Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-13
Remarks of Hon. F. E. Woodbridge,
On the Benghdn. amendment TO The Constitution
IN House of Rep, Feb %


Mr.. Speaker, do not intend to scuss the
question any length. The time of the House
mas been very proh,ably occupied in its discussion
for tral days, and have no idea that any ar
gumeuts that | may advance, 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 this
present Congress. We not writing history,
which is difficult making history, which Is
more difficult still. The footprints of this Con
gress will be pom the rocks OF the mountains
National and political commissions may ensue re-
pubiics may rise and fall /; systems of governmeu
may be erected nd destroyed; but never, so long
the earth rolls, viii the footprints which this
Congress makes be eradlcated from history,
Sir, there has never been day since the found
alton ofthis Government when all the candor, and
camness, the deliberation, the foresight, the
wisdom OF Congress has been so mperatively
demanded as now. Our fathers launched forti
upon an unknown sea IN ship OF state made
without model, and .oubtless a anticipated that
during the voyage tempests might arise which
would the strength of the ship and develop its
weakness, II any existed, and test repairs might
become necessary. For many years propitlous
winds filed her sails. Breakers and the lee shore
never seriously threatened her the wares never
rose hIgh enough TO beat upon and wrench from
its place the only false and rotten plank which
covered her sides. But in the providence of God
the tempest has come, and the rotten plank has
been wrenched from its place the old snip trem-
bled from her rudder 10 her howsprit, but, thank
God, she rode out the storm, and now she needs,
in my judgement, some slight repairs. The plank
of slavery is TO be replaced by the PLANK of freedom.
We told that now is not the time TO make
repairs /; that not calm enough to DO it
that we are surrounded by influences which have
excited passons; that the disappointment
which has come upon the majority of this House
hos tho aalm If hair
rendered it impossible for them to give the delid-
Grafton which the greatness of this subject deg
mands. Sir, general IN time o. sn0 danger
is LalInest and Oravest the sailor may rest 10
the calm, but when the storm comes and breakers
are lead, every man must be at his post. The
ship must be saved, though haze and there
sailor ioses MS life,
To meet the present condition of things great
number of amendments have been proposed TO
the Constitution. Many of them, 10 nay judg gm ent,
are improper, aud most OF them entirely useless.
And here permit me to say, that when an amend
ment to the Constitution Is proposed, 1t should
receive the candid, careful, cautious, and thought
fu Investigation OF the House. Free, full, and
fair debate should be allowed. The lash of the
previous question should rarely be applied It
is some what dangerous eyer to meddle with the
greatschart of our liberties. The more we tam
per with it the less sacred it 10 be, and no:
amendment should be entertained unless under
,he present condition of the copntEy-a condition
which our fathers never anticipated provided
against-It 10 imperatvely demanded.
Now, have as much reverence for the old
Constitution the gentleman fron New York,
Mr.. Hale. ! have as much confidence in it as
ne can have l am as thankful he is that it has
heretofore withstood all the attacks that have
been made upon it, that i has carried US through
two foreign wars with safety, and that in all re-
speots it has protected the liberty of the citizen
Like the gentleman, have been taught to admire
that delicate and proper adjustment of the rights
and powers of toe States aud Of the General Gov
| ernment, whereby GENERALIZATION, always danger
Gus to the Republic cannot exist on the one hand,
and unrestraned license, because always danger
Gus to the liberties of the people, cannot exist on
the other and had all the people done right
! there would not st this time have been the need
for any constitutional amendments.
But, sir, through the lust of power the harmony
of our Government has been destroyed. New
social and political relations hay been established.
-Four million people have been born "a a day.
The shackles have been stricken from four
million separate chastels, and they have become