Year: 1867

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The Senate having under consideration the bil
10 polandizc ten sovereign States OF the Union


Mr.. BucKALEw said


Mr.. President, my vote has beer
solicited for the present amendment
bv gentlemen in whose judgments
have very much confidence and il
one respect the adoption Of the amend
ment would be quite proper, perhaps
beneficial. In so far as it places 0
limit upon this enormous, novel, enc
portentious military power the bill
intends to establish, it may be vindica
ted by sound reasoning and considers
tions of public policy. Any limitation
whatever will be better than the alb
sence of all limitations in the PROPOSE.
tion rs introduced before us.


But, sir, there are two reasons
which will induce me to vote against
this amendment. In the first place
! am opposed to the proposition which
it contains upon consideration ofthe
merits Of the proposition itself. lam
averse, from thorough conviction, to
the introduction of any State into this
Union, or to her rehabilitation with
all her former political powers, upon
the condition that she shall make SUI.
irage within her limits universal and
unlimited among the male inhabitants
over twenty-one years OF age. l need
not 20 over the argument upon that
point. have stated itupon former
occasion.


In the next place, know perfectly
well that vote for this amendment
although given under circumstances
which do not commit me to the prop
osition as final one, will be misun
derstood and perverted. 1t will be
said throughout the country of eacl
of those who stand in the position in
which | stand, that we have departed
to some extent at least from that po
sition which we have hitherto main
tained; and maintained against all The
influences of the time, against the
pressure of circumstances which hav,
swcpt many from oursides and car
ried them into the large and swoller
camp of the majority. Sir, for one
am ambitious of being known as one
among that number of men who have
kept their faith who have followed
their convictions who have obeyeC
the dictation of duty in the worst o
times; who did not bend when thu
storm beat hardest and stronges
against them, but kept their honoi
unsullied, their faith intact, their self
regpect unbrokcn and entire.


| shall not vote to degrade suffrage
shall not vote to pollute and corrup
the foundations of political power il
this country, either in my own Stat
or in any other. i shall resist it ev
erywhere and at all times. If over
borne, if contrary and opposing opin
ions prevail shall simply submit L
the necessity which ! cannot resist
leaving to just men and to future time
the vindication of my conduct.


The consideration of this amend
ment does not involve debate upoi
the bill itself; it is quite distinct iron
it, or at least it may be considered
distinctly. j am of opinion that tn
debates of the Senate would be great,
improved if that course were taker
ordinarily or uniformly which ha
been suggested in the discussion o
this bill, to wit, that when an amend
ment is pending debate shall be con
fined to II according to the strict rule
of order, and that debate upon th'
principal proposition upon the origina
bill itself shall stand over and be de
ferred until the amendments are dis
posed Of But, sir, my experience il
the Seuate has instructed me. | hav
upon several occasions delayed speak
ing upon measure until amendment
offered to it should be disposed of, an
found myself at the end of a debat
attempting to speak to an exhauste
and impatient Senate and when m,
own freshness OF feeling and physica
energy had departed.


During this week those Of us VIII
are not endowed by nature with Wig
orous physical constitutions have bee
subjected to a severe strain by con
slant sessions day and night, beside
other duties very numerous, harras'
ing, and exhaustive o1tside of th
Chamber. And now, sir, nearly a
the end of the week, at an adGitiono
night session ordered with specia
reference to this measure, we are cal
cd upon to consider it and to conside
1t finally. We are told that if it b
within the power of those who civ
direction to the action of the Senat
to force a final vote upon the bill t
night, that vote shall be obtained, th
giving Of it shall be coerced.


Aud when did this bill come TO us
Within about twenty-four hours, ! b.
lieve. l found myself able to give
only hurried reading before it wa
called up for debate. Is it not littl
remarkable that bill in which I'll
social and political condition of eigl
or ten million American people is il
'volved should be driven through on
branch of Congress under the previor
question, without opportunity for an
extended debate, and should then |
driven through the Senate under I'll
discipline of an organization confne
to portion only of the members
our body, with some twenty-four
tor1y-eight hours only ofconsiderauo
amid the pressure Of fother duties thu
crowd upon us, and when our ow
'overtasked physical powers scarce
enable us to give the subject even thi
attention which is necessary TO vo