The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-01-18
Congress-.

stitutional slavery amendment question:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.--The House re
su,ned Reconsideration of the propositio,
for constitutional amendment to abolish
slavery throughout the United States. Mr.
Chiffon, and Mr.. White Of Ohio oppose,
it, on the ground that Congress had n
power to make such an amendment. Mr.
Smith Of Delaware, advocated the amend
ment as both constitutional and beneficial
Mr.. Townsend of Maine and Mr.. Holman
Of Indiana, severally gave reasons VIII,
they would vote against the amendment
Mr.. Chiffon A. White believed in tn,
qualified sovereignty Of the states, and ar
gned that there was no power in the Con
stitution to effect the status Of slavery, as
its regulation and management were with
in the province Of states themselves, where
the institution existed
Mr.. Smithcrs, of Delaware, was satisfied
that the pending measure was both consti.
tutional and BENEFICIAL, bat the mode Of
amendment was discreditable.
Mr.. Townsend, of New York, opposed
the amendment, and contended that it was
wrong to conclude that these who were Oh
| posed to the amendment were enemies to
the Union. His constituents favor the ba-
sis of the Crittenden resolutions.
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, said this amend
nent could not be adopted without being
| followed by more radical measures. If, in
the Judgment of our fathers, slavery was
consistent with the Republican form of
government they would have abolished it..
The Democratic party was opposed to the
amendment, because they want the const.
tuition preserved. .".@ "
AS 1t is, he denied that because of slay-
cry our country had become Kissing and
reproach; on the contrary, it had grown in
population and wealth, and commanded
the respect Of the world.
Mr.. Cowen, of Indiana, believed slavery
would finally die. If gentlemen had adj
dressed themselves to putting down the
rebellion. it would have been over, if moth.
ing had been said about slavery.
Mr.. Brownell, Of Pennsylvania, said the
question passed upon by the people at the
last election.
After some discussion between Messrs.
Pendleton, and jerks, of r. l., the House
adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Mr. Elliot in
trnduced substitute for for the bill 10 re,
organize the rebel states, providing that
none of them shall be allowed to resume
their political relations till the legal citizens
organze government, republican in form,
and for ever prohibiting involuntary ser
vtude, and further providing that Louisi-
ana shall resume her political relations
under her constitution, adopted in April
1864 5
The substitute was ordered to be printed
and the House resumed the discussion Of
the proposed constitutional amendment
Mr.. Smith, Of Kentucky, felt it to be
his duty to lay side all personal consider
atoms aud prejudice and devote self alone
to his whole country. Nothing was so
destructive to our peace as the ultra doc
trine of state rights, which had recently
been proclaimed in this House The doe
trine, if CARRIED out, would subvert all the
principles of the government and republi
canism and bring us to a position of per-
of Mr.. Pendleton from Ohio. That gentle
man said that the right of revolution exists
at all times, but admitted all people would
be justified in resorting to the right of re-
volution whenever the government becomes
so oppressive one as not b be borne, and
when there are no other means of redress
Yet gentlemen here are bold and audacious
enough to go step beyond the most ultra
Southern fire eaters. It was the duty of
Congress to pass this joint resolution in
order to afford the peopean opportunity of
passing upon the amendment and it was
the duty Of the people to adopt it.
We should destroy slavery root and
branch so soon as possible. We must have
the Union without slavery, and no vote of
his should be given, but for that which
looks to the utter, absolute and total aboli-
ton of slavery throughout the U. States.
He thanked God he had seen the day when
we can wipe ont slavery, and Kentucky
ac9niesces in the act will stand among he
ploudest states of the Union
Mr.. Smith also spoke Of the advantage
which would result from free labor in. the
South, both in a commercial aud patriotic
aspect.
Mr. Cox, Of Ohio, said that the administrG-
ton party had made an anti-slavery amend
ment to the constitutional part of this
political party; while the opposition party
at Chicago proposed as their issue, the
cessation Of hostlities, with a view to call
ing national convention, in pursuance
Of the 9th article of the constitution, re-
y
settling our difficulties. The Chicago con-
vention waived all other questions. In
casting his (Cox's) vote nominating Pen
dleton for the Vice Presidency, he knew
that gentleman endorsed the cessation of
hostlities and the calling Of a national con
vention. If his colleague hal been elected
for that office, which he would have graced
so well, he would now he appealing to the
people Of the north and south to cal
convention of all the people; the north
would have yielded, and his (Cox's) infor-
nation was that the south would not have
held back
In the Senate during the 18th and 18th,
the principal subject was the resolution TO
give notice to Great Britain that the Cana.
dian Reciprocity treaty was no longer de-
srable to us. Mr. Hale spoke at length
against tho resolution as injurious to our
commercial interests and unfriendly to a
Power with whom we should be friends
Ramsey, of Minnesota, and Howe of Wis.
consin, agreed with Mr.. Hale in brief re-
marks. Mr.. Sumner in a long speech and
Sherman and Collamer in a few remarks
sustained the resolution
After debate 81 Senators voted to give
notice to Great Britain and 7 voted against
it, The Amendment" abolishing slavery
will doubtless pass. 1t will be adopted by
the people and the States, because none
but those who have been at work for its
overthrow and those who are Indifferent
to its fate will be participants in the vote
Whether now is a proper time to amend
the organic law Of the Nation is very ques
tionable among thinking. persons but 1t is