Year: 1864

the dovernmen at an end as that alone was


he, its essence and its soul He believed reIipiousy


49,. no present executive was bent the destruction


his government II ne deemed that necessary to con-


nnue himself in power though he greyed to saw t. Hs


did not know hioh Government threatened the people


rios that OF the rebel Jefferson Davis or that pf tb


usurper Abraham Lincoln He wished 10 ace All ornars


struck down by the vote of the people at the pos Ha


Wa or any organization any party, any power any can


uato ou uod earth except uegro for the
OF Abraham Lincoln Mr. DAVIS believed that the bob
interest OF our common country demanded his defeat in
attempted usurpation and reelection and far as his


orDio VIII and acts could go he intended 10 defeat him
Mr. SALISBURY addressed the Senate in onnns;ton
TO the resolution He argued that Intention Of
the trainers OF the Constitution to protect slavery as do
mesc institution as existed at the ta the formation
oil the Federal compact. He denied that if this amend
ment received he ssncon of of hose States


would affect those States which should protest anst it,
Inc Constitution was contract between sovereign and
equal States to be construed any other was
according to its true meaning and purpoe aud was not
designed to regulate the title to property in the States but
LOT great common purposes which could be better sub
served by States 10 the aggregate than separately We
could not now propose these all the States
oecause some eight or nine of them Of Uuion
and did not pretend exercise control over them Aa
tor the Border loyal States Maryland agreed 10 the policy
of emancipation would agree to deliver his pursa
the Instance OF hghwayman with pistol at his head
Wonid SENATORS say that emancipation in Louisiana and
Arkansas was the act of the sovereign people, Take
away your bayonets and not in fifty would az
prove your amendment or recognize your authority You
may succeed in Maryland Delaware, and Missouri in in
Jurlng those who have injured you but unless you
bring all the seeded States under your yoke you will
have accomplished nothing by yous proposed amendment
TO me Constitution because if the slave used soldier
his recovery by his master his title to him


Mr. CLARK contended that under the Constitution
there were some things we prohibited from doing
We cannot revive the slave trade pass capation tax
bill As the Constitution nowhere prohibited us from
abolishing slavery, il is clear that we may do So lie
argued that slavery owed its giant growth to the Cons
tuton though created by it, It was planted in IT. and
has been fenced round and protected by it, that
power short Of the amendment Of the Constitution
proposed could root it out The results of the present
war are growth from the seed of slavery warmed iuto
life under the Constitution He would not blame the
patriotic founders of this Government their acts be-
cause they surrounded by difficulties and did as well
they could He proceeded to the aggressous Of
slavery and held that it had marshaIed armies and
stained batefeds with blood and brought the great dis
tress on the country it time to the power not
prohibited, for its aboshment


!. Mr. DAVIS moved the following amendment and called
the yeas and nays on its adoption:


That negro person whose mother or grandmother
negro shall be citizen the United States or
be eligible 10 civil military office any place Of
trust or profit undei the United States"


No quorum being present. the Senate adjourned