Mr. CRESWELL. That is precisely the oint I intended to make, that the words “unless for crime” applied to the phrase “involuntary servitude, ” and signified only that sort of involuntary servitude which a culprit may be obliged to render to the State, and never intended to authorize any individual, by reason of a decree of court or a public sale, to hold any other human being in bondage. That is my acceptation of those words, and I think it is the proper one. Therefore, under my interpretation of them, when the constitutional amendment is enforced by “appropriate legislation, ” which perhaps the civil rights bill may effect, there oil. be no difficulty with regard to any of this class of cases. If the civil rights bill is not sufficient to effect that purpose, then certainly it is incumbent on us to provide, under the accompanying clause to the amendment of the Constitution, for all this class of cases. I sincerely trust, therefore, that this resolution will be adopted, and that the committee may report at an early day. While I am up I desire to say one word in regard to a remark which fell from my honorable colleague. He stated that in Maryland erhaps equally with any other State in . the [Mr. CoNNESs. More] more than in any other State in the Union, there was a disposition to dispense with all the ramifications and all the evil influences resulting from the old system of slavery. I trust in God that that is the case; nevertheless, I much doubt it. We shall see very soon what action will be taken by the Legislature, which convened yesterday, in regard to the remains of the black code how standing upon the statute book of Maryland. We have in some measure reformed it; but the law under which these decrees have been passed, and under which these sales have been made is a relic of that code in its very worst aspect; and I apprehend that the spirit that prompted the selection of that mode of punishment, when there is an option given to the court, is the lingering spirit that the institution of slavery has begotten and cherished during the long years of the early history of the government. It has been selected, I say, under this statute, which applies only to the negro race, with a view, as } believe, to test the question as to how far they may go under the constitutional amendment. I hope that that question may be tested to the utmost, and if any further legislation is necessary on the part of Congress, either by bill or by constitutional amendment, that we shall not hesitate a moment to adopt it, in order to eradicate every vestige of this old spirit.