The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-09
TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
The Amendment Passed ...l2O to 46
GREAT SPEECH OF HON. THAD.
STEVENS.
Special dispatch to the Journal.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 81. 1866.
The members of the JOINT committee on
reconstruction are prompt in their action.
1t was only yesterday afternoon that the
house recommitted to them the proposed
constitutional amendment, and to-day,
Immediately after the expiration of the
morning hour. Mr.. Thad Stevens electri-
fled the representatives, reporters and au-
dicnce, by rising to report il back-''re-
constructcd'' by striking ont the words
.'and direct taxes" The amendment as
reported read as follows:
"Resolved, by the senate and house of
representatives of the United States of
America, i'll congress assembled, two
thirds of both houses concurring, That the
following article be proposed to the le"is
Iatures of the several states as an amend
ment to the constitution of the United
States, which, when ratified by three
fourhS of said legislatures. shall! be valid
as a part of the constitution Represent
alton shall be apportioned among the sew
eral states which may be included within
this Union. according to their respective
numbers. counting the whole number OF
persons in each state, excluding Indians
not taxed, provided that whenever the
elective franchise shall be denied or abridg-
ed in amy state on account OF race or color
all persons Of .silc!. ,sace or color shall be
excluded from the basis representation -"
Before demanding the previous question
Mr.. Stevens yielded the floor to General
Schenck, who offered his amendment.
based on suffrage, and occupied five min
utes in advocating it.
The floor was then yielded by Mr.. Stev-
ems to Mr.. Benjamin of Missouri, who
opposed General Schcnck's suffrage basis,
and then the veteran Pennsylvania par
Humanitarian took the floor Although
scvcnty-thrce years Of age, Mr.. Stevens
spoke with great vi.or and without notes
OF any kind, and soon attracted around
him the entire house, who listened in 81
lcnce TO his arguments. his sarcasm and
his wit as it was hurled at his opponents
or addressed to his more radical friends
l give verbatim report of his remarks,
which constitute an important chapter in
the political history of the times
Mr.. SPEAKER All shall attempt on
this occasion is to place before the house
distinctly, and hope intelligibly, the true
meaning Of the proposition submitted by
the committee, noticing slightly the objec-
tons which have been made to it. 1t is
true we have been informed by high au-
thority at the other end of the avenue
introduced through an unusual channel
that no amendment is necessary to the con-
stitution as our fathers made it, and that
it is better to let it stand as it is. Now,
sir, think very differently myself for one
individual. | believe there is entrusted to
this congress a high duty-no less impor-
tant and no less traught with the veal OF
woe of future ages than that entrusted tc
the august body that made the declara,
ton of independence. believe now that
if we omit to exercise that high duty. OF
abuse it, we shall be held to account by
future generations of America, and by the
whole civilized world that is in favor OF
freedom, and that our names will 60 down
to posterity with some applause, or with
black condemnation, if we do not treat
the subject thoroughly, honestly and just.
ly in reference to every human being on
this continent. Sir, our fathers made the
declaration of independence and that is
what they intended to be the foundation Of
our government. If they had been able
to base their constitution on the principle,
of that declaration, it would have needed
no amendments during all time, for every
human being would have had his rights
every human being would have been equal
before the law-and no oppression could
have been effected except through usurpa-
ton against the principles of that govern
ment. But it so happened, when our ia
theirs came to reduce the principles on
which they founded this government into
order, in shaping the organic law, an in
stitution, hot from hell, appeared among