Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-02-08
From New York Tribune, Feb. l, 1865.
THE GREAT AMENDMENT.

THE GREAT AMENDMENT.
/ The q. S. Senate having, on the Sth of
| April last, initiated, by the decisive maiori-
! " of 3S to 6, the following Amendment to
| the Federal Constitution:
ART. XIlI-SEc. L. Neither Slavery nor in
crime, of which the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist within the United States or
any place subject TO their jurisdiction.
SEC. 2, Congress shall have power TO enforce
this article by appropriate legislation
The House, after debate, proceeded June
l5thl to vote thereon, and it was lost-Y eas
| 80, Nays 64-the Constitution recurring an
affirmative vote of two thirds in either
House TO launch a Constitutional Amend
ment.
LNoTE-The real vote was 90 Yeas TO So Nays
one Yea having changed TO a Nay on purpose to
enable MIN to move a reconsideration.
Mr.. Ashley of Ohio hereupon movefthat
the above vote be reconsidered; and the
issue thus raised, having been passed upon
by the People in the late Presidential elec-
ton, has been debated at the present session
at much length by some twenty to thirty
members. Finally, after successful resist
ance to motions to lay on the table, &c, the
House yesterday (January 3Ist, came to
final vote on the above, having listened to
forclble speeches in its favor from Messrs.
McAlIister and Coffroth of PENNSYLVANIA,
and Herrlck Of this city-all Democrats who
had voted against itat the last session. Mr..
Miller OF Pennsylvania tYho was run out
last tall spoke against it now The vote
was finally taken, and the amendment af-
tirmed by Yeas ll9; Nays 5G-three more
than were necessary in the affirmative So
the Amendment is fully sanctioned bv Con
gress, and now goes to the Legislatures of
tie States, three-tourths of which must rat
lty it by q majority vote to render it part
OF the Constitution. It's ratification at an
early day by the Legislatures Of the follow
ing States IS nearly certain:
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont New
York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Vir
ginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan.
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri,
Kansas, California, Oregon, Nevada.-22.
The Legislature Of the following States
are morally certain to vote against it:
New Jersey, Delaware, kentucky-3,
these being the States that voted for Nc
Cleian and PendIetOn, electing opposition
Legislatures.
The loyal Legislatures of the following
States viii almost certainly vote Yea:
Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana-3
and others viii doubtless follow in due sea-
son. We hope to be enabled to announce,
before the close of the current year, that
this amendment IS a part of the fundamen-
tai law Of our country
This is the time to indulge in ezuItation,
did not the mOmentoUs gravity OF the sub
ject forbid. But we may be permitted to
tender our thanks to those opposition mem
bers of Congress whose votes have so mate
rally strengthened our hope that we NAV
yet live and die in a free country-one which
we may quietly, inoffensively traverse in
every part without foolhardy exposure to
the bludgeOns of ruffians or the pistols and
dirks Of assassins, for no other reason than
our wish that all our cOuntrymen might be
free, We trust those members may never
have reason to regret this vote
We further trust that this result will
prove to have contributed essentially to the
not distant and complete pacifcation of our
country a majority Of the American pe0-
pie have decided that slavery shall die, be-
cause sore experience has taught them that
It's perpetuatiOn Is inconsistent with the in
tegrity and safety Of the Republic They
seek for q genuine, lasting peace; hence
they have voted to eradicate that root Of
bitterness which has distracted and nearly
ruined her. We viii not doubt that those
-who voted adversely TO our convictions sin
cerely believed theirs the true way to Peace:
we will not doubt that these will rejoice with
us to see their forebodings dispelled and our
hopes realized.
LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC