sentence which says We the peo-
pie of the United States, in convention
assembled do ordain and establish
this the Constitution OF our country {?
Al. Col nd q
the logical consequences Of his state
ment? If 50, he will be obliged to con-
cede that any State or the people there
of may by ordinance take themselves
out Of the Union. am sure that the
gentleman does not believe that.
Now, | would devote few moments
to the policy Of this measure. Is pol.
iCy to pass this resolution at this time
The indications Of Providence are that
it is. The recent elections indicate
what the will Of the people is. and that
is to do away with this great evil, the
most accursed thing that has existed In
this government since the .OrmatiOn o.
our Constitution; which has been d
Blot, in our own estimation and in The
, estimation Of the people .. The earth
upon our fair eeCutchcOu.
f It is said that slavery was not tht
r. cause OF the war. That Il was the i'm
mediate cause OF the war am not Irc
, pared 20 say. bot /, led To q state o
p things. which necessarily in the ot''a
n o. Providence. must plOduce d wat
The North. stimulated by 3altor, ha'
ID STEADILY and wonderfully progressed il
a. 1opuat5yn wealth. and power. Tn
little tree which our htberS rl3ute,
- upon Plymouth rock had grown up am
T spread from the Atlantic to She Paci8>
# until every man might come and repos
+ beneath its shade. The title brook tina
q came out Of the fssurCs of Plymouth
= rock had crossed over this continent
.e until every man could ONE and drin
! of waters dedicated tOfreedOm.
re Why. sir the NOrh has progressc
4 with the strides Of I giant. YOun
n States have awakened ike giants re
f freshed by new wine. and they had be
eft come an influence anC aIower, physica
< and moral, that the South could no lor
tie Ger resist They could MT resist tn
ne free States because they hal no right t
30 say that the majority shOlld noe g5v
he ern. The war has cost US nillionsdan