Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-02-02

he misunderstood somewhat the exact force
Q of the words used. But there have been
in the neighborhood ofthe gentleman, there
> have been within his own State, or near it,
there have been in the Northern States,
. within the free States, attempts constantly
/, to infract this Constitution; and that l be-
{ lieve, as [ believe | stand here to-day
2 Mr.. JENCKEs. Name the men.
, MIR. PENDLEToN. | could do so but |
, did not say that the sin of this rebellion
, might be laid at the door of other people
, | said to the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
) Mr. Stevens, and if the gentleman from
f Rhode Island stands beside him, he too may
, regard it! said to him, let him beware
, how he pushed the doctrine that a compact
, might be found that in the past the COM
f pact of confederation may have been broken
elsewhere than in the South
E Mr. FARNSWoRTH. Will the gentleman
{ yield to me for moment2
. Mr. PENDLEToN | must decline for the
present. | should have concluded what l
had to say but for these Interruptions.
MIR. FARNswoRTH. Just one moment.
Mr.. PENDLEToN. Well will yield to
the gentleman.
Mr.. FARNswoRTH 1 find in the Con-
gresstonol Globe of lS60-6l proposition,
made, | think, from the committee of thir-
ty-three, to amend the Constitution by in
terposing this article:
No amendment shall be made to the Consti-
the power to abolish or interfere, within any
state, with the domestic institutions thereof,
vice by the laws of said States"
On looking over the yeas and nays to that
amendment, | find that the gentleman from
Ohio voted tor the amendment.
wish to inquire Of him, if in the winter
OF 1860 and 1861 it was necessary to amend
the Constitution by putting into it an arti-
Gle thereafter prohibiting such an amend
ment of the Constitution as would interfere
with slavery, why is it that we cannot now
adopt an amendment prohibiting slavery
Mr. PENDLEToN That gentleman ought
to know too well the history of that period
in which he was an actor, to ask me that
question. He was, as |, a member of this
House at that time, and he knows that
charges were made upon the Republican
party that they designed to do what their
history has shown they have done, to inter
ferc with the institution of slavery in the
States, and that proposition of amendment
was offered, think, by gentleman from
Massachusetts,, Mr.. Adams to test the
good faith Of the Republican party.
Several members. Oh, no you are
mistaken.
Mr. PENDLEToN. Was it not offered by
Mr.. Adams? Well, it was offered, at all
events, to test the good faith of the Repub-
lican party
Here the hammer fell, the hour having
expired.
Mr.. ASHLEY. move that the gentle
man have leave to proceed.
Mr. PENDLEToN l desire but five min
utes more.
BY unanimous consent the leave was
granted, -,
not trespass upon the attention oft the House.
had desired, in concluding what L had to
say, and in vindicating the motives of my
self and my friends in making the opposition
!, to this amendment that | do, to place my
self upon grounds which | thought would
command the respect at least OF those who
are opposed to me.
: i was saying, sir that it is to me mat.
ter of no consideration whether gentlemen
from the slaveholding States agree to this
proposition or not, whether or not it is
against the tide Of popular sentiment,
whether or not we who stand opposed to it
are in small minority.
Mr.. FARNSwORrH Will the gentleman
yield to me for a moment? Cries of No
MIR. PENDLEToN Well, not if it is to
press the point, which have already an
swered.
Mr.. FARNswoRTH L do not think the
gentleman from Ohio has answered the point.
Mr. PENDLEToN. Sir, | will hear tho
gentleman.
Mr. FARNswoRTH. understand that at
that time the power to amend the Constitu
ton so as to interfere with slavery was not
denied find find that the vote of the gen
tleman from Ohio for this amendment of
the Constitution which should prohibit and
prevent further amendment of it allowing
us to legislate on the subject of slavery in
the States was an admission by him of the
power of Congress and of the people to so
amend the Constitution. If it was not, why
; did he vote for the amendment
Mr.. PENDLEToN. As said before, the
gentleman ought to know, if he does not
know, that the power Of amendment in this
! particular was not then admitted by anybo-
dy who agreed with me-. Some gentlemen
claimed it; quite a large body Of men claim
ed it; but | will venture to say that he will
not find in the debates that. preceded the
. vote on that amendment the admission of
any member who sat upon this side of the
Chamber, or of dozen men who sat upon
that side Of the Chamber, that the power
RESIDED in three-fourthS of the States to
make this amendment. They denied that
the prohibition was necessary; but, admit
ting that there was no power, they did
agree, Finasmuch as it was not expressly sta
ted III the CONSTITUTION, TO vote Tor the
amendment, in order that in all future time
! it might be the subject OF no question what
l ever.
Mr.. FARNswoRTu. Nobody at that time,
: | think, denied the power Of Congress and
the people to amend the Constitution in this
; regard.
Mr.. PENDLEToN Upon that point wo
differ entirely, The gentleman sat here.
: and so did |. We had our own views of
e public policy, as we have now, 1t may be
that we understood differently the positions
!, which various gentlemen and parties occu-
Il pied at that time.
Mr. Cox. | will simply say, in answer
: to what has fallen from my colleague, that
. at the time those resolutions were pending
this question of power was discussed, and
c for one, held then, as | hold to-day, that
: we had the power, under this amendatory
o clause; to reach slavery, pro or con, and the
= only question is whether we shall use that
VI power, as then, for the benefit of the coun-
; try or abuse it as now it is sought to be
t abused.
c Mr. FARNswoRTH: The gentleman is
$ correct in regard to that, and, as said be-
fore, nobody denied the power The slave
+ holders upon the floor of Congress at that
time themselves admitted the power, and
= vera constantly charpinp that we intended