Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-03-14
!. SPEECH
MON. c. =. BUCKALEw,
4,.-.4. OF PENNSYLVANIA,
In the Senate Of The United States, February
r-ss = :. elII 1866.

Ht- rs .rfsrtc -- ~
ArpoRrIossrsr OF RkrsEsssrsTioN.
e Mr.. BUCKALEW. move that the
Senate resume the consideration Of the
joint resolution proposing to amend the
Constitution.
The motion Was agreed to and the
Senate, a. in Committee of the Whole
resumed the consideration Of the Joint
resolution (H. R. No. 5i) proposing to
amend the Constitution of the United
States
Mr.. .BUCKALEW. Mr. President
shall not speak to-day as party map,
nor az . sectional map, bat ss an Amer
ican. as citizen Of the United States
anxious to maintain its unity, and 10 Prs-
mote, so far ss my humble efforts can
do it, the welfare OF our common coun-
try. I have looked forward during the
weary months Of the recent war to q
time when a new class OF subjects would
arise for oar consideration. The dis
sussicn Of measures of force in the pros
ecution Of the war and the discussion Of
the various questions connected with the
sutjrct of slavery did not provoke me
upou any single ccoasien to address the
Senate at length: Returning from q
foreign country after the commencement
Of The war, when it was in full progress,
and when no human power could avert
the storm which fell upon US, found
myself, rs did most of tie citizens of our
country, absolutely controlled by the
circumstances which surrounded US and
which pressed Us forward upon course
of conduct which we could not avoid.
I thought then, aud think now, that
there was bat one thing to do. We were
engaged ia contest which v as, al it has
been often described, a contest Of life
snd death, and there was nothing to be
done except to fight it out, to fight on.
20 promote or assist the co.li.ion of forces
which were then arrayed again.t each
other until some ultimate result should
be reached.
As a member Of the minority in til,
Chamber, 1 gave my vote for those meas
ores Of the majority which directly point.
Ell to the use Of the force of this Gov
ernment to subjugate the insurrecton
which raised its head against rs. | was
opposed to tue political policy Of that
majority, and have continued to entertain
and eyince that opposition down to this
time in 3 respectful and proper manner.
But upon the question of prosecuting the
war 70 = conclusion, I never had any
dif6cuIty, never had any hesitation
Upon an examina.ion of ny record-aDd
humble as it may be, even it may by
come persons &C some time be cxamised
lit will be found that fiom the time I
assumed the seat to which my Stats had
assigned me in this Chamber, my course
vas such as have indicated, snl w1s in
exact accordance With tue convictions
that held.
Thought there was little to be attain
ed BY speech-makiDg by member. even
hom the great Common wealth Of Penn
syivanfa, upon political questions during
che war. While the passions of the coun-
try we're infamedby the wal, reason could
not be hearas Logic is thrown away
upon the passions. II can only bs heard
sflsr they have sub,ided' But, sir, I
looked forward to the days .hrough
which we are nov passing, contempla.
tipg coudition Of things entirely chang
ed, The coming up Of new questions, es-
pccialIg qnestiors connected with econo-
my, with reveDus, with finance, With or
dinary Legislation, with the administra-
fionsof jasiics Hhsfsser ahe Jurisdiction
Of this SGoYerument extends all those
questions q which. require intelligence,
which require Investigation, which re-
quire labor, the habits Of the student. i
looked forward to thai class Of ques-
items, intending 20 speek upon them on
ft and proper occasions, and when, in
my opinion, I might contribute some-
thing useful % the current Of your de-
bates.
: Bntiherc vss one thing which did not
sn'icipals. 7 di'i not anticipsTs that nearly
one yeaf.ailer fils tsfniDsiion 81 shs war,
one 5ssrs sfer ;hs great sfmiss which were
airagsd against us had submitted 20 OR
power sn1 bad capinlaisd 10 our forces in
she'ilsld, 'peari5 year after open resistance
20 oss snshorily had .esmiaaisd, and whsn
ID point 81 fact there vas no resis,ancs 10
me government of lbs United Sta,es' 10 any
portion of our counlry, re, in The Congress
Of lhe EDiIsd 5tI'es, s1onlc be disi,ussiag
iba qoezfion cf uheiher :hs war had been
a.su<cess d not ~heIher onr c0untr1 Hss,
A. ioFuer'Ft eniifs 1nt cpuPiete, . unit