The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-02-15
SPEECH Of '2'
HON. lI.,t.R. PHNDLETON,
i1i kstaiaa h@oF oHIo,df bagoeI ,at
Delivered in the House Of Rep
resepiatiyes, upon the
Resolution AbOl- ~
y fishing slavery 7o'
] ~ ata' I'm the us. flha sI

lMr. CPEAkEh. snail NOT uoiAln lue
House long to-day. When this subject
was under discussions at the last session
Of Congress / endeavored to maintan by|
argument that three fourihs Of the States
did not possess constitutional power 70
pass this amendment. | had arrived at
that conclusion after mature deliberation
I endeavored to show wherein this pro-
posed amendment so far eontravened the
spirit and intent of the Constitution as to
be beyond the power granted. | shall
not need to touch that point to-day. II
have listened with great attention to the
opinions of gentlemen on the other side
Of the House who disagree with me. l
have heard the gentleman from Iowa,
lTMr Kasson1 and the gentleman from
Maryland. [Slr. CreswelI] and l have
listened to the sweeping declaration Of
my colleague LMr. Cox, Of Ohiol who sits
behind ne. have endeavored to weigh
impartially the arguments they have ad-.
d1ced in support Of their opinions. I am
constrained tosay that | have heard moth.
ing which hus in the least degree weak.
ened my faith in the conclusion at which
had arrived. It is because | cannot 20
beyond this question Of power, because /
am not at liberty to consider any other
question. that shall confne myself ex-
clusivcly to it's consideration
| | will not do NV colleague from the
Toledo district Mr. Ashley the injus-
tice to suppose that in his argument on
Friday he intended to make complete
reply to the proposition which l endeav-
ed to sustain at the last session. IL,
! understand, Mr.. Speaker, the right
Of revolution. / know what are its limi.
tations. It's origin is not in human insti-
tutions; its sanctions are not in penal en-
actments Its home IS in the human
|, heart; its origin is in the aspirations Of
! man ior progress its sanction is the alti.
$ ma ratio IRON whose dread judgment
4 there is no appeal. The minority Of the
: people may, il the can, subvert this Con,
federation, and establish in its stead .
consolidated uqity. Much more may !
majority. Three fourths Of the States
may abolish this republican form Of gov
: eminent, and, to use the illustration oi
my colleague, TMr Cox] may elect The
king of Dahomey to be their autocrat
and then, responsible in the present only
to the nations and to God. and response
ble IN the future only to the ages and tc
civilization, they may draw their sword
e and, if they have the power impose tha
form Of government upon the dissenting
States. ru
But beg nyeolleagues Mr.. Cox AM
q Mr. hshley1 toremc cpber, aud beg gen
!, tlemen WHO differ from me 20 remember
that the right Of resistance is as perfect
tlit the cause Of ihose who resist is sa
cred in The eyes Of Gvl and man, an'
d will, il they are successful, command tn
admiration oil the world. and crown then
:; with the fame which belongs 10 pat
L riots and heroes.
But, sir, We are not discussing th,
: right Of revolution, nor yet the right o
!, all the States to amend this Constitution
!, We are discussing the powers Of chang
Il which are granted by this written Const
d tution. We ara discussing the powers c
l. change which by that instrument ar
% given to the majority, aud the obligatio
: of obedience aud acquiescence which
imposed upon tho minority, | suppos
!. it will be admitted as maxim, subjec
ir to no controversy,..thnt wherever there
~ the right Of sistspce IN the minority
cr there is no right Of amendment in th
majority. ~
have endeatored to maintain ths
- the right ofameBdmept granted by th
/. Constitution is limited in two ways
- First by the letter Of the Constitution i
= sell, apd next by the spirit and intent an
: scope of that instrument, and by ii
" idea which gpderlieS it oil as found
j ton. 'Ept 0'tH H} rti q;
N My colleague who sits behind me, I'M
- Cox1 and my colleague from the Toled
ne district, GMr. Ashley admit that the pa,
- ct Of amendment Is limited by the lstt,
4 ofths CONSTITUTION G itself, but they asse
Ne that tits limited only by that rule an
: no other. beg gentlemen to fsmemb'
that this is not question Of revoluilC
- nor Of physical force 1t Is not a questiC
q - ul.s-. =. y. "A n ..I...l ...-f... L.