The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-10-30

Journal, relative 10 amending
the Constitution Of the United States, a ref.
srence to which was made las, week:
Impending Danger-A Practi.
cal Proposition.
Let us call the attention Of our readers for
a short time to The fifth article OF the present
constitution Of the United States, which runs
thus:
The Congress. whenever two.ihirds Of
both Houses shalt deem il necessary, shall
propose amendments TO this constitution, or
on the application Of the Legislatures oftwo.
thirds Of the several Slater, shall call a con.
ven,lon for proposing amendments, which, in
either case, shall be valid TO all intents and
purposes. as part Of this constitution, when
ratified by the Legislatures Of ihree.fourlhs
nf the several States, or by conventions IN
three. fourths thereof, as the one or the other
mode Of ratification may be proposed BY the
Congress: Provided, That no amendmen.
which may be made prior to the year one
eight hundred aud eight. shall in
any manner sfiec, the fire, and fourth cIsu.
ses in the ninth section Of the fret article !:
and that no State, wi,hou, us consehH shall
he deprived Of irs equal suffrage 10 tho Sen.
te."-t. S. Consultation, Art. S.
1t will be seen that this same fifth article,
in prescribing the mode Of amending the con-
invests two.ihlrds Of the members
of both houses With the power Of proposing
any and all amendments or changes in the
constitution whatsoever, with ouly The excep.
iions provided against in the concluding clnu
ses oil the article, w: that the importation
Of negroes shall not be prohibited before
lS0S-ihat rect taxes shall be laid 10 pro.
portion TO federal numbers and that no
State, without is consent, shall be deprived
Of its equal suffrage 10 the Senate. With
these exceptions, t~ o. thirds Of the members
Of both houses have a right TO propose, and
three. fcurlhs of the States to ratify, any a
mendments whatsoever, even to the establish.
ment Of a monarchy or the abolition Of slave.
ry. The oLly restrictions upon this unlim.
lied power of amendment, are, as we have
already observed, The provisions in regard 10
direct taxes aud Senatorial suffrage. The
limitation IN regard TO the importation Of
slaves, expired more than forty yeayago.
There are very few indeed, eyN at the
North, who will dare openly to CHIN On,
right OF interference with the institution OF
slavery in the atrs. The time hs not yet /
come for that. Every man, esei al the
North, VITO makes any pretcntioD to com. !
mon sense, and does not desire To We looked
upon as crazy, or fanatic, is wiling TO adj !
NIT that such interference would be maui
testify unconstitutional. But what is uncon. |
TO day, may be constitutional TO- |
morrow. The number Of slave States Is les |
8 ning, and the number Of non aaveholding
States increasing every session Of Csngfess,
and il would require IN great eHoitoi pre-
science to foresee the time ~hea, ~ events
anS ptogsess, the number Of members from
non slayeholdiso s a,es will doubls TINT from
slaveholdine States. The Northern, or non
slasebuidtng section viii then have me pow
er, under the h article of the Conaitullon,
10 propose the abolition of slavery IS an a.
mendment to the Constitution. To iailty
such an amendmrn, would require concur
renee Of The Legislatures Of three -tonr'hs OF
the States. That this conside ration IS talcu.
sion Of States is too plain proposIitn To
need illustration. The att slavery influence
predominatirg in Congress, would have d..
rect interest 10 multiplying tho number oil
/ free States admitted and at the same time
in throwing obstacles IN the way OF slave
States seeking admission. This Is the mos'
direct danger TO be apprehended from the
+ sc sia 81 ata
Having once obtained decided preponder
ance, and keeping in view an amendment o
the Constitution, such as we have already al
luded 10, that preponderanoe may be exer
ted so as TO increase itself by the maIlplIca
ton Of free States to such an extent as L
give validity TO any anti slavery amendmen
which they might choose TO embody IN tn
Constitution for this article, as we have oil
ready said, imposes no sort Of restriction
with the exception Of the cases specified.
The remedy for this state Of things, an
the best means OF guarding against its ull
mate consequences as specific amendmen
OF the Constitution, placing the subject Q
! slavery and the slave trade be weeh til
, States upon the same footing with Senator,
representation, and providing that no law {
/, Congress, nor any amendment Of the Cor
sliulion shall be made aboIishing slavery, {
in any way interfering with the subject viii
even one Stale chooses to retain u. Tn
would take away from the free sollers III
hope Of Ultimately obtaining control Of ii
subject through the Constitution, or any
msudment of IT; aud would. ia great me
/ sure, deprive them Of all motive for tamps
h ing and medjling with it in the District
Columbia and the Territories. in go Ear as
: is we'll known that the attempt made to e
l. clude sIavsry from the Te,ri,ofie are on
s so many blows indirectly aimed at il in II
Sales. Besides. there would be no such ID