A member of Congress swears to support the Constitution of the United States, and if he sees a right established by that Constitution which needs specific legislative protection, can he clear his oath without giving that protection?
In a debate, Lincoln questions how a member of Congress can fulfill their oath to the Constitution without providing legislative protection for established rights.
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Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do issue this my proclamation, as required by said act, ordering and requiting all deserters to return to their proper posts;
Or, if one out of four will, for his own freedom fight to keep the other three in slavery, he ought to be a slave for his selfish meanness.
In answer to the Senate's resolution of the 6th instant, requesting the return of a certain joint resolution, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State.
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