Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-02-08

2 that Congress shall have power to make q
laws necessary and proper for carrying in,
! execution the FOREGOING powers and all 9th,
powers vested by this Constitution in III
Government of the United States Or in an
i department or officer thereof. In what
! have said upon the limitations of power,
: do not not express my own opinion, but tb
opinions OF others and the uniform cor
struction. i lr .|
Sir. your Constitution declares that n
, person shall be deprived Of life without du
, process of law, yet, in support of what
have just said on the necessity of an ad
! ditional grant of power, allow mo to remin
the House of the fact that this highest rgh
which pertains to man or citizen. life, ha
never yet been protected and is not nov
protected in any State of this Union by tn,
statute law of'the United States. And il
tonorrow, sir. your President. because of
his supposed fidelity, and | might add OF
his real fidelity to his duty, in so far as
understand his position, crossed the line of
your exclusive jurisdiction in this District
into the State of Maryland, into the county
OF Charles, and were to be there set upon
by the whole body OF the community and
murdered, for no fault of his, but simply
because Of his supposed fidelity to his duty,
your Government is powerless by law to
avenge his death in any of yonr civil tribu.
nails OF Justice. And this results from the
accepted construction that this Government
has not the power by law to enforce in the
States this guarantee of life.
! | repeat then, sir, in view Of the facts sta
ted, that it is we'll for the Representatives
oi the people to consider that in passing this
amendment they take but one step toward
the attainment of the object sought to bo at.
tanned by all the several propositions pro-
posed, tn secure to each citizen and each
State alike their equal rights in the Union.
Mr.. Speaker, touching this and all other
amendments to the Constitution, by giving
them my support, do not subject myself
to the gratuitous imputaton of the gentle
man from Illinois, n. MARSHALL. who
either for the Constitution or its illustrious
founders. beg leave, at all events, to say,
with al possible respect for that gentleman,
that do not recognize the right of any man
upon this fl,or, who was representative
of that party which denied the right to
defend the Constitution of his country by
arms against armed rebellion, to become my
accusnr.
In seeking tn amend not to mar, the Con-
stltution OF the United States, we ought to
have regard to every express or implied limi-
tation upon our power imposed by that
great instrument. When gentlemen object
to amending the Constitution, when they
talk sneerinely about tinkpring with the Con-
stltniion. they do not remember that it is not
OF the express provisions OF that instrument
that Congress shall have power to propose
Amendments to the LEGISLATURES of thu sever
al States. Do gentlemen mean by the logic
to which we have listened for the past five
DAYS on this subject OF our right to amend,
fhnt we are net to add anything TO the Com
stltntlon and that we are to take nothing
from II? lprefer to follow. in this supreme
hour of the nations trial. the lead of wiser
and nobler spirit, who by common consent
was called while he lived "the Father of his
Country, and. now that he is dead, is still
reverenced a. "tha Father Of his Country"
and 70 he hailed trust by the millions of
the future who are to people this land of
ours IA 1.-THE Father of his Country. = In
his Farewell Address, his official utterance,
Washington used these significant words,
which repeat to-day for the consideration
of gentlemen: s g,...,... .f
"Fhc basis of our political il ~ right of the
people to MAKE and to alter their constitutions OF gov
ernmemn
We propose, sir, simply to act in accord
ance with this suggestion of Washington.
We propose, in presenting these amend
ments, to alter, in so far as the changed con
dlt'on OF the country requires, the funaa-
mental law in order to secure the safe
ty of the Republic and furnish better
guarantees in the future for the rights of
each and all. ''
The SPEAKER. The hour has expired
Mr.. BR iOMALL. Il hope the gentle
man from Ohio will be allowed to finish his
Mr.. BINGHAM. I shall be obliged to
the Honse;- it is favor which I have sell
There was no objection, and it was order
ed accordingly.
Mr BINGHAM. Mr.. Speaker, am
FOR the pending amendment to the Consttu-
tion OF my cnuntry, and the other amend
ncnts to which have already referred. I
am tor this and for the ether essential amend
nents indicated, for the sake Of the Union,
and for the sake Of the Constitution of the
Union. Beyond that il | know my own mind
)r my own heart, have no feeling on this
question. Ittowers above all party considera-
ion; it touches the life of the Republic,
md not the miserable inquiry whether this
'rrt hat party shall be successful in the com
ng contest. 1t is for this House to decide
whether amendments are necessary to the
'aiety OF the country and the protection of
he people. am for the proposed amend.
nent from sense of right-that absolute,
'ternal verify which underlies your Consti-
ution: The right is the law of the Repub
10; 80 it was proclaimed in your imperish |,
lble Declaration BY the words, all men are
rsated equal; they are endowed by their I
creator with the rights of life and liberty:
q. secure these rights Governments are in, {
tituted among men, deriving their lust J
powers from the consent of the governed
md by those other words these States NAV !,
10 what free and independent States NAV I,
# right mot of ,orong but of rigAt) do :.
The Constitution recognizes this limita
ion upon the States that they may do, sub,
ect to the Constitution of the United States,
What free States may of right do. That \
which isright and just limits every sovereign, :
y, in law, whether it he obeyed or dis f
'beyed. Every natinnaityis is bound to re- 9
pect the just and the right. This truth is I.
ecognized as distinctly in your Constitution =
IS it is proclaimed in your Declaration. In :
he first article, second section of the Con,
titution of your country, it is provided that q
representatives in Congress ''shaH be a
hosen every two years hy the people of tbe 4