Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-01-21
January u, 1865. JAMES 7. LEWIS.
The Freedom of CoIored Soldiers Families.

The Freedom of ColOred Soldiers Families.
In the Senate, on the 9Th, there was some
debate on a motion to refer to the judiciary
Committee, Mr.. WILSON'S joint resolution to
make free the wives and children of slaves
who enlist in the army of the United States,
Mr.. DoOLITTLE, of this State, favored the
reference. In the telegraphic synopsis of
congressional proceedings, telegraphed west,
sketches of the remarks of WILSON and Sun
NER, in opposition to the reference, were
given, while it was merely stated that Sena-
tor DooLITTLE favored the reference. We
find in the proceedings as published in the
New York papers, the following sketch of
Senator DIS remarks:
Mr.. DOolittle-I am in favor of the motion
to refer the resolution to the Committee on
the Judiciary. Ny reasons are very simple
and very clear. The Senate has already
passed proposition TO amend the Constitu-
ton of the United States and put an end to
this slavery question in all its forms by an
amendment to the fundamental law of the
land, which is above Congress, above the Su'
preme Court and above the President; a
change, which when once established, no
preme Court, and no change in the legisla-
ton of Congress, can affect at all. The
measure which passed the Senate at the last
session is now pending in the House of Rep
resentatves, and as | am informed, and be-
lieve the journals of the House show it, next
Monday is fixed for the day upon which the
House will act. OF course do not know what
may be the decision of the House; but / have
strong hopes, and l think good reasons to be-
lieve that the House of Representatives will
adopt that proposition. 1t will at once, if
adopted by the House, be submitted to the
Legislatures of the several States and passed
upon undoubtedly during the preser: winter,
before the adjournment of the Legislatures
in the spring, and this yexed questionable
whole of twill be disposed of and put OUT
side of COngress-outside of its power to
control, and there will be an end to the agi-
tation of the question. At the last session
of Congress, some of the members of the
Democratic party were disposed to resist the
adoption of this Constitutional amendment.
/ have good reason to believe that some OF
them at least will favor it now, for when
Jefferson Davis himself and his cabinet and
the press of Richmond recommend the aban-
donment of the institution of slavery ia the
Southern Confederacy, why should the DEM
ocratic party in the Northern States have any
reason TO hold on TO it any longer. Sir, they
will have no reason for it and no excuse for
it; and l believe the proposition will tri-
umph. When it triumphs here in Congress
| have not the least doubt it will receive the
sanction of three-fourths of the States. And
when that is done, this great question, which
like sin has brought into our paradise death,
with all our volunteers covering the land with
blood and ashes, will be finally settled by the
supreme judgment of the American people,
expressed in a constitutional form by an
amendment to the Constitution. therefore
hope that my honorable friend will allow the
question to go before the Committee on Ju-
dietary. There are those who seriously doubt
the power to pass this measure as proposed;
but no one doubts the constitutionality OF
amending the Constitution.