Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-01-10

propagation OF those rights, we must
still remember that even the party which
we wish to carry forward and build up |
for this purpose is not great enough and
strong enough to do wrong. we must |
remember that we must not stand upon |
one principle in the District Of Columbia
and upon exactly the opposite one in the
Territory of Nebraska, because although
we are strong now, the free people OF
this country will never believe In party
which is inconsistent with itself, and OF
whom it might be justly said Ii we put
this bill through as it is: "Your pre-
tense in the District of Columbia and In
the Southern States about the equality
of men is merely because 1t suits your
purpose to get in Republican Senators
and Representatives but when 1t SUITS
your purpose to get in Republican Sena-
tors and Representatives from Nebraska,
then you believe that there is no such
thing as equal rights irrespective OF PACE
or color it is only teehnicality, then,
or gittering generality"
Mr., President, as strong as we are,
and Justly strong as proud as we are
| and as conscious as we are OF our
strength, we do not deserve to be strong
| or proud or successful if we do not ad-
here to a great principle of justice ana
equality which we practice upon here
where we have the power if we do not
adhere to it in Nebraska because 1t hap
pens at the moment that we are to gain
a REPRESENTATIVE or two or Senator or
two by decaying the principle there.
And as we have the power IN my Judg-
ment, the clear and unquestioned power,
in the exercise of our discretion, in ad-
hitting this Territory to be State in
creating it to impose such conditions
cardinal and perpetual as seem fit to us,
whv not let us do it Why not let us
say to the people of this Territory, 1--WE
receive you upon the condition that
within your borders, Notwithstanding
YOUR constitution or your laws, you shall
practically exercise equality and justice
, toward every citizen within your
limits 2" AS l have said before, the
, power cannot logically under the Con-
. stitution be denied. There is no danger
t = it could in trying the experiment ;
= the friends Of this measure certainly, Ii
| they believe it to be merely a brHtnh
; fgl,aen, are not injured by it and will
r thus Concede the assertion of prln-
f ciple upon the part of the Congress OF
= the United States, which l trust within
y the next five years will be carried to the
i remOtest corner of the land.
r In subsequent portion Of the debate
: Senator Edmunds said in reply to Sena'
tor Howard:
d Mr.. Edmunds. am entirely willing
t. that nv honorable friend from Mich
!. gan should speak for his section Of thu
e great party to which we belong. l will
t sneak for mine. My section OF tina
great party has always believed in tn
r, power Of Congress under the Constltu
n ton, making, under the Constitution, D.
N it's legislation, the supreme law OF IN
N land, which that same Constitution de
re clares shall be higher and stronger tina
at any State constitution or any State law
n in all cases in which the general right
H. of the citizens of the United States, q
-v such citizens, are concerned and | III
a dertake to say in replp to my honOrabl
e. friend, speaking for an honorable but
of somewhat old section Of that party tina
IN he represents, because | believe Vernon
H. cot on the Republican platform SON
ay considerable time before MiChiga
J
Mt did
ir Mr.. Howard. If the Senator will e1
ed cuse me. Michigan has the precedent
he by several weeks. You were next
III succession. Laughter.
all Mr.. Edmunds. I beg to say that b.
all fore that gallant and capital State
Michigan was born into this WORT
he the State OF Vermont, by her lesislati'
re- resolutions on these subjects, declare
he the verv doctrines that am contendlr
of for now.
nd Mr.. Howard. The doctrines are oil
nd but not the party,
ed Mr.. Edmunds. The whig party of Il
wv State Of Vermont traces true al
on legitimate descent in the regular al
ne hereditary way into the present Repub
lat can party. 1t is only change OF nam
,es with US aud not of principles. | do n
no know how it is in Michigan, [ will u
lily undertake to say.
IN Now, to return to the question
tu- nv honorable friend says that tn
IN power on onr part to impose conditio
be when we create that corporation Will
m. is called state, that is, when we endc
SIN n society of men with certain polite
m | privileges Ol lUCdi SONClhLhShVj N'"Op -
Of exist, COR the reason that II 1t did
Use might be abused that is to say, he sa
hip if we have this power we have the pow
to say that females shall vote; we ha
an the power to say how real estate sh
ise- descend, and we have the power in she
ate to regulate the whole internal concer
en- of the State have been taught by
as eminent urist of this country, d Virgi
nee ian, too, whose name was Marshall, on,
aw believe, the Chief Justice of the :
BON preme Court of the United States
in have no doubt my honorable friend b
can heard of him-that the fact that pc"
md might be abused was no argument viii
ore ever against the existence Of such
age power.
ne Mr.. Howard. The Senator will eXcr
lit me for interrupting him. deny
It'll power. A thing which does not ex
ave cannot be abused.
lief Mr.. Edmunds, That is exactly WI
nd | was saying. | stated the gentlema
sir, position to be exactly that, and the OF
| .ooco,, ba uiveG pg--he NAV have so