Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-16
SENATOR SUMNER

the Federal Constitution forever hereafter
prohibiting Slavery in any part of the coun-
try, that has surprised some, and excited
considerable controversy. Counting all the
States, old and new, there are thirty-six in
the Union, and according to this, it will re-
quire twenty-seven States to ratify the
amendment referred to, in order to make it
a part of the Constitution. Delaware, New
Jersey, and Kentucky, being in the hands
of the opponents of this measure, it has
been rejected by these, and this will leave
probably, only twenty-six States to ratify
the amendment, one less than is necessary.
In view Of this, Senator SUMNER proposes
to count only the States that now recognise
the federal authority which would make
the amendment to the Constitution almost
unanimous. 1t is held that duty to the
cause of freedom demands this, and that it
does not wrong the States in rebellion, be-
cause they voluntarily, and of their own
accord, not only threw away the power they
had of participating in Legislation, but have
attempted to break up the government,
thereby forfeiting all rights they ever held
under it, And further, that the entire leg
islation of the country, since the withdraw
al of the rebels. has been conducted with
out any reference to the former rights Of
recognise their rights in the ratification of
this amendment, we call in question every
congressional enactment that has been
placed on the statute books, and gone into
operation, since the withdrawal of the sec
esson States. This would be against all
Legislative precedent, and against reason.
For it has always been held that quorum
of legislative body, can legally, and pro-
pcrly do business and it would be unreas-
onable if not absurd, to hold that the act
ion of this body was unlawful and improper,
because a small minority, that had absent
ed itself, was absent when this action took
place.
On the other hand, it is contended that it
does not follow that because Delaware,
New Jersey and Kentucky, reject this
amendment now, that they will do so in the
future and that it is highly probable that
some, if not all of these States, will adopt
it before long that if in three or five years
this amendment is ratified, it will be Just
as efficacious, as if done now and that if
it has majority of all the States it will be
much better for the cause the measure was
intended to advance, than if it is adopted
by an expedient that may be called in ques-
ton that the cause can lose nothing by a
little delay and patience, and may gain
much ; and that i'll few years at most, not
only will Delaware, New Jersey and Ken
lucky, ratify this amendment but many Of
the now rebellous States that the cause
measure, and that its chief purpose is to de-
fend it in the future; that with the progress
of the war, and the Presidents proclama-
ton, the bondman of the present is provid-
ed for; and therefore, shall we, in eager
haste, commit questionable act, that is
not only not necessary, but that can be
done great deal better at another time.
Such are the pros and cons of the re-
spectivc sides on this question. For our
selves, it does not appear to be of much
moment Either view carried out, in all
likelihood, will have very little bearing on
the question of freedom There is however,
one objection to Mr. SUMNER's view of the
case, which would make us hesitate about
adopting it and that is, will we not admit
that the government is broken by refusing
to count in the rebellious States, and may
we not be setting up bad Legislative pre-
cedent for the future, by this act? If we
abolish Slavery now by refusing to count
the rebelious States may not our opponents
when they again come into power-and this
is possible-restore Slavery in the same
may? For, we must not forget that north
ern sympathsers and southern rebels, and
all democrats, will again join hands after
the suppression of the rebellion and that
they will resort to every expedient to de-
stroy the work we have begun, and espec-
tally that against Slavery. Is it then, wise
to set them an example, which they may dis
tort, and do our cause infinite harm?
1t has always been argued by the rebels,
and northern copperheads as well, that the
eastern, or abolition States, were more to
blame for the war which the rebels made
on the government, than the rebels them
selves and suppose, to carry out this view,
they would undertake to count out those Sta
tes, in a measure they wish to carry through
Congress? This would be monstrous alb
ortion of Mr.. SUMMERS proposition, and
would be little less than rebellion itself
but is that party any too good to do this,
and knowing that it is not is it best to set
a questionable example ?
Ra- Gold at New-York opened Saturday
at 1885, sold up to 1919, receded to 1870, and
closed at 1919. The market was dull in
the early part of the day, but at noon be-
came quite excited on rumors of military
disaster, and remained active for the bal