Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-03-11


with pride, TO monument more lasting than
brass, more grand and mighty, and impress
sive than all the pyramids the PharaOhs
built; to a government founded in the atfec'
tions of free people, whose massive s,ruc
ture shall know no change of form, whose
strength shall endure no weakness, and
whose beauty shall suffer no decay amid
all the revolutions wrought by time in lie
progress towards eternity; and which, III all
coming time, shall be IS vigorous as though
slavery had not sought to mingle its ruins
with tie rubbish OF nations fallen TO decay
Remarks Of Hon. GRO. c. WILLIAMS, DEM OF
Washington County, in the Assembly, Feb
rGary 2Sd.
Mn SPEAKER: desire to occupy the time
Of the Assembly but few moments, in pre-
senting my views upon the pending question.
/ propose to state nv reasons very briefly for
supporting this amendment to the constitu-
ton; not as a politician, but as a man and a
citizen, IN view OF my responsibility to my
own conscience, 20 poSterity, and TO God.
sincerely regret that any gentleman upon
this floor should have felt it to be his
duty TO discuss this question from partisan
standpoint. In my view, the question Is
above and outside of any ana all. par
tiSan consider alton, whore men of all par
ties may meet and act upon common ground,
snd upon elementary principles OF right and
Justice. / shall 81 therefore undertake TO
discuss the positions of the Republican par
ty, OF defend the course of the Democracy.
As great political parties their history is a
part of the history of this nation, and ia
miliar to every reading man, and re gard it
hat
felt themselves called upon to make partisan
allusions and examinations in the course OF
their remarks, as no good possibly can, but
actual mischief may result therefrom.
But two questions are legitimately pre-
sented for our consideration in connection
with the pending resolution: lst. Have the
people the power, through their representa-
tives in the several State Legislatures, to
amend the constitution of the United States,
as now proposed; and I'd. Is it wisdom and
sound policy at the present time so to amend
the constitution? In the answer to these
questions, the duty of the members of this
body is clearly indicated
The gentleman from Marquette Mr.. Pease)
has announced his conviction that the people
have 10 power so to amend the Constitution,
and by a lengthy argument has endeavOred
to demonstrate that proposition. But the
honorable gentleman mas been extremely
unfortunate in the statement of his second
proposition, if he honestly believes in his
first statement. He says: Should proper
time arrive for such an amendment, he would
then be in favor of it," With him, then, il
is simply question of time and policy, and
not of pouer so to amend, and his whole ar.
gument falls to the ground. s f-oy
Let us, then, consider briefly the question
n T.
the 5th article, expressly reserved to the
people the power to amend the instrument
whenever the Congress by two-thirds vote
should propose such an amendment, and il
should be ratified by three fourths of the
States of the Union, except as to matters
therein specially reserved. Now, sir, it is q
well understood rule of law and Interpreta
ton, that when a reservation is specially
made in a delegation of powers, whether by
statutory or constitutional enactment, al
powers included in the grant, not specially
reserved, are delegated thereby.
Applying this rule to the question under
consideration, is the power TO amend in re
gard to the subject of slavery withheld by
the provis0 of the 9th article! No one viii
claim il. Then most unequivocally the pow
er so to amend is granted, and the amend
ment when ratified by threetourths of the
States, will become as much part of the
fundamental Law of the land, as the origina
instrument itself ai 80 Il
The gentleman from Marquette (Mr. Pease,
calls NV attentions TO the 10th article of the
amendments to the Constitution, which pro
vides that ''the powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution, nor prohib
tied oy il to the states, are reserved to the
states respectively, or to the people" Thi
article, in the gentleman's opinion, reserve:
TO the states tine entire control of all matter!
not specially delegated to the general govern
ment, and prohibits any amendment which
may interfere with such reserved rights. Blu
sir, this article is itself an amendment
When the several states ratified the Consti
tuition, or came into the Union under it, they
assented 20, and ratified the 9th article al
much as any other, with all the powers o.
amendment therein reserved, 10 be exercised
in the the manner therein expressed. They
conceded 10 the congress and three-fourth;
of the states the fullest power to confer upoI
the general government new powers now re
served to the states, or TO the people, and q
take from the general government powers
now conferred upon ii, and restore them Il
the states, or the people, and such amend
sments, when ratified by sthree-fourths of the
states are as much part OF the Constitution
and as binding upon all the states as the
original instrument ITSELF With these sug
gestions, sir, leave this branch of the sub
ject.
Is il polite and wise at the present time tt
ratify the proposed amendment?
The proposition is now fairly and squarely
before US, and we may properly inquire what
does the civilization of the age demand o.
US? What may the Christian nations Of the