108 



CONGKESS, UNITED STATES (1865). 



tion as an alternative, 347 ; motion to expel 

 Benjamin G. Harris, 348; lost, 348; motion 

 to censure him, 348; carried, 348; this war 

 cannot restore the Union, 348 ; can there be 

 such a thing as a Conservative Kepublican? 

 348; the rebels, by their insurrection and 

 making war, have forfeited all their rights 

 as citizens of this country, 349 ; a time may 

 come when a question of recognizing the South- 

 ern Confederacy will have to be answered, 349 ; 

 until that time there shall be no compromise, 

 350; what did Lord Chatham say ? 350 ; a trib- 

 ute to the power of public opinion, 351 ; the 

 issue absolute victory or absolute ruin, 351 ; 

 resolution modified and adopted, 351 ; acts of 

 this session of Congress, 351 ; measures adopt- 

 ed by Congress since 1861 relative to slavery, 

 352. 



V. Session of 1864-'65 : list of members, 

 205 ; the second session of the 38th convenes, 

 205; passage of a joint resolution to notify 

 Canada of the termination of the reciprocal 

 treaty, 205; resolution relative to ships de- 

 stroyed, 206 ; do. on the right of Congress to 

 prescribe the foreign policy of the Govern- 

 ment, 206. 



In the House, a motion to reconsider the 

 vote on the amendment of the Constitution 

 abolishing slavery, 206; if slavery is wrong, 

 it is our duty to abolish it, 206 ; what consti- 

 tutes two-thirds of both Houses ? 206 ; it has 

 been decided two-thirds of a quorum can pass 

 this amendment, 206 ; objected that if all the 

 States save one adopted it, then it would not 

 legally become a part of the Constitution, 207 ; 

 the supreme power of the national Govern- 

 ment is vigorously maintained throughout the 

 Constitution, 207; how can any man defend 

 the State sovereignty dogmas? 207; amend- 

 ment to be submitted, 207 ; we only authorize 

 the action of the people, 208 ; what would be 

 the status of slavery if the war should end 

 now ? 208 ; the whole question would remain 

 to be disposed of, 208 ; the people have re- 

 sponded in favor of emancipation, 208; are 

 the Southern States foreign powers? 208; if 

 they are not out of the Union, then they are 

 among the number of the three-fourths re- 

 quired, 209 ; it makes us assume the character 

 of aggressors, 209 ; on the same grounds the 

 other regulations of States may be interfered 

 with, 209; it is proposed by this amendment 

 that the States in which slavery exists shall 



have no vote, 210; the question is simply one 

 of power, 210; attempt to sweep away the 

 reserved rights of the States, 210; improper 

 time to amend the fundamental law of the 

 country, 211 ; the right of amendment is lim- 

 ited by the Constitution,. 211 ; by its intent 

 and spirit and its foundation idea, 212 ; can 

 three-fourths of the States subvert the State 

 governments of one-fourth? 212; the States 

 do not derive power from the Federal Govern- 

 ment, 213 ; if a convention of States can take 

 jurisdiction to protect property, they can to 

 destroy, 213; the power of unlimited amend- 

 ment is an element of democracy, 213 ; danger 

 of an amendment at this time, 214; arguments 

 against the amendment, 214 ; the lack of power 

 examined, 215 ; every power granted by the 

 Constitution is complete in itself, 215; the 

 words of Washington about "specious pre- 

 texts," 216; motion to reconsider carried, 

 216 ; joint resolution passed, 216 ; further pro- 

 ceedings, 216, 217. 



In the Senate, a bill to abolish the disqualifi- 

 cation of persons carrying the mails by reason 

 of color passed, 217 ; yeas and nays, 217. 



In the Senate, the bill to grant freedom to 

 the families of colored soldiers considered, 

 217 ; moved to refer to the judiciary commit- 

 tee, 217 ; the needs of the country have weap- 

 oned the hands of the slave, 217; the nation 

 needs defenders, 217 ; how can Congress free 

 the servant who is held in servitude by the 

 laws of a State? 218; where is the power 

 under the Constitution to do this? 218; can 

 Congress take private property without making 

 just compensation? 218 ; what is the object of 

 the measure? 219; this constitutional power 

 is doubted by many, 219; we may and prob- 

 ably shall have to pay for them, 219 ; has the 

 doctrine of military necessity gone so far that, 

 when we are in a state of war, whatever Con- 

 gress shall decree is constitutionally decreed ? 

 219 ; Congress has the same power to enfran- 

 chise the families that it has to enfranchise 

 the colored soldier, 220 ; motion to refer to 

 the judiciary committee lost, 220 ; parts rela- 

 tive to the question, 220 ; the power to en- 

 franchise a colored soldier has not been shown 

 yet, 221 ; if we free the wives and children of 

 those who are soldiers at present, we leave 

 them more free to fight, 221 ; we have passed 

 on our right to conscript and enlist the slave, 

 221 ; expediency of the measure obvious, 221 ; 



