Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-21
Amendment 10 the Constitution OF
the United States.

%9N SAAeN& bSSN@"f
The following mess age was sent 10
The Legislature BY His Excelleucy, the
Governor, by the hand Of bis Private
Secretary, B. r. Sulgroye, ESQ
TO The General Assembly Of The State
Of Indiana:
| have received from the Secretary Of
State Of the United States copy Of a
joint resolution Of Congress, passed By
a vote Of two-thirds Of each House, en-
titled, "a resolution submitting to the
Legislatures of the several States prop
osition 10 amend the Constitutions ef the
United States which is in the follow
ing words.
"ResOIUed by the Senate aud House
Of Representattres Of the United States
IN COn0ress assembled, (tsoo thirds Of
The House concurrtAg,) That the follow
log Article be proposed TO the Legisla.
lures Of the several States az an amend
ment 70 the Constitution Of the United
States, which when ratified By three
fourths Of said States, shall be valid to
hll intents and purposes, ass part Of the
said Constitution, namely
''ARTIcIE XIII.
'SEorIOE Neither slavery nor IN.
voluntary seryitude, except as q punish
ment for crime, whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, shall exist
within the United States, or any place
subject 70 their Jurisdiction.
SEC. 2 Congress shall have power to
enforce this Ardee by appropriate legis-
lstion, hpproved February /, 1893"
Indiana, as a port of the Northwest
eru 1srritory, was preserved from the
curse of slavery by the Ordinances Of
1877. That ordinance laid the founda-
ton Of the State 10 freedom, from which
Il has surely aud rapidly grown
The population, wealth, aud prosPet.
ity of the State, as we'll rs oi the other
States OF the Northwest, fully attest
the bene6cence of free Institutions, aud
our hearts should swell with gratilpds
Tor the wisdom and patriotism of our
forefathers, for bequeathing 10 Us the
legacy of liberty.
Ia the process Of time, and by the
dispensation Of Providence, il has be-
come the privilege Of The people Of In
diana, acting through the forms Of the
Constitution, and in harmony With a
large majority of the people of the
United States, 70 extend the rich bless
Jugs they have enjoyed to the States aud
Territories that have been less forta.
nate.
The slavery question is presented in
form hitherto unknown iu our pslitles
1t is not a question as TO the right oi
Congress to exclude slavery from the
Territories, nor Of the people Of the ter.
ritories, to legislate upon the subject
themselves, nor does Il involve the dis.
eussiou Of any doubtful powers, but ID
/ the simple proposition to amend the
| Constitution OF the United States in the
manner prescribed by itself, so as to
strike down the monster wrong which
has embroiled the nation for more thar
half a century, and eliminated in re
/ bellion without parallel in history for III
wickedness and waste Of blood anC
treasure. The existence Of slavery has
ever cast dark shadow over the who'll
land. When we have boasted to the Ole
World Of Government established up
on the doctrine Of inherent equa
1 Fkntsi the utsPotisms hnu hflhtoefAcle
contemporary replied, that under
human flesh was bought and sold Al
merchandise To this we had nothing
to answer. IL has not only dishonore,
as abroad, but il has poisoned our do
mestic peace, setting neighbor agains
neighbor and State against State, unit
by its great act of wickeduess il hai
committed crime for which there is n,
forgiveness, and for which II must die
In the great opportunity now present
ed, we discern the hand Of Providence
which often accomplishes its purpose
through the wiekedness aud folly c
mankind
Slavery, always criminal and insoler
from its smallest beginning, bloate
with impunity, and success, will peris
during the war il has created to enlarg
its power and perpetuste its exisfenet
Let us hasten 10 aequiesce in thi
great result by ratifying the action I
Congress, and thus become a party {
the righteous deed, in accordance wi,
the unquestionahle wishes of the peopl
o. =. MoRroN.