Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-24

lie that II endangers tree institutions and o
: republican form OF government that it is in.
compatible with the theory of our Government
that both cannot survive, can it be said that
, There IS nO power to propose an amendment TO
} the Constitution which shall remove the danger ?
sir, think not. No gentleman upon the floor
0t the House has defended the system save one
the gentemau from New Yok, Mr. Farnan.
do Wood and when he said thai slavery WIS
the normal and best condition for the negro race
a negro IN the gallery exclaimed, " don't hiok
, naasa has read his l}ibs much or he would
not baVe said th at A Just condemnation OF
sentiment which outrsges the moral sense CT
|, Tho civilized world. | commend the gentleman
to the blessed Book which the poor black man
thought he had not read. 10 it he will find
that God made man-not the white man, MOI
the black man, bat man in His own image, and
breathed into his nostrls Ills own breath OF life.
And for bis encouragement lot me cay to him
that he will ind there promises OF infinite mercy,
and that by giving even poor black disciple a
: cup OF water IN the name Of his Divine Master,
he shall not lose his reward. Out OF the mouths
OF babes and suckings cometh wisdom, and |
hope the gentleman will not scofF at the lesson
taught him by the poor black man.
Sir, 1t IS conceded, think that the States
wherein slavery exists, having exclusive juris-
dlstlon over the .ubjsct-matler can pass an ordi-
nance OF emancipation freeing the slaves with
oug remuneraung the master If this lB 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
oi slavery and property IN slaves Is injurious
and prejudlcal to the stfety OF the State henc8
| the otste has right to say to its people, You
snail no longer own slaves as property Ii is
analogous TO case where the Sta.e fnds with
IN lts borders 40 article OF property whicb s
injurious to the public health or public morals
IL IS clearly the right OF the State to declare
that suoh sn article shall not be held az proper
! ". Now, sir, It States, having the exclusive
control persist IN holding property which IS 10
the Judgment of Congress runous to the nation,
aud will not yield 1, up, then Congress may
4 through tho people, by an amendment to the
Constitution, take away tbese reserved rights,
and say such property shall no longer exist as
property.
Dir was surprised on yesterday at the remark
OF my learned friend from Ohio Mr. Pendleton
on the other eide. lf understood him, in the
4 warmth Of hls zeal, his energy, asd his anxiety
in this matter, he saii 10 members upon this
side Of the House, as 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 elori.
GUS Union" What did the gentleman N an
by a remark of that kind ? Does ho not know
that bis great teacher the father OF secession
and notification, himself said that the lndiyidu.
alliy OF South Carolina was merged IN tho Leg
lslatures Of thres fsurths of the States OF this
unlonf Would he 60 beyond his great teacher
And what does the gentleman mean when be
says frdcto IN un0 trdcto in omnibus? - Does
he mean that this Government under our Con
sututon is compact bstween the States them.
selves Does he not sse peculiar significance
TO that sentence which says, F" We, the people Of
the United States, IN convention assembled,
do Ordaln and establish this the Constitution
Of our country VIII tha gentlemen follow
out and take the logical consequences of his
statement? If SO, he will be obliged to concede
that any State or the people thereof may by
ordinance take themselves out of the Union.
am sure the gentleman does not believe that.
Now, would devote few moments to the
policy OF this measure Is il policy to pas. this
resolution At this timer 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
aecuTsed thing that has existed in this Govern
ment since the formation Of our Constitution
which has been blot, in our own estimation
and in the estimation of the people of the earth.
upon our fair tscutcheon.
/ 1t is said that slavery was not the cause of
the war. That it was the immediate cause of
the war | am not prepared to say, but i, led to
state OF things which necessarily, in the order
OF Providence, mus. produce q war. The
Nerth, stimulated by free labor has steadily
and wonderfully progressed in population, wealth
aud power. The little tree which our fathers
/ planted upon Plymouth rock had grown up and
spread from the Atlantic to tie Pacific, until
very man might come and repose beneath Its
shade The little brook that came out of the
tissures. OF Plymouth rock had crossed over this
continent, until every man could me and drink
of waters dedicated to freedom.
I Why, sir, the North has progressed with the
strides Of giant. Young States have awaken
ed like giants refreshed by new wine and they
had become an ln1uenoe aud power, physical
and moral, that the South could no longer resist
They could not resist the free States because
they had no right to say that the majority should
not govern. The war has cost us millions and
hundreds OF millions OF money; and now at
every New England freslde, at every hearthstone
throughout the country, East and West, tears
are shed Tor the dear ones who are lost, aud
prayers ascend to Almighty God to shield those
who are sill left to fight the battles OF the
country. The blood OF the nation and the tears
OF the widow calls for the passage Of this reso-
luton.
And tell You, air, that his rebellion il, by
reason OF omnpotent power. oOnsg to an end
that will b favorable to she cause OF liberty
here aud elsewhere. Have you hot read, sir. a
recent book, written by Victor Hugo, one OF
;hc best scholars and most eloquent writers Of
Flsncs' You have doubtless seen 10 /. de-
soripton OF the battle Of Waterloo. What does
the author say Was Waterloo victory No.
Was it won OF lost because oil Napoleon, because
Of Blueher, because of Wellington No, 1t
was lost because of God. The history Of Napo
leon wSs NOT written in the nineteenth century.
Tho brains OF the universe had calminated in
the head OF one man, and all nature moanoi
with the plethora. llencs, Waterloo was not u
victory won by armies alone, 1t was a victory
By God. So with this rebellion. 1t il not
amply a rehellion IL is moi simply war Ii
will end 10 the triumph Of the Union il will
end in the honor Of the glorious old flag, 50 that
il shall lSat over every inch of the soil Of the
old Union but not alone because OF Lincoln,
not becau'e Of Farrsgut, not because of Sherman,
not because Of Grant, but because OF God. sa-
very has been tried at the bar Of 0mnipotence
and 1sen found wanting. l,s history IL not
written in the history OF the nineteenth century
When We como to the groat aud final victory, il
will not be u victory alone, sir, but ii will be a
change OF front oil the universe. Sir, 10 will
open to the oppressed people Of Europe renewed
hope nf lreedon for themselves and THAR chill