New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-10
SPEC c I'll
OF THE
AoN. CHARLES SUMNER
OF MASSACHUSETTS
n the Senate Of the United States.
FEBRUARY 9 and z, 1866.

historical argument ana lllusu"IlVh Win "Hi01
:. fortified the position he assumed, and which,
roncb full of research and interest, are not
.,.olptelv essential to its completeness. and
make il too long for publication in the columns
eta daily newspaper.
The Senate took up for consideration the fol-
hsng proposition;
,Tx- RESOLUTION cnrrvro ovt hs guarantee o Reprb
1o t, Of orera sent in the Consultation u The United
ssa and sRforens me Coa'iitzhoRal Amendment Jor
nt = provSed in the Constitution that the United
s.s grartn'ee evory state in the Union Republican
@ ss,.. to mrntain governments which Congress could
sSre has become the duty Of the United States sisnd
80 ne mace Of guaranor, where tie principal 70 made
- 10 secure such States according 70 the requirement OF
~ sos,ssee governments republican in ioim snd w5ete
arer provided IN RECENT Consiitntond Anohou,!
si eress may enforce The Prohibition Of Slavery by
n ees Slavery should BE- removed including All estne
on Of gh's scceTnt o. color now hsTeies TO cs!y
'0:s ,e t 81 TIE Senate and House Of Representation c
"A. Toifea STATS Qf fnerod ia Congress Gssemk6; That
ss sa be no Ogarchy AristoIacy, Caste 0. Monopoly
invested with peculiar privileges and powers, and there shall
- anywhere within the limits Of the United States the
ds,on thereof but all persons therein shall be e9us be-
N. whether in the court room or a. the bAoibo1
InS this s,atu made in pursuance Of the Constitution shall
s The supreme law Of the land enythng in the Constitution
Flaws Of any state 10 the contrary notwithstanding
On this proposition Mr.. SUMNER spoke as follows;
ER PREsmENT In opening this great question. I
begin BY expressing heartfelt aspiration that the day
nav soon come when the States lately in rebellion mey
perceived again into the copsrtnership Of political
never and the fnl fellowship of the Union. But see
zoo vel that il vain TO expect this day. which is so
mich longed for until have obtained that security
10, the future which is found only in the Equal Rights
sfAn whether in the courtroom or at the ballot box
This is the Great Guarantee without which all other
guarantees will fail This is the sole solution Of our
present troubles aud snxietes. This is the only su
feeut assurance Of peace and reconciliation. To the
Establishment Of this Great Guarantee, a of
,aieiy and Of justice, now ask your best attention.
Tie powers Of Congress over fbis subject
Gle as theyaIe benefcent From four specific fountains
Iiey fow-eaeb one sufficient for the purposee -four
sveing into an irresistible current, and tending TO
ore conclusion; first, tie necessity Of The case by which,
according TO tie anaoges Of the Territories" dis
pyal States having no local government lapse under
Tie authority Of Congress: secondly the R;gk' Of Har
ghioh do not expire lose their grasp. except with
The establishment OF all needful guarantees thirdly the
constitution injunction 10 guarantee Republican form
q Governments and, fourthy, the CONSTITUTION al
Amendment by which Congress. In words OF peculiar
energy is empowered "to enforce" the abolition Of
Eevery "by appropriate legislation" According TO
and so do an these powers lead 10 the Jurisdiction OF
Congress this whole subject. No matter which
road you take Jon arrive at the same point Two OF
The latter have been lees considered and 1t Is on these
hat shall speak especially today. / propose, with
The permission Of the Senate TO show the necessity and
suy of exercising the jurisdiction Of Congress SO as 10
yeenre Il Of essential condition Of Republican Govern
inert the Equal Rights % All. And put aside at the
,utset that metaphysical question worthy othe sepeoE
men in the dark ages whether certain States are IN the
Union OF out Of the Union. Ibs is question OF form
aud not Of substances Of words only and not OF facts
for the substance is clear and the facts are nnanswer
Able All are agreed according 10 the authority OF
President Lincoln in his latest Inference before his
Ismented daath that these States have ceased TO be
y p:aetical restions with the Unoni ana thls
enough 10 sus ain the jurisdiction OF congress even
without the plain words OF the Constitution IN two sep
Gste texts.
NECESSITY and duty commiDge. II what lie necessary
not always according TO duty. surely dirty is always
teeessity On the present occasion they unite in one
soice the Great Guarantee 1t at once necessity
and duty. Glancing at the promises Of The fathers.
hal exhibit: first the overriding necessity OF the
times; and secondly the positive mandate OF the Con
stitutioD, compelling MS 10 guarantee "a republican
E1 N Of government" and thus 20 determine what IS
meant by this requirement; all Of which has been fort
Ted by the constitutional amendment authorizing Con
eress 10 eni1 rec the abolition OF Slavery
PROMISES OF THE FATHERs.
Tn .helife of nation as in that " an Individual.
here are special moments when outstanding promises
nust be performed under peril OF run and dishonGr
There are sacred promises beginning with our history
vet uuperformed and now the hour has sounded when
continued failure on our part VIII open the door 70
recently made for the national defense against wicked
Rebellion which, like those Of IN earlier date are IN
performed also Bnt the latter are all included In the
former SO that whole duty now centers IN the per
Torrance Of those sacred promises winch are coeFa
with the national life. -
al men aud that government had no Just foundation
except the consent Of the governed and 10 the srp
port Of tie Declaration heTalding these seiieyldcnt
Gu,hs they pledged their lives theli fortunes ana Their
sacred honor Looking at this Declaration now 1t is
chiefly memorable for tie promises II then made.
Mighty words Fit utterance for the giant infant then
kn-r 1avffa fOr tha
in the family Of kings. Fit lesson for mankind And
the moment has come when these vows must be
fulfilled TO the letter, In securing tse Equal Rights OF
the freedman, ana hit participation 10 The goycrnc"
which be taxed to supjc.t we shah perform those
early promises OF the Fathers and at the time the
supplementary promises only recently made to
aid against the Rebellion. failure 10 perform
these promises is moral and political bankruptcy 1t Is
Reputation VI moral and political duties, ending In the
Iepudaton Of the financial obligations Of the country
10 your duties 10 the national freedman linked with
your Obligations to the national creditor that you can
not fepudiate the former without impairng tne ye,ne
efthe latter. Whoever disOwns any Of the pT0lses oil
The Republic leads the way in reputation. /
But yoa cannot be thus guilty Eyer ,fudifere;, ~
Bin injunction Of IN x harmony vim the
~ ~ mere eo be no doubt You must perform these
S The "n@ mis- brings No TO the oyeulDg necessity
oyERRULIYo NECESSITY OF THE TINES
Necessity Is peremptory instructor. 1t gives the
law which 10 disregard. 1t will not bearken
70 apology pOstponemept. With voice Of command
II insists that its behess shall be Obeye6. And now
shs very necessity speaks 70 us with familiar tones
Twice already, sibce rebel Slavery rose against The
Republic II las spoken 10 Es insisting: first, that the
shvss should be declared free; and secondly, that
nusfts should be put into their lande for the common
Science Yielding TO necessity, these too things were
cons Reason humanity. Justice were pOweIless In |
This behalf; but necessity Irresistible. And tho
result tettfcs low wisely the Republic acted. Without
emancipation followed BY the arniDg Of the slaves.
,s Slavery would not have been overcome. With
tecse the victory was easy.