Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-02-19

CRAWFORD, n tie ASSEM- ly, Fsb. S.
- rs 81 zzz I Y
i DaGc Mr.: NJ akoIeyS ~ hoth
/ claimed that this xainend meilt IN -
mot unlimited constitutionallv b1
Congress, and for that reason we
should vote against it. Icannot see
Sir, the force Of the objection even il
| granted to be correct. The constitll
tional amendment has been submit
ted to us by Congress for our approx.
al or rejection, and it strikes me that
if we approve of the amendment it.
self, we should vote for it without be.
ing ambitious to assume the functions
CT court by anticipating, and deter
mine whether, after it shall have been
adopted by the requisite number Of
States, the technical objections made
by the gentlemen will invalidate it
1t is question eminently proper fo1
the Congress who submitted it, and
the courts who may be called upon
to decide such a question. but I fail
to see that we, as portion of the
Legislature Of Wisconsin. have any
thing to do with it. This manner 81
treating questions is peculiar to dem.
ocratic orators and politicians. Moth
ing, Sir, proposed by the loyal PEG
pie OF the country seems to them
within the power ofthe Constitution
"A fear of violation of the constitu-
ton has been a horrible monster of a
nightmare, which, during the whole
course OF the war, and even since It's
close, has troubled the repose Of the
democratic party, and though it has
worn the body down to skeleton
no spell or potion yet devised, seems
strong enough to quiet it. This
should cause us to look with some
degree of caution upon such argu.
ments, and also, Sir, some degree OF
suspicion as to the sincerity of the
motives which prompt the objection,
| remember that in the very outbreak
OF the war, when traitors had fred
upon tho Old flag, when they were
Selling arsenals and forts, raising
armies for the purpose of taking
States out Of the Union, with the
avowed purpose ofdestroying the gov
eminent itself it was announced, to
the establishment Of every loyal man
in the country, by democratic Pres
iden6, that there was no wav of coer-
cling State back into the Union
no way of protecting the existence of
the government by force of arms !;
that in fact it would be in direct vio-
lation of the Constitution. This as
tonishing doctrine, adhered to by the
Democratic party at the time, has
never been repudiated by them.
remember also, that during the whole
war, the waritself was opposed by
that party as unjusti6able /; that Pres
ident Lincoln and the loyal majority
of Congress were denounced as trail
tors, usurpers and tyrants, for oppos-
ling our southern brethren while en-.
I gagged in the innocent pastime of
breaking up and destroying tho gov
ernment that, in fact, sir, the Dem
ocratic party, during the whole war,
but itself in hostility to the Govern
ment, and by its press, its public
speakers, it's secret societies and it's
conventions, sympathized, aided and
encouraged rebellion, and threw ev-
cry obstacle in the way Of his over
throw, upon this plea Of violation
of the Constitution. In 1864, when
the country was in its most deadly
peril, when the arm Of every loyal
man was nerved to the utmost to de-
fend the life Of the nation, when ev.
cry lover Of his country should have
given as least words of cheer and en-.
couragement. when it was doubtful
whether rebellion would succeed and
the Government be broken up or not
when the brave Union boys at the
front were maintaining with heroism
unparalleled, the bloody conflict fo1
the salvation of the country, and
looking back anxiously at home fol
sympathy and encouragement, the
great Democratic party met together
in Chicago, in convention, and de-
clared as the sense of the American
people that the four years Of war had
been failure, that hostilities should
Immediately cease, with a view tc
/ proposing terms to rebels in arms, de-
claring that in carrying on the wal
! the Constitution had been violated in
all it's parts, Sand the conduct Of
that party, including the action Of
that party in that convention, togeth.
er with the traitorous speeches made
in and out Of that convention, and
their action since the close of the war
in attempting to shield rebels from
punishment, will remain monument
of shame and damnable baseness and
treachery only equalled in this coun.
! try by the tories Of the revolution
I remember, sir, that after the armies
Of the rebellion had been overthrown
captured and subdued, and it was re-
eognized by all loyal men that slav-
cry had been one Of the great causes
Of that rebellion, it was proposed to
so amend the Constitution as to des-
troy forever that cursed institution
Every Democrat in Congress voted
against IL; and still. sir, where is the
Democrat today that dares to say
that he is sorry that slavery is abol
ished by that amendment? Do they
not say that they are glad that it il
done? and has not the gentleman from
Ozaukee declared, that he is thank
full that the institution ofhuman slav.
cry is forever prohibited? In anoth
er year that party will declare thai
they are thankful that this amend