Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-30
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHneToE, Jan, %.
HOUSE,

Mr.. Patterson favored the amendment.
Mr.. Finck, of Ohio, made speech against,
and Mr.. Cole, of California, and Mr.. Starr,
| otNew Jersey, in favor of the amendment.
| Mr.. Morris, of New York, and Mr.. Pike,
of Maine, advocated the amendment.
At three O'Clock the House adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
To-day was set apart for speeeh-making
on the proposed anti-slsvery constitutional
amendment.
About thirty members only were present
at the opening of the House.
Mr.. Ashley said it was his intention to
press a vote on Tuesday.
Mr.. Higley advocated the amendment,
and, noticing the objections, said the State
which subscribed to the Constitution neces-
sarily subscribed to the manner in which
amendments are to be made, and that
slavery is not reserved to the State. The
Constitution was established to promote the
blessings of liberty and insure domestic
tranquility, but these ends cannot be ac-
compllshed until slavery, which is the ele-
ment Of discord and evil, not only in but
also outside of the States where it exists, and
viii so continue as long as itremains, there
fore it should be abolished, and there was no
time more expedient and proper than now
to take measures for that purpose.
Mrl Fl nchy of Ohio, said this was not q
question as to whether slavery is right or
wrong it was not question whether It
ought to be continued or abolished, but tho
question was higher, namely whether
this Congress, three fourths Of the States
ratifying its action, may invade the rights
of the States and destroy the balance OF
power so wisely adjusted by the trainers OF
the Constitution. He was not willing thus
to invade the sovereignty Of the States by
eDgrafting a new power in the Constitution.
He said the Republican party can exist
only by changing the fundamental law, az
it was incompetent to govern the country
under the Constitution as it now exists.
Mr.. Washburne, Of Illinois, desired to
state fact to the House, that in the Illinois
Senate only five out of the eleven Demo-
cratic members of that body recently voted
against a resolution instructing the Sena-
tors from that State to vote for the Consti-
tutional amendment. That the leading
speech in the Illinois Senate was made by
Senator Mcconnell, one of the Oldest and
ablest Democrats in the State, and known
as the Democratic war-hOrse of Illinois,
and some Of the most prominent Democrats
spoke and voted for the resolution. Among
those Seniors were Mr.. Lindsay, of Peoris,
Mr.. SchOfeld, Of Hancock county, and a
brother of the distinguished member from
Pennsylvania in this House.
Mr.. Cole, of California, briefly argued
that what is dangerous TO q portion of the
people is dangerous 10 all of them, that our
country has done more by precept and ex-
ample to remove expressions on mankind
than all other nations combined.
Mr.. Starr, OfNeW Jersey, briefly advo-
Gated the amendment, but not discussing
the Constitutional Amendments.
Mr.. Patterson, of New Hampshire,
argued the Constitutional question in con-
nection with his advocacy of the amend
ment- He said that no assembly of human
law makers could create the right of pro-
perty in the man which we, either as men
or citizens, are bound to respect. Those
who had produced the present rebellion
had foresWorn the Constitution, forfeited
every right under it, and had justly incur
red the charge Of treason.
Mr.. Morris, of New York, discussed the
Constitutional question, maintaining that
there is clearly defined power to pass the
amendment.
Mr.. Pike, of Maine, advocated the
amendment.