The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-03-07

ey We give below the abstract OF
Hon. +. f. Wopdbridge's speech in the
House, last Wednesday, on ihe Constitu-
tional Amendment, reported to the New
York 7i7JaBe.
Mr.. Woodbridge (Vt) addressed the
House in support of the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution. lie said grave
responsibilities rest on members of this
Congress. We are not writing history,
which, is difficult, but VIC are making his
tory, which is more difficult still The
footprints of this Congress will be on the
rocks OF the mountains Natural and
political convul,ions may ctrsue, republics
may rise and fail, systems of government
MAY be originated and destroyed. hut
never, so long ~ the earth rolls, will the
footprints which the Congress snakes he
wiped from the history Of the earth.
There has not been day since the foun.
dation of this Republic when all the can
dor, the calmneA, the dclibetation, the
foresight and the wisdom Of Congress
have been so impcriously demanded rs
now. Our fathers, transported on an
unknown sea in ship of state. made
! without model, had doubtless anticipat-
ed that tempcsts might arise which woul |
test the strength OF the ship, and develop
It's weakness, If any existed, that repairs
might lie made. For many years propit.
ious gales filed her sails. For many
years she sped on her way in safety AMI
''c' IT, @'',rr- IA her lco shore
never seriously lrcttcd her. The waves
had never beaten upon that one false and
rotten plank which covered her sides.
But in the providence of God the tempest
came. Tho rotten plank has been
wrenched from its place. The old ship
trcmbcd from ruddcr TO bowsprit. But.
thank God she has rolled out to the
wind! And now needs, in my judgment,
come Slight repairs The ,.,iaan..> Of Sla-
very is to he replaced b. plank Of Free
DOM And now we are told that this is
not the time 10 make TIL. species OF
liquidation; that we are surrounded by
i''hbNiiNNF 'i'NA itANt CANlit'l Oll IUSSlOllS
that the III a lpointment which has come
ON the majority of the House has unset
tied the calmness of their reason and rem
dered it impossible for them to give it
that elaboration which the greatness of
the subject demands. Sir, the general in
time OF battle is camest and brlvest.
l he sailor may rest in the calm, but the
winds roar and the breakers are ahead
every man must be at his post. The
ship must be saved, although here and
there a sailor loses his life. To meet the
new condition Of things many amcndmen 5
have been proposed to the Constitution
Many OF item are in my judgment utterly
improper and most Of them entirely use
less Nj. Woodbridge went on TO argue
that the proposed amendment was proper
and necessary. The shackIes had been
knocked off Of millions of human chattels.
and they had become in an hour living,
moving, responsible beings, and citizens
Of the United States, If Congress did
not provide protection for that people
their condition would be worse than it
was before because the accumulated pre-
jndicc oil centuries with the unmitigated
craft Of those who held them in bondage,
aud who could no longer hold til, m,
| would eliminate on their heads Allud-
ing to the position OF the President, he
| sud 81 cast no imputation ON the
President Of the United States. | believe
him to he honest, faithful and patriotic :;
! and ! pray God that discord may be
quoted, and that the President and Con-
gress, acting together firmly, manfuly,
and for the right, may preserve the great
party Of freedom, on which depend not
only the liberties Of this Republic but the
e1l9tcne Of free principles and Christian
civilization throughout the world. | be-
licve this amendment not only justifable,
but necessary. | approach II Conslitu-
tional amendment with as much shrinking
and hesitation as any man on this floor.
But the age is an age of progress. If
we would meet the obligations which we
owe to our country we must pass an
amendment Of this or of similar char
acter."