The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-02-17
From the York (Pa.) Gazette, Feb. tn.
Passage by Congress of the Constitution,
al Amendment Abolishing Slavery.

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ed the joint resolution (Which passed the
Senate during the last session of Con-
gress) to submit to the Legislatures of the
several States proposition to amend the
Constitution of the United States by de-
claring that "neither slavery nor involun-
tary servitude, except as a punishment of
crime, whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted, shall exist within the
United States, or any place subject to their
jurisdiction" The resolution received
the requisite majority of two-tbirds, 119
yeas to 56 nays-a sufficient number of
the Democratic members having voted 10
the affirmative to secure its passage. This
amendment, before it can 90 into effect as
a part of the fundamental law of the land,
must receive the assent of three fourths of
the Legislatures of the States; and, as
counting the States in rebellion and the
new States recently admitted into the
Union, there are thirty-six in all, it will
require twenty-seven to ratify the amend
ment.
Twenty-Five States are already counted
upon in its favor, leaving five others to Sc
cure its adoption, which it is claimed will
be given by the Legislatures of some
of the States who are already partially re-
stored to the Union.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Abo-
itionists have constantly treated the
Southern States as out of the Union, and
simply as Colonies, they are ready enough
to take the action of their Bogus Legisla-
lures elected by contemplate minorities
OF the residents, most of them New Eng.
land importatons since the war, as the ac-
ton Of these States, and count them in ia
vor of the Constitutional amendment
Even West Virginia, created as Thad
Stevens admitted in violation of the Con-
stitution, has already voted for the amend
nent, and is paraded as amongst those
which are to amend the Constitution made
by such men as, Washington, Madison
and Jefferson, but which is nefarous in
the eyes of the loyal abolitiouists of the
present day, and to meet the high sense
of morality and patriotism mustbe immedi
ately amended.
That they will secure thus the ratifca-
ton of the requisite number Of States,
judging from their past conduct, in sue
ceeding in their measures by fraud and
force, eau hardly be doubted. One of
the most Illuminating features of the
whole thing is that enough miserable tools
calling themselves Democrats, amongst
whom were Baily of this District, and
Cotfroth Of the Adams and Franklin Dis.
trict, voted for the measure and secured
its passage, whereas had they voted against
the Abolition Disunionists, who have been
laboring thirty years to carry out this pet
abolition scheme, and who, with the South
ern Secessionists, have placed our once
happy country in its present deplorable
condition, it could not have been passed.
We are not surprised at Baily who sold
himself to the aboiitionists more than three
years ago, and has constantly voted with
Thad. Stevens ever since, but we are
amazed at Coffroth, in whose election we
took great interest, placing himself in
the position he now occupies. An anxiety
to retain his seat in the next Congress now
contested by his late abolition opponent,
may have something TO do with his vote.
We shall not much regret to see him
ousted aud are not certain whether We
would not prefer an open opponent, to Il
sneaking professed friend. Such men as
these will receive proper reception from
their constituents when they return home,
if they do not hear from them before, and
will justly be held in SC rnful contempt
by those who have honored and trusted
them only to be deceived and betrayed.
The Democracy in our State Legisla-
ture, and also in New York, as we'll as in
other States so far as we have heard, vo-
ted unanimously against the ratification Of
the amendment, and thus showed their
consistency and faithfuluess in refusing to
affiliate with our abolition enemies
We object to this amendment because we
are opposed to all intermeddling with the
Constitution, made by the wisest aud best
men who ever lived, aud has successfully
stood the shock of time, and brought this
country to the proud position it occupied
before the triumph of Abolition sectional
ism. Surely fanatical AbolitioDism eau
not improve the great work Of the Faith
ers. Slavery is an institution guaranteed
by the Constitution, and has heretofore
boon considered matter for each indi-
vidual State to abolish, whenever such
State deemed it proper. Under this sys
tenn we were happy and prosperous and
lived together in unity, until meddliug
Yankee Abolitionism sought to make it
national question, and i'll violation of the
Constitution, (they being unable to amend