The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-02-15
question directly if the gentleman frank.
ly and clearly answers mine. t'1i ~

question directly it the gentleman frank.
ly and clearly answers mine. Edi
Mr.. PENDLETON. The gentleman
says he will answer my question as soon
as l answer his. say to him that / was
very unfortunate II l did not make N.Y.
self clearly understood in the proposition
that Twas arguing. / was considering
the powers GUARANTEED by the instrument
ITSELF j was considering only those pow.
ers, and expressly distinguished be-
tween the right Of revolution and the
right under which gentlemen claim that
that they have the power to make this
amendment. ~ ~ asa,rp afl 10 =
I For all purposes of this argument l
have only sough. to place myself on the
Constitution Of the United States, and
not to invoke the authority of any law
that is higher than il. | have taken ex-
treme cases. Itald my colleague IMr.
Ashley that / intsnded to take extreme
cases, because it is only by extreme cases
that the suundness Of principles can be
measu ed. 'ie Gt2 = asht9 aJ
Mr. WILSON. i desire to ask the
gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. Pendletou, I
in order to fully understand the theory
upon which he is conducting this argu.
ment, whether he believes that the States,
acting in what he Oalls their sovereign
capacity, have the power or the right to
make a portion Of the people Of a State
slaves s1r1 .d'.
Mr.. PENDLETON. That is a ques.
tion which will discuss with the gentle.
man from Iowa, [Mr. Wilson, j whenever
it is pertinent to the subject ID hand. 7
Mr.. WILSON, / was going to sug.
gest to the gentleman tina: / understood
his theory TO include that. If I misun.
derstood him, then ask his pardon.
Mr.. PENDLETON.9 The question
which we are discussing to-day is not the
power Of the State government to decide
the status Of the people within Its boun
dsries. Bat the question Is as to tn,
power reserved in this compact Of con
federation to its constituents, which ar'
the States. ra.. edi 1'se 'cti y
Mr.. WILSON. Mr.. Speaker
Mr. WADsW0RfH, I Iobject 10 th,
gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. Pendleton,
yielding the floor to any further inter
1 rnntirngf issat.I tqa EGltl.t,..l sGl i Q ii
Mr. PENDLEToN. Ihope my ffissl
will not object To any questions until ] Dc
The SPEAKER. The Chair viii
cause the rule TO be read. II se.4A
The Clerk then read the following rul
of the House % Di aa- ovT "
"While a member is occupying tn
floor he may yield il to another for e1
planation Of the pending measure as wei
as for personal explanation"
The SPEAKER. The rule is.a yer
broad one. The Chair does not see hoi
the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. Pendlt
toni can be limited in his righ. to yiol
the floor TO any member who may desir
to ask him question. n el 1.Qf !
n Mr.. BOUTWELL,. / understood th
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Pendleton1
say that he dissented from the doctriu
that the power to amend the Constitutio
was an unlimited power / wish to sa
that / also dissent from that doctrine.- :
| do not agree that under the article
D the Constitution authorizing amendment
We have the right to amend the Const
tuition SO as to establish slavery, or to il
, yite the King of Dahomey 10 rule ov'
this country. / think the limitation,
the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Pendl
ton will bear with me a moment longe
is found 10 the preamble, as follows:
"We, the people Of the United State
. in order to form more perfect unio
0 establish justice, insure domestic ira
s guilty, provide for the common defens
D promote the general welfare, and secu
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves Al
t our posterity, do ordaiu and establish I'll
Q Constitution" Y
y One proyision of the Constitution
9 that in certain way 1t may be amende
!, Whenever il is amended IL must
+ amended. in order that Il NAV have bo
. moral and legal force, in conformity wi
Is tbe objects for which the Consiituti
% wa, framed a. sat forth in the preamb
o And an amendmsnt which tends TO
b more perfect upiop. to establish ;usti,
: to insnro domestic tranquility, to proyi
|. far tho common defence, to promote /
. Oeheral welfare and 10 secure the bic
,r ;sOs of liberty to ourselves and our 4
!. teritv h IL an amendment which, VII
k mads & according 10 The form prescribed
). M Constitution. is both morally and
10 g.jlv b;nding mon tbe reople Of ,
"A So d., III, - - .;o,. !;