Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-02-04

Missouri Democrat.
SPEECH OF HON. JAS. A. GARFIELD,
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ABcIIsH
It'd SLAVERY, ... i, ,-..,.-.
delipered in The House of Representatives., Jan
I,,,.h udry l3, 1863. s4...-.., q q
The House having under consideration the
Joint Resolution to amend the Constitution OF
the United States 50 ns to abolish slavery
Mr.. GARFIELD said: ,Gsra-t stT
Mr. SPEAKER We shall never know
Why slavery dies SO hard in this Republic
and in this Hall till We know why sin has
such longevity and Satan is immortal
With marvellous tenacity of existence, il
has cutlired the expectations of its friends
aud the hopes of its enemies. 1t has been
declared here and elsewhere TO be 10 all
The several stages of mortality, wounded,
moribund dead. The question was raised
by my colleague Mr. Cox] yesterday.
whether it was indeed dead, or only in 8
troubled sleep. know of no better illus
tratiou OF It's condition than is found in
Ssllusts admirable history of he great con-
sprator, CatHline, " no, when his 6nul bat
tie was fought and lost, his army broken
and scattered, was found far in advance OF
bis own troops, lying among the dead enc
mics OF Rome. yet breathing a little, bu
exhibiting in bis couutenance all that fero
city OF spirit which had characterized his
life. So, sir, this body Of slavery lies be.
fore Us among the dead enemies Of the Re.
public, mortalIy wounded, impolens in it's
Gendish wickedness. but with its old feroc-
ity OF look, bearing the uht1istakable
una ks of It's Internal origin. .a,sf7.
Who does not remember that thirty
years ago-a short period in the life Of q
| nation but little could be said with impu-
nifty 10 these Halls on the sutj ct of sla.
very? How well do. gentlemen here re.
member the history of that distinguished
predecessor Of mine, Joshua r Giddings.
lately gone to his rest, who. with his for
lo.n hope of faithful men, took his life in
his hand, and in the name Of justice protes-
ted against the great crime, aud Who stood
bravely in bis place until his While locks,
like the plume Of Henry Of Navarro,
marked where the battle for freedom ragged
Gercest ! I'D. 20 .-.
We can hardly realize that this is the
same people, and these the same Halls,
where now scarcely man cln DO found
who will ven ure to do more than falter
out an apology for slavery, protesting in
the same breath that be has no love for the
dying tyrant. None. L believe, but ,ha,
man OF more iLan supernal boldness, iron
the city of New York, fMr. FERvANp,
Wo,D, has venture3, this session. to rails,
his voice in favor CT slavery for its owr
Election of beauty and divinity, and only
he. How art thou fallen from heaven. O
Lncifer, son Of the morningl How arr
tlou cut down 10 the ground, which didst
weaken the nations Many mighty meG
have been slain by The, many proud ones
have humbled themselves at thy feet !" AL
along the coast Of onr political sea these
victims Of slavery lie like stranded wrecks
broken on, The beadands Of freedom How
lately did its advocates. with impious tol !
ness, main,aln it as Gods own, 10 be ven
Grated and cherished as divincl 1t wa.
another aud higher form Of civilization
1t was the holy evangel Of America. dis
pensng its mereies Aopa bep'ghted race
and destined TO bear countless blessings lC
the Wilderness of the West Iu its mat
arrogance IL lifted lis hand TO strike dow
the fabric Of the Union, and since that ia
Ial day il has been 'iugilive and vaga
bond upon the earih." Like the spiri
that Jesus cast out, it has. since then, bee
"seskng rest and 6nding Uope." ,'a u.
], has sought in oil corners Of the Re
public to hnd some hiding place ia whic
10 shelter itself fion the death IL so rlchl
deserves. .7 slsf
II sought an asylum 10 the untrodde
territories OF the West, but, with whi
of scorpions, indghaut freeman drove Il
thence. j do not believe that loyal una
can now De found who wonld consent tha
IL should again enter them. IL has n
hope Of harbor there. 1t found no prote.
tion or favor in the hearts or conscience
of the freemen Of the Republic. aud hs
fed for its last hope Of safety behind ih
shield of the Constitution. We propose t
follow it there, aud drive II thence as 81
tan was exiled from heaven. But now,
the hour OF It's mortal ngony in this Hal
il has found a defender. '..-. e 81 +,
My gallant colleague, Mr. PESDLEsyE,
for recognize him as sgaliant aud abl
man, plants himself at the door of his dsl
lug, and bids defiance 10 all sssailanl
Pile has followed slavery 10 hs flight, unl
st last II has reached the great tempt
where liberty is enshrined-the Consiitl
tion of ihe United Staies--snd thereS
that last retreat, declares that no han
shslI str;La a n IL rpunfnde me ~ that s<