Year: 1865

In the House Of fpreSentatites, Jan.


3lst Il sos upon Tie resolution TO amend


The Federm Constitution.


Nj MILLER, Of Pennsylvania. Mr.
Speaker, had hoped that l would be
permitted to close my short career upon
this floor without claiming any of the time
or attention OF the House but feel that
l owe il to more than two hundred and
sixty thousand lover Of the country friends
of the "Constitution as it is,' in the State
of ofPonnsylvsuia, and repu Ii,te the senti.
ments position of gen lemen Messrs NJ AL
LISTER and CoFFRoTH,] my colleagues
here ,whoshave been heard this morning.


came here, sir, with no ambition save
to do what conceived to be my duty in
the service of my constituents and the
preservation Of pure and consistent re.
cord.


But prefer to 60 back to my home, l
choose to meet those who sent me here, aud
say that have tried to do that, at least,
which was expected of me when took the
oath emitting me to a seat upon this floor,
that l would to the extent of my ability,
preserve inviolate the Constitution of the
United States, in word and letter, ,as those
who made, it gave it to US. feel that
have not be derelct in the discharge Of
duty; that have not forgotten what was
due to them. | have no argument to make
in regard to what l conceive to be the
merits of the question before us. That
ground has been fully and ably covered
BY those who have preceded me. stand
here to-day to indorse the sentiments and
arguments of my friend from Ohio, Mr..
PENDLEToN stand with him as to
the power OF this House to pass this meas.
ure. His able and eloquent arguments
have not been answercd-nor'in my judg
ment, can they be--by the ablest of those
on the other side of the Hou.e.


Now, sir, it strikes me that much a,
this matter has been discussed mo member
has yet satisfactorily met the great ques-
ton at the bottom Of this proposition.-
Abolish slavery ,and no man among them
has pretended to show what we are to do
with the freedmen except that, as good
Christians, it will become our duty to feed
| Il tho hn nh
pists and tax payers of the country arc
equally interested in knowing what is to
be done with the elephant when we get
him. We should not pull down the old
house until we have built the new one
I say to my friends on the other side Of
the House that for them TO discuss the
consstutionality of proposed amendment


is broad farce. They propose to amend
that, the body Of which,iu every essential


vital feature they havSconsi>tently viola.


ted in the action of the President Of the
United States, this House, and every sub


ordinate department and employee known


to this administration. 1t would have
been more credilable to the fairness OF the


dominant party if the had proposed tc


blot out the sovereignty of the States, and
declared that there are no reserved right


in the Constitution which Congress ant
the President cannot ignore with impuni.


ty.


If, Mr.. Speaker, could be induced tc
vote for any amendatory proposition tc


tho organic law of this land | would no
do i, at time like this, when all IL
chaos.


The SPEAKER. The five minutes al
lotted to the gentleman have expired.
MIR. MILLER, of Pennsylvania.
rose simply for the purpose of repudiatinl
the sentiments and the positions assumed
upon this floor by two of my colleague
from Pennsylvania, and have only to re
quest my colleague (Mr. CoFFRorH) tt
make his acknowledg gments to my othe
venerable colleague, (Mr. BAILY) t.
whose Quaker knocks he is doubtless in


debted for his wonderful conversion.
R6~ As an honest seaman, who had
just come into port was taking stroll il


the country, he was bull dealing furioas


ly along che road directly towards him


and according to the custom of the animal


when under full speed,w his fail streigh
out behind him "Bull ahoy,' roaret
Jack, making aspeaking trumpet of hi
hand. "Ease off your spanker sheet there


you luberly son of COW, or you'll b


a foul Of me-" But the bull paid no at
tention to the warning of Jack, and lh


next moment tho tar was reeled in the dirt
"There blast your eyes," said the enrag


ed seameu, gathering himself up, 81 toll
you, you would run foul Of me-"