The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-03-13
Tnc Minutes speech.

hE speaker, 1 90 N1A tDiGNu 90 Discus
ghi, question a, any Length, The time I'd
the House has been very proflably occu.
pied IN ils discussion for several DAYS. and
have no idea that any arguments thai |
may advance. or any views that / may
submit. will alter the mind or vote Of any
gentleman upon the floor But, sir, great
responsibilities rest upon the members II
the present Congress. We are not writ.
ing history, which i more difficult STILL
I The footprints Of this Congress viii be up
on The rocks Of the mountains National
aud political conyulsions hay ensue; re.
publics may rise and fall systems Of gov
erhmeul may be erected aud destroyed !;
but never 50 long as the earth rolls, will
the footprints which this Congress makes
be eradicated from history.
Sir, there has never been a day since
tile foundation OF ;hjs government when
all the candor, and calmuess, the deliber.
alton, the foresight, the wisdom OF Cong
ress has been so imperatiyely demanded
as now. Oar fathers launched forth upon
an unknown ship Of state made without
model, and doubtless anticipated that dur
ing the voyage tempe,ts might arise which
would test the strength of the ship and
develope its weakness, if any existed, and
HAT repairs might become necessary. For
many years propitious winds filed her
sails. Breakers and the lee shore never
seriously threatened her the waves nev.
rose high enough to bea, upon and wrench
from lis place the only false and rotten
plank that covered her sides. But in the
providence OF G3d the tempest has come,
and the rotten plank has been wrenched
from ls place the old ship trcmbled from
her rudder to her bow spirit, but, thank
God, She rode out the storm, aud now she
needs, in my Judgement, some slight re-
pairs, The plank Of slavery is to be re-
placed by the plank OF freedom. We are
told that now is noi the time to make re-
pairs that we are not calm enough to do
it; that we are surround d by influences
which have excited our passions; that the
disappointment which has come upon the
majority OF this House has unsettled the
camness Of their reason and rendered. it
impossible for them 10 give the dclibera.
ion which the greatness of this subject de
mauds, Sir, general in time Of war and
danger is calmest and brayest; the sailor
may res, in the calm, but when the storm
comes and breakers are ahead every man
must be at bis post The ship must be
saved, though here aud there seilOr loses
his life
To meet the present condition Of ihines
a great number Of amendments have been
to the Constitution, Many OIL
them, in my Judgement, are improper, and
most Of them entirely useless. And here
permit me TO say, that when an amend
ment TO the Constitution Is proposed. il
should receive the candi , careful. eau
lious, and thoughtful investigation Of the
House. Free, tall and fair debate should
be allowed. The lash Of the previous
l1es'ion Should rarely be adpled. It is
dangerous ever to meddle with
.he great chart Of our libitics. The more
we tamper with it the less sacred il seems
o be, and 10 amendment should be enter
aided unless under the present condition
'f the country-a condition which our
ahers never anticipated or provided
lgainst--lt Is imperatiyely demanded.
Now, lave as much reverence for the
I'D Constitution as the gentleman from
New York, (Mr. llale,) ] have as much
in it as he can have am as
Is thankful as he is hat it has heretofore (
all the attacks that have been
made upon it, thatii has carried us through
wo foreign wars with safety, aud that in
III respects It has protected the liberty of
he cuz"u. Like the geutlcn | have
.een taught to admire that delicate and
toper adjustment If the rights and DOW !
rs Of the State and Of the General Gov {
rnment, whereby cen.ralzati3n, ALWAYS S
angrrous to the Republic, CA no exist on q
he one hand, and unre-traiued license, Z
ecause always dangerous to the liberties }
I the people, cannot exist upon the other; G
nd had all the people done right there a
'ould not at this time have been the need !
I any constitutional amendments.
Bat, sir, through the lust Of power the 6
armony Of oar government has been des a
Dyed. New social and political relations u
ave been established -Four million pe9-
le have been born ii q day. The shack Il
Is have been stricken from four million g
.Para'e chatlel,, and they baee breome 4
J au hour living, thinking moving res b
onsible beings, and cilzeus of the United
tdtes.
And il Congress does not DO something p
provide for these people, if they do not E
rove equal TO tacir duty, and come 90 to
eir work Ike men, tie condition of those
sople will be worse than. il was before NJ
be accumulated prejudices Of centuries,
sether With the unnitigated a!
raih OF those who have held them in "a
adaee. but by reason of the rebellion y
"a no longe hold property IN man, will
Intimate on their heads. "
And now, Pic, What is the duty Of the
nerican people toward these men? j. re
dieient that we have merely Knocked
E sbackies from their limbs 2 II is guf-
tent that we have made them freemea
j lch them cold, hungry, and naked dI
ihoat Ihe power Of attaining one II those
iaral rights which make freedom not on.
a name bata power' Is that all thai
3 American Congress aal The Ameri. kt
q people are g d3 aith these people WHO D,
The resu.t q Nar and the con titutional u