Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1865-02-08
THE MARCH OF FREEDOM
VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT TO THF CoysTI.
TUITION ABOLISHING SLAVERY

S""' foeoIioA Vi the DAY, one
which will live in History when the
Puny advocates of slavery will be bu.
ried in oblivion, came up in the House
OF Representatives at Washington on
the 3lst January. The resolution as
it had passed the Senate is as follows
'Be At ResolCe 6y the Senate and House
Of Representatives. Of the United States
Of America an Congress assembled. flco-
Mlrds OF both HouSes concurring, That the
following article be proposed to the Legi.-
iatures OF the several States as an amend.
ment to the Constitution of the United
States, and when ratified by three fo lrths
OF said Legislatures shall be valid to all in
tents and purposes as part of the said
| Constitution, viz:
"ARTICLE l8TH-SECTIoN | Neither
sla cry or involuntary seryitude, except as
punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been have duly convicted, shall
exist within the United States or any place
subject to their jurisdiction.
"SEc. 3 Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legisla-
| ton"
Mr.. McALL- -sTER, (democrat) of Penn
syivsnla, said: When this subject was be.
| fore the House on former occasion voted
against the measure. | have been in favor
OF exhausting all means of Cancellation to
restore the Union as our fathers made it.
L am for the Union, and utterly opposed to
secession or the dissolution of the Union in
any way or shape. The result of all the
peace missions, and especially that of Mr..
Blair, has satisfied NE that nothing short
OF the recognition of their independence
will satisfy the Southern Confederacy. It
must, therefore, be destroyed, and in voting
| for the present measure | cast my vote
against the corner stone of the Southern
| Confederaey, and declare eternal war against
the enemies of my country.
! Mr.. COFFRoTH, (democrat) of Pennsyl-
vania, addressed the House in favor of the
amendment, not, however, speaking for or
against slavery. He argued in favor of
the power of Congress to submit the amend
ment to the Legislatures of the States; that
it mus be submitted to the seeded States.
or it would be recognizing their indepen-
dence. He also argued that the South
would not remain in the Union under the
| Constitution as it is now He was iu favor
of revising it, and then the people would
| place in power the democracy. He gave
this vote after much consideration, and as
a democrat, and would consistently stand
by the organization of his party No power
on earth shah prevent him from voting for
the candidates of his party. His desire
was the triumph of the party which has
! made this country great
Mr.. MILLER, (copperhead) of Pennsyl
vania, said he owed it to himself and his
constituents to repudiate the sentiments of
his colleagues just uttered on this floor.
He wished so to act that when he returned
home he would not be found derelict to the
duty with which he had been trusted
having taken an oath to protect, preserve,
and defend the Constitution of the United
States. As long as the matter had been
discussed here it was very strange that no
man had answered the question. What
was to be done with the freed people should
such an amendment to the Constitution
prove effective? Gentlemen on the other
side had failed to make out case. During
this Administration the Constitution has
been violated in all its important features.
The resolution was then passed by
vote Of 1l9 yeas to 56 nays.
The absentees, or those not voting, are
Messrs. Lazear of Pennsylvania, Leblond
of Ohio, Marcy of New Hampshire, Nc
Dowell of Indiana, McKenney of Ohio,
Middleton of New Jersey, Rogers of New
Jersey, and Voorhees, of Indiana.
The following are the names Of those
members Of the Opposition in the
House of Representatives who voted
for the joint resolution submitting to
the people of the United States the
amendment to the Constitution prohib-
iting slavery:
Joseph Baily, Pennsylvania.
Augustus c. Baldwin, Michigan.
Alex H. Coffroth, Pennsylvania.
James K. English, Connecticut.
John B. Ganson, New York.
Anson G. Herrick, New York.
Wells A. Hutchings, Ohio.
Austin a. King, Missouri.
Archibald McAllister, Pennsylvania.
Homer A Nelson, New York.
Moses T. Odell, New York.
VIM Radford, New York.
John B. Steele, New York.
Ezra Wheeler, Wisconsin.
The amendment has already been
ratified by the following States:
Illinois, February 3.
Maryland, February 8.