Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-03-08

State and OF the General uoNernhenVi
whereby Capitalization, always danger
Gus TO the Republic, cannot exist on the
one hand, and unrestrained license, be-
cause always dangerous to the liberties
of the people, cannot exist upon the 9TH
er; and had all the people done right
there would not at this time have been
the need OF any constitutional amend
ments,
But, sir, through the lust of power
the harmony OF our government has
been DESTROYED. New social and politl-
cal relations have been established.
Four million people have been born in
day. The shackles have been stricken
from four million separate chattels, and
they have become in an hour living,
thinking, moving, responsible beings,
and citizens of the United States.
And If Congress does not do some
thing to provide for these people, II
they do not prove equal to their duty
and come up to their work like men,
the condition of those people will be
worse than 1t was before. The accumu-
lated prejudices of centuries, together
with the unmitigated wrath Of those
who have held them In bondage, but by
reason of the rebellion can no longer
hold property in man, will culminate on
their heads.
And now, sir, what is the duty Of the
American people toward these men ?
Is it sufficient that we have merely
knocked the shackles from their limbs ?
It is sufficient that we have made them
freemen and left them cold, hungry, and
naked, without the power of attaining
one Of those natural rights which make
freedom not only name but apower -!
Is that all that the American Congress
and the American people are to DO Win
these people who by the result Of war
and the constitutional amendment nave
come forth from state of bondage into
3 state of freedom 2
But it may be said that all this may
be done by legislation. | am rather in
clined to think that the most of it may
be so accomplished. But the expert
ence of this Congress in that regard has
been most unfortunate. Sir, cast no
imputation upon the President of the
United States. l believe him to be hon
est, able, and patriotic. And pray God
that the sea of discord may become
quiet, and that the President and Con-
gress, acting together, firmly, manfully
and for the right, may preserve the
great party of freedom, upon which, in
my judgment, depends not only the lib
ment of free principles and of Christian
civilization Throughout the world. But
inasmuch as the President, honestly, /
have no doubt, has told as that there
were constitutional difficulties in the
way, l simply suggest that we submit
the proposition to the people, that they
may remove these objections by amend
ing the instrument itself.
What is the object of the proposed
amendment 1t merely gives the power
to Congress to enact those laws which
will give to a citizen of the United
States the natural rights which neces-
sarially pertain to citizenship. 1t is in
tended to enable Congress by its enact
ments when necessary to give to Cit
izen Of the United States, in whatever
State he may be, those privileges and
immunities whica are guaranteed to
him under the Constitution of the
United States. 1t is intended to enable
Congress to give to all citizens the in
alienable rights Of life and liberty, and
to every citizen in whatever State be
may be that protection to his property
| which is extended to the other citizens
of the State.
Sir, is there anything anti Republican
in this Is there anything wrong in
this ? Is there anything which inter
| FprpS 10 of q
State that adheres to a Republican form
of government? Is there not rather il
this tendency to keep the States with
in their orbits, and by what the gentle
man from New JERSEY (Mr. Rogers
would call the organic law" insur,
and secure forever to every citizen o
the United States the privileges anC
blessings Of republican form of gov
eminent? There is nothing else in thi
proposition.
1t does not destroy the sovereignty O
State, if such thing exists. 1t doe
not even affect its sovereign rights, bu
merely keeps whatever sovereignty
may have in harmony with a republican
form OF government aud the Constitu
tion Of the country.
! ENL' baiO-N III Vic StubIcudu dlloF
me to ask him question
MIR. Woodbridge-No sir; the gentle
man must excuse me, as | have but tlv
minutes, and that by courtesy. | believ'
that this amendment is not only iustiti
able, but necessary. l approach al
amendment of the Constitution with a
much shrinking and with as much hest
tation as any member on the fioorIo
this House. / have the highest opinion
of that great charter which was found
ed by our fathers.
But, sir, the age is an age of progres:
The conditions of society are difftren
from what the fathers anticipated; an
fully believe that if we meet the obi
cations which we owe to the country
we must pass an amendment of this G
of similar character.
The adoption of this amendment, Nj
Speaker, will be no shock upon the pres
ent well arranged system, defining tn
powers of the General Government an
the States, under which we have so haI
PLY lived. The condition of the freeC
men, If nothing else, demands the adoI
tion of this resolution and in my judg
ment, the people will not have done thei
whole duty until they see to it that th
amendment is adopted.