Year: 1862

human hands could aspire to make a work
that should be perpetual. Il would have been
imperfect if it had not. 1t has that power
which prohibits it in time Of peace to emauci-
pate slaves in a State. Can that power rise
up out Of any state of things against the Con
s,itutiou The Constitution gives you a right
to make war and the Constitution gives you
implicitly all of the powers Incidental to il -
Does il include power hostile to the Cons,i-
tuition itself? That would have been strange
harmony, indeed No. Sir; all must harmo-
nize with the Constitution.


There are some gentlemen, Sir, who seem
TO think that no war measure can be Of snff-
cient energy that does not find its beginning
and source somewhere outside of the limits Of
the Constitution. But the Constitution is a
tame, sober instrument that yields nolhing 10
peace or to war. 1t has no sensations. 1t has
no enthu>iasms. 1t is calm, steady. cold rule
of the Government at all times through the
night and through the day, through storm and
sunshine, through peace or war. That is what
it is. 1t does lack those sensations which We
have in a high degree. They seem 10 think
that some portion of those unconstitutional en-
thusiams must come into war measure to
give it efficacy and force Not bit of it.


Mr.. Chairman, the Constitution is our
strength. 1t warns the heart of the people
and it is their defence and protection. What
has filed the fields with six hundred thousand
men in arms in opposition to this rebellion p
1t is the Constitution, the bond of freemeu.
the bond of free Government. Let that ad-
monish US that our strength is in the Constitu-
ton, aud that it is not in the sensation sort Of
measures which we attempt sometimes to get
up here as more forcible than the Constitution.
It is not the phantasy nor the chimera which
politicians may delight in. Bat what do the
people delight in? What makes them rush to
the battle and to lay down their lives to pre-
serve? 1t is the Constitution. 1t is known
to the people-to their wives and their chill
dreu. 1t is the heritage of the poor man that
puts him upon an equality in point of rights
under the laws with the highest and most ars-
tocratic in the land. 1t is our spear and shield.
1t is our strength. 1t is that which has guided
our army, and enabled it to overpower all who
opposed it. That is your strength never let
it go. The more faithful you adhere to it, the
mere constantly You worship it. and show by
your acts that you will do nothing not war
ranted by it, the more you will have tie favor
and confidence of the people, and the more the
Government will have strength. All outside
is mere alteration all outside is delusve-
there is no strength in it. Adhere to that as
the line of your policy. Allow of no policy,
indulge in no practice that shall take you be-
yond the limit of your power. That limit of
ynnr rnwAr is the landmark of the rights and
privileges of your constituents. It's limit to-day
protects me. You may struggle against its
limits. We, as legislators. may struggle
against the limits that constrain US, but they
defend the limits which protect the interests
and rights Of the people. Whenever YOU en-
large your powers by going beyond the Con-
stitution, you diminish their rights or enlarge
their rights. The people are for the Constitu-
ton, whether you are or not, and we must all
thank Heaven that it is So"