Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-03-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
FyvE liIYUTE SPEECH
REMARKS OF HON +. i. WOOD
BRIDGE,
On The Bingham amendment 10 the CONSTITUTE
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thls question at any lthktH' nc UNIV va Wv /
House has been very profiably occupied in
ts discussion for several days, and have no
idea that any arguments that may advance, I
or any views that may submit, will alter the
mind or the vote Of any gentleman upon
the floor. But, sir, great responsibilities
rest upon the members Of the present Com
press We are not writing history, which is
/ difficult: we are making history, which is
more difficult still. The footprints Of this
/ Congress will be upon the rocks Of the noun
taius. National and political commissions
may ensue; republics may rise and fall
systems Of government may be erected and
destroyed but never, SO long as the earth
rolls, will the footprints which this Congress
makes be eradicatod from history.
Sir, there has never been day since the
/ foundation Of this Government when all the
/ caudor, and caimness, the delberation, the
/ foresight, tine wisdom of Congress has been
so imperatiyely demanded as now. Our ia
theirs launched forth upon an unknown sea
in a ship of state made without model, and
doubtless anticipated that during the voyage
tempests might arise which would test the
strength Of the ship and develop its weakness,
If any existed, and that repairs might become
necessary. For many years propiuous winds
filed her sails. Breakers and the lee shore
never seriously threatened her; the waves
never rose high enough to beat upon and
wrench from lis place the only false and rot
ten plank which covered her sides. Bot in
the providence Of God the tempest has come,
and the rotten plank has been wrenched from
It's place the old ship uembled from her
rudder to her bowsput, but thank God, she
rode out the storm, and now she needs, in my
Judgment, some slight repairs. The plank
OF slavery is to be replaced by the plank Of
freedom. We are told that now is not the
time to make repairs that we are not calm
enough to do it; that we are surrounded by
influences which have excited our passions (;
tina the disappointment which has come upon
the majority Of this House has unsettled the
calmness Of their reason and rendered IL i'm
possible for them TO give the deliberation
which the greatness Of this subject demands.
Sir, a general in time Of war and danger is
calmest and bravest; the sailor may rest in
the calm, but when the storm comes and
breakers are ahead, every man must be at his
post The ship must be saved, though here
and here a sailor loses his life.
To meet the present condition Of things a
great number Of amendments have been pro-
posed to the Constitution. Many Of them, in
my judgment, are improper, and most Of them
entirely useless And here permit me TO say,
that when an amendment to The Constitution
is proposed, it should receive the candid, care
full, cautious, and thoughtful investigation OF
the House. Free full and fair debate
should be allowed. The lash Of the previous
; question shold rarely be applied. 1t is some
what dangerous ever to NEEDLE with the
great chart Of our liberties. The more We
tsmper with it the less sacred it seems to be
and no amendment shold be entertained un.
less under the present condition of the coun-
try-a condition which our fathers never an.
tioipa,ed or provided sgainst--it is impera.
lively demanded.
Now, have as much reverence for the old
Constitution az the gentleman from New
York, Mr. HALE. have as much conf
dence in it as he can have am as thankful
as he is that it has heretofore withstood all
the attacks that have been made upon it, that
it has carried us through two foreign ware
with safety, and that in all respects it hal
, protected the liberty Of the citizen. LIKE
the gentleman, l have been taught to admire
I that delicate and proper adjustment Of tn
0 rights and powers of the States and Of th
d General Government, whereby Capitalization
? always dangerous to the Republic, cannot ex
. ist on tho one hand, and unrestrained license
8 because always dangerous to the liberties O
the people, cannot exist upon the other; an,
!, had all the people done right there would no
e at this time have been the need for any con
l. stitutionsl amendments.
IS But, sir, through the lust Of power th
harmony of our Government has been de
o stroyed. New social and political relation
have been established. -Four million peopl
have been born in day. The shackles hay
k been stricken from four million separate chat
d tells, and they have become in an hour living
thinking, moving, responsible beings, an
citizens of the United States.
10 And if Congress does not do something {
"a provide for these people, if they do not prov
d. equal to their duty, and come up to thei
A. work like men, the condition Of those peopl
will be worse than it was before The acct
INFLATED prejudices of centuries, together wit
the unmitigated wrath of those who have hel
them in bondage, but by reason Of the rebe
lion can no longer hold property in man, wi
eliminate upon their heads.
And now, sir, what is the duty of tn
American people toward these men Is
! sufficient that we have merely knocked tn
D. shackles from their limbs Is it suificier
at that we have made them treemen and left thei
n cold. hungry, and naked, without the pow,
!
as make freedom not only name but power
g. Is that all that the American Congress an
u the American people are to do with those pee
= pie who by the result Of war and the const
10 tutional amendment have come forth from
ie state Of bondage into a state OF freedom?
y But it may DO said that all this may |
NC done by legislation. am rather inclined
a think that the most Of it may be so accon
10 plished. But the experience Of this Congrei
IN that regard has been most unfortunate
l' Sir, cast no imputaton upon the Presidei
D. Of the United States. believe him TO |
d. honest, able, and patriotic. And pray Go
that the sea Of disoord may become quie
~ and that the President and Con, ross, actin
= together, firmly, mantully, and for the RICH
may preserve the great party Of freedom vi
on which, in my judgment, depends not on
AZ the liberty Of the Republic, but the advance
" ment OF free principles and Of Christian civil
'n ization throughout the world, But inasmuc
as the President, honestly, j have no doub
has told us that there we're constitutional d
nc faculties in the way, / simply suggest that v
~ submit the proposition to the people, tn
,eI they may remove these objections by amen
NC ing the instrument itself