The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-18


assent 10 this clause OF our constitution! All the old
thirteen States assened 10 H. and 10 all The other conces-
sons and compromises which have been mentioned as
connected with the subject OF domestic slavery The
people OF all the States assented 10 them and nifty years OF
internal peace and abundant prosperity have alesed the
wisdom OF the convention, the patriotism and devotion OF
the federal Union, and the intelligence and Justice and
faith OF the people. What American citizen will now
rise, and, claiming 10 be purer than Washington the
president OF that coayeaon-purer and more patriotic than
The ssges who supported him in the great work OF form
ing constitutions as they had previously in the
achievement OF our independence-wl cast the first stone
al that temple Of human liberty which they erected
Who that loves his country will open again The delicate
and troublesome compromises thus solemniy formed,
thus settled, and now consecraed by time and happy ex
penence with the hope oil reaching better results from
the present temper and feeling OF the country Who
will cast upon the ocean OF time and chance the invau
able blessings we have gained, the triumph 10 human lib
ery have secured Tor the dark and stormy prospect
which presents itself OF more perfect success IN new
effort Who will wanonly uample upon the faith we
have solemny pledged 10 our brethren OF the other
States upon entering the coniederacy, as means OF
moulding them to more yielding disposition IN some iu-
ture compact Who will boldly strike al the Union IL
self and stake It's fate against his sympahies Tor the
slave
Look, fellow citizens, at the pivot upon which the fate
OF this lair fabric OF ours turned One State was entirely
unrepresented IN the convention OF 1857. majority OF
the delegations from two OF the States among the largest
class and they both slave States declined 10 sign the
constitution as adopted by the convention. merely
equal portion OF the delegates from Two other OF the
States, and one the second IN population. could consent
TO give their signatures Maori,es and in
bare majoes, from four others subscribed to the ns,ru
ment and III but four States out of the twelve did the
entire delegations IN attendance give their signatures.
Thus impeTfecty sustained and recommended the con.
siutlon was submitted TO conventions OF the people OF
the several States II received, with much prompt
could have been reasonably anticipated the ati-
hcaton and adoption of eleven OF the States while five
OF the eleven accompanied their assents with expositons
OF their understanding OF the true intent and meaning OF
various provisions OF the instrument, with proposed
amendments 10 H. or BOTH most strongly Indicative OF
then dlstrus and fear OF tae workings OF the system to
of,
sy and duty they yielding reluctant assent These
Publications enabled the Congress to declare the const-
tuition IN force over the States which had adopted it, and
10 take measures for the organization OF the government
under H. which was done on the l3h OF September 1855
The 4th day of March, 1885, fixed upon for the or
ganlZalion OF the government; and the elections of
President, Wee President Senator's and members OF the
House OF Representatives, in conformity with the provis
ions OF The constitution, were TO be ntermedaey made
The elections were made and the government organized
The day appointed; and still two OF the thirteen States
the one North and the other Souh-had given their
assent 10 he SYSTEM and were not members OF the
lederacy undep IT, The twelfth Safe came in urquai-
hedy The 2st of November 1859, while the thirteenth
held out unit, the Goth day OF May, $780, and then accom-
panied It's ratification with long exposition, and with
recommendations Tor amendments consisting OF twenty
one ARTICLES. This restored again the union OF the States
completed the new system OF government, gave i, ex.
tension over tie whole territory OF the original United
States, and may be SAID 10 have terminated the civil
the peace OF 1888 had done the military, Incidents OF the
American revolution.
StIl the public mind was not at rest Apprehensons
were extensively entertained that the powers granted 10
the ieiera government too broad, and that they
would be made yet broader by unforeseen and unnended
constructions. 10 prevent these evils, il they should be
real, and TO alIay apprehension, il they not the
Congress organized under the constitution nj its first
son. caused amendments 10 be prepared taken from the
suggestions and recommendations Of the several Stale
conventions, consisting OF twelve articles, which were,
according 10 the provisions OF the constitution submitted
TO the several State legislatures Tor their ratification
lecuon These amendments acted upon with rea-
soDabe prompttude by the equsite number OF the egs
laufes, and ten OF the twelve articles adopted asd
made part OF the constitution, while the first did
receive The ratification OF the requisite number oil the
Legislatures OF the States and rejected OF the len
Articles adopted, II is worthy OF remark TO notice that
cry is restrictive of the federal powers or declare
tive OF The rights OF the people OF the States BOTH
aud that not one word relating, directly indirectly
the subject OF domestic Siapery found either in the ar
cles themselves, or in the exposons and recommenla.
tons OF the Stale conventions which gave TO them.
But two other amendments have been made the con-
suion OF The United States up 10 this daythe first OF
which Relates TO the STABILITY OF the States, and
adopted in January, 1898 and the other relates 10 The
manser in which the presidential electors shall give
Their votes for President and Vice President, and was
adopted in September, 1904.
Such and so few have been The amendments 10 that
constitution, adopted and recommended 10 the people and
the States By The convention oil 1885, and it would be
more Just 10 consider the articles of amendment first
adopted as parts OF the original instrument, INCORPORATED
upon II by the conventions OF the States at the time OF
Their ratification, than as alterations Of II after II had
met Their appreciation In not one OF these amendments
has single point been touched which was matter Of
compromise OF any delicate or conflicting interest
is not hen, nnWlse, as well as unfahiul 10 this
cred compact aud dangerous TO the peTmanency OF the
unlon Tor the people OF the free States now disturb
the harmony oil the country by threatening violation OF
those compromises which disposed OF the agtang ques
on 81 domestic slavery in the country, aud by virtue oil
winch that question remained at rest Tor nearly the first
nall century of the existence OF the republic under the
constitution! To pretend that The subject OF the mme.
date abolition OF slavery in the country be seriously
urged upon the national legislature without disturbing
these compromises OF the constitution, ia 10 disregard
well the PLAIN provisions the spirit Of the instrument
n fhpgp m.
sdeTaons, to set tue Object above the constitution,
above the value OF the Union above the peace of the
country, and above the most solemn obligation OF the c
zen 10 observe and regard the rights of others while 10
The enjoyment oil his own.
That foreigners ignorant OF the nature and character
OF our institutions, and owing duty obligation 10
hem-tha citizens OF that country which forced domes
nc slavery upon Us, though it institution best
calculated to put far oil the day when should venture
70 spurn The protection oil mOnachs arm, attempt 10
tberate ourselves from the desposm OF a monarch's
power-shoud be willing now TO disturb the harmony OF
our country 10 break It's peace and perhaps overun
those enviable institutions which are so rapidly conduct
ng US TO wealth, and power and greatness by means Of
mat very institution which intended perpeuae our
colonial bondage is not strange That the subjects of
mat mondty-schooedt 10 bow before an earthly throne
and TO crnge and embe, and be silent in The presence
oil hereditary arisocncy-Shomd Uisu our country 10
lecture upon the subject OF liberty may not be as strange
as is ludlcrous; but that the high minded citizens OF
our republic should be led away b. such teachers in
conflicts with their political brethren, into exctements
which threaten not the quiet and harmony Of their coun
try merely, but the perpeuy OF that sacred charter By
which she exists as united nation, is strange-s more
than strange
Yet such things are and is il not time that we devote
Iona tn az.