Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-28

SUCCESS is among the things Of the past and ought
to be- The writer does not 40 understand the
democ ratio creed.
win yon please publish the following extracts
frsm a speech of Hon. Murray Mcdonnell 10 the
the Illinois senate, January ~, 1865 on the same
question. Mr.. Mcconnell is considered to be the
old war horse Of democracy OF that state, having
stood side by side with Douglas and others for
twenty-five years, or reference 70 the life Of that
distinguished statesman Will show. lie was never
accused Of heTesy to democratic principles. j.
respectfully ask Of all, and Of each Of those
Democrats who insist that il IL anti Democratic 10
favor this amendment, to show when il was ever
made one Of the tenets Of the Democratic party
that the Constitution Of the United States should
not be amended ia any Of It's parts which, by the
provisions OF that instrument, could he amended.
Did any Democratic convention " Democratic
commentator ever lay that down asa part Of the
Democratic creed Is it not an inherent right,
guaranteed by the Constitution itself TO all the
people and TO each man Of the nation, and can il
be new insisted that the principles Of the Demo
cratic party ever did at any time pbridge and eur.
tail the constitutional rights and privileges Of It's
members' That party has always sustained the
principles Of strict construction Of the Consti-
tuition, but ! never heard before that this con-
struction extended so far as to strike out and an
initiate one Of It's sacred provisions. Is this not
new question at the present day, one about which
no parties or party creeds have been formed.
assume that no doubt exists az 10 the power to do
this thing, and then the only queston is as to the
policy OF doing it. About that may not men dif
Ter in opinion, and neither be charged with ucon-
sistency, or the abandonment Of party cresds or
party afatons2 ! contend that this is Dem
oerstic measure, justified by every principle that
Democrats have held dear and sacred. Il is the
right to peacefully revolutionizs and reform the
original principles Of the Government itself, and
to correct abuses when needed. 1t is principle
as necessary to the continuance Of Republican
form OF Government as any known principle 10
our system, and be that does not sustain 1t forgets
one Of the great Democratic, Republican princ-
pies Of free government. Without it, Unforeseen
and growing evils could never be corrected.
el
This clause Of our Constitution prss.rvs, to our
people the sacred rght Of revolution, right
which never can be surrendered by any people.
This mode Of revolution was new discovery by
our fathers in the science OF government. Up to /
the time Of the formation of our Government,
the only mode Of revolution was by an appeal to
the sword The sages who formed aud framed
our Government, recognized the right Of revolu-
iion-they recognized the right Of any people to
change or entirely destroy the forzs and prnci- |
pies OF the Government under which they live, |
and naugur,ts other forms and principle. Of Gov
ernment for themselves aud their posterity. |
Those ssges sough; only TO change the mods and
mitigate the evils Of revolution. Before their dsv
the sword only was resorted to, as the instrument,
and bood.hsd and cruel war the only means to
bring about great reforms remember but one
instance 10 the history Of nstisns where thi. wa,
not the means rssortsd to to eHeo, great rsisrm
aud that was the adoption OF the Magma Ctsrts
in England. By the sword dynsstier wero over
thrown, governments reformed and often snnh
sted, new rulers were set up, and in slnoi, every
instance human blood flowed from the centre to
the bsrders Of the nation, the innocent suffered
with the guilty, aud ths country va' Impoverished
for ages after
This was the mode adopted by our fathers in
ths great struggle with Great Britain for thsir
and they having Just passed through
those bloody scenes, we're anxious that this nation
and thsss that might enjoy ito blessings might
avoid so great a calamity, and ye, preserve ihs
sacred right OF revolution.
The exercise Of that right We now here propose,
and It appears TO NE strange that any man OF any
party should oppose it. Th. question i, not now
for u, or for Congress to amend the Constitution
but il is to call into action that great democratic
principle Of popular sovereignty, the voice Of tue
people. This principle cannot be resortsd to un-
less Congrs. taxes the action now proposed and
tbs measure. 1t 10 proposed that the
people shall, through the legislative power Of each
otate, determine upon the proposed amendment,
and II three fourlhs Of the States shall decide in
favor OF such amendment, then it snail become
part sl the Constitution bat il not, then the
Constitution remains as il Is. Now let noe 10 kind
ness ask, are We as Democrats ready TO abandon
that great time-honorsd Democratic principle Of
popular sovereignty Are We afraid to trust the |
people to decide this question If We are, i! 10 {
The hrsi time IN the many losg years that | have
been acting in und with the Democratic party
that found them shrinking from that great pop
llar tsst. Is this not a government Of the peo- I
pie IN which the majority rule according to the {
forms OF the Constitution, and shall We not per- !
nit the people TO act, and themselves determine,
Ia to the propriety Of the proposed amsdment /
None OF us as members OF this Senate, acting
hare IN our judiciary characters, voting to hand
this question over TO the people, are bound when
We go to the poles TO act as citizen voters in our
individual capacity to vote for members Of the
sessral Assembly pledged to vote for the amend.
nent. When we come TO act as voters, we rep
'esent M one but ourselves. But acting here as
Senators, a. mere agents for the people, feel
hat |, is our duty 10 pass this question over to
hem for their decision, and net prsSumptoasly 4
iecide it ourselves against the amendment pro- =
,osed.
The Speaker, after showing that the people Of 8
he United States have the right under the Con. }
ttnIion to make The amendment proposed, and
hereby abolish slavery, traced the course Of tn.
southern slave holders before the outbreak Of the
ebelliOn in consideration Of the question how
much the Northern Democracy were indebted to
hem:
1t is urged that the Democrats ought not to d
upport the proposed amendment, because il /. an
t,sck upon the institutions o. the South and upon
he Southern Democracy, and 1t is turning against {
,ur Southern friends, aud such a course will on. Il
irsy alienats the Sosth and prevent the r,,tora.
ion Of the Union. '
Leaving all those questions about alternating the Il
sosth and preventing the restoration OF the A
Union out Of the question as being unworthy Of IL
n attempt at an answer, appeal to Democrats to G
inow II the Democratic party Of the Northern
states owe these ,lsvshodeu anything. H.v. L
hey ever been friends to the Democratic party 4
'nly when il was necessary to thsir interest ? o
las there ever been political party so badly b
rested I" the Democratic party Of the Norbst, 0