Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-02-17

ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF THR UNITED
mrs

ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT OF TIE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES By CONGREsS.
The joint resolution submitting to the Eegis-
latures of the several States proposition to
amend the Constitution of the United States,
originated in the Senate early in the Inst ses-
sion, and is as follows:
Be it resolved, by the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States Of America
in Congress assembled, two-thirds Of both hous-
es concurring, That the following articles be
proposed to the Legislatures of the several
States as an amendment to the Constitution Of
the United States, when ratified by three
fourths of said Legislatures shall be valid to all
intents and purposes as a part of the said con
stitutiou, namely
ARrIoLE l3-SEcTIoS l. Neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude, except rs pupisbment
for crime, whereof the party shall have heen du-
ly convicted, shall exist within the United
States, or any place subject to their Jurisdiction
SECTION .. Congress shall have power to en-
force this article by appropriate Legislation.
After lengthy debate in the Senate it came
to vote on Friday. April s, 1864, and was adopt
ed by a vote ofSs to s. and 6 not voting. John
son, OF Maryland. was the only Opposition SEN
atOr who voted for the amendment. The nays
were Davis, Of KY, Hendricks, of Ind, Nc
Dougal, of Cal, Powell ofKy., Riddle, of Del,
all Democrats. Thirty seven OF the votes for
the amendment were cast by Union Republi-
cans; Hicks Of Maryland, the only one not vot-
ing. The others not voting were Bowden, Of
Va, Richardson of Ill, and Wright of N. J.,
all Democrats
On Wednesday, June 10, 1864, the amend
ment as it passed the Senate, was reported to
the House OF Representatives. After debate the
vote on the JOINT resolution was taken and stood:
yeas 80; nays, Sc; not voting, % But two
Democrats, Griswold of n. Y, and Wheeler, Of
Wis, voted for the amendment But single
Union Republican, Ashley Of Ohio, voted
against it. Mr.. Ashley voted with the Demo.
Gratis, that he might have an opportunity to
move reconsideration of the vote, which mo-
tion he made.
The Senate resolution, as adoped in the last
session, came up in the present House on De-
cember Is, Mr.. Ashley. giving notice that on
the 9th of January ne would call up the rese.
luton and would demand avete on the ensuing
Monday. The debate on the resolution began
on the 9th of January, and was kept up With
much spirit until the 18th, when its further con.
sideration was postponed for two weeks, with
the understanding that the vote should be tax
en- ON the 3lst OF January. That day the House
resumed the consideration of the resolution, and
after debate, Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, who had
charge of the subject, and who had borne him
self throughout the protracted discussion with
great courtesy and fairness, demanded the pre-
vIous question on his motion TO reconsider the
vote of last session. 8lr. Stiles of Pa, moved
that the motion 10 reconsider be laid on the "a
ble This was decided in the uegativs-yeas
81, nays Ill The motion to reconsider was
then carried-yeas I12, nays 81 The original
questioB-"Shall the joint resolution passf was
Il
of the Speaker. Amid universal stiffness the
Clerk called the roll and the vote stood, yeas
lI9, nays So; absent or not voting g. Those
who voted against the resolution in June and
voted for it in January, Messrs. Baldwin of
Mich, COifrOth aud MeAllIster of Pa. Ganson
Steele Herrick aud Radford Of N. Y, King and
Rollins of Mo, and Hutchins of Ohio, all Dem
ocrats. Those who were absent on the former
occasion and voted aye now are as follows:-
Mersrs. Brown of WestVa., Davis of Md, Davis
of n. Y, Grinnel of Ia, Mcbride of Oregon
Nelson and POmery of n. Y, Randall of XIV
Worthington of Nevada, and Yeaman of Ky
The following who were absent or not voting
when the June vote was taken. voted no in Jan
uary:-Bessrs. Hall of Mo-, Harris of Md, Har-
ris of H., Winfield, Ben Wood and Townsend
Of N. Y. Those who voted against the resolu-
tiOn last year and were absent or not voting
January 3lst, are--Messrs. Lazear, Of Pa, Lee
Blond and Mckinney of O., Marcy of N. a,
Mcdowell of Ind, and Rogers of II. j. Nr.
Sweat, of Maine was the only New England
representative who voted against the resolution.
Every New England Republican was in his
seat, and voted aye. 1t is stated that Mr.. Cox,
of Ohio, had a letter from Mr.. Gutherie, the
U. s. Senator elect from Kentucky, urging him
to vote for it, but he recorded his vote against
the amendment.
Of the vote and its effect on the crowed
House of Representatives, and the country, the
Washington Chronicle thrillingly says:
When the name of John GansOn was called
| followed by a prompt aye, there was a slight
burst of applause, promptly repressed, however,
| by the Speaker That vote settled the question
1t was one subtracted from the previous fifty
seven, and left clear majority. Others were
added as the roll-caH proceeded. When it was
| finished, the Speaker asked the Clerk "to call
his name as a member of this House" He vot-
ed aye, and never more proudly throughout his
brilliant and successful career, and then an
| nounced "that on the passage of the Joint reso-
luton TO amend the Constitution of the United
States the ayes are 1I9, the noes 56 Theeon-
stltutional majority of two-thirds having voted
in the affirmative the joint resolution has
passed"
There was a mOmentary luil, when as by an
electric shock the exultant shouts of the friends
OF freedom rung through the Hall. 1t was
! the sublImest outbreak of popular enthusi-
| asm we ever witnessed. Men sprang tc their
| feet, throwing up their arms exultantly, and
| crying out at the top OF their voices. Far wO
| men waved their handkerchiefs and Joined in
! the loud huzzas. The floor of the House Te-
sounded with the clapping of hands, the stamp
ing of feet and the incessant shouting of voices
| The galleries echoed back with tenfo1d enthusi-
asm the overwhelming demonstrations on the
| floor Of the House. Men hugged one another
in an ecstacy of delight. They grappled hands
| and shouted over this triumph of freedom. Ma
| ny a bright eye glistened and many heart was
| too tul for uttersnce over this memorable hour
( of our national regeneration. When this temp
est of excitement, which lasted for several min
utes. and seemed to find no adequate outlet, had
partially subsidized, motion was made to I'D
jOurn, and the Opposition insisted on the ayes
and noes. The mechanical rOll-cal acted ss 8
brake, and slowly toned the House down to
something ofits ordinary decorum, while the as
sembled crowd surged out in the midst Of pa
triotic enthusiasm that viii never be forgotten.
This event viii thrill the nation. 1t viii car
ry Joy to the homes of freemen every where
For the amendment is secure. The State leg
islatures will promptly ratify the action Of the
| representatives of the people. The principle OF
| the Emancipation Proclamation viii become
! the supreme law of the land. Maine viii send
endorsed the edict of freedom to the teeuing
valley of the Mississippi. twill come approx
ed from the thousands of freemen who line the
banks of the great Father Of Waters to the legis-
| lative assembly of the Land OF Gold; and the
guardians Of the national honor on the shore,
| of the Pacific will echo back the demand: Give
US republic without slave--a nation Of free
men without master.
REMARKABLE FOUNTAIN IN FLORIDA
Taking narrow path we crossed through
some dense underwood, and all at once, stooC
| on the banks of the Wakulla Spring Their,
was basin of water one hundred yards in di
anneiar al11nst circnlar Tha thicIr h11 1ehas