The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-10-02
baltimore. September llrh, 1855.


BALTIMORE. September lIrh, 1855.
(;tucTncn: | lave yours of yesterday. Most
willingly would po,rpone my visit 10 the West.
end participate in he "soci RI .unionr The 17lh
u could. but | cannot | am compelled 10 be
ahs:Fl by an imperative professional ens'ge-
mcHf
That the anniversary Of The adoption Of the
Constitution of The UnI;rd States has not been Oh.
e"rrrd as naiinnal holiday, | have often won.
dcTca al. No eye nj in the history OF the country
Is more emincutly d. serving Of it. But for that
Constitution, it is not much to say that the
rights proclt! med in the Drcla ration OF Independ
Gnce, and the sutlerings and blood which main
tanned thep, in all human probability, would have
hen in great measure lruilless. The cool ard
great men who framed It, saw that, without that
ur some equivalent government, the useful Uniun
81 the United States could not be preserved or the
prosperity and power insepara6e from such q
Union, attained.
The result OF their deliberations. conducted as
these WIRE. with PURE patriotism aud an enlisht-
cned spirit, has made US what we area happy,
free and great nation. in all The elements of so.
cI'l aud political blessings. the worlds HISTORY
furnishes nothing 10 equal, much less to excel it,
Laying The STATES respectively supreme IN every
matter not calculated to affect them collectively
aud c"alerIlng upon The General Government all
ppwrTs uecr<saTy 20 'provlde for the cnpmnn
III
the blessings OF liberty il has been followed bv
ar, sperity, private aud political, that makes Us
tgea in Ihis the infancy a onr exis:encr fully the
rI4Il in power with the greatest nations of the
world, aRd 10 happiness and freedom, more than
their equal What we will be hrrealler, if true
20 ourselves, delirs calculation. The day, there.
fore, the l7:h OF September, on which The price
less gh was adopted for and present, to the
North American people, should forever, in graft.
In nj amin he dp1 ota1
80 AMERICAN freedom, and observed political
SahbaIh.
u this il d"Hc, the spirit which animated those
Nho framed it, and brcaihes in lis every line, can.
be list TO u.
With that impulse our guide, however, we
may diiicr as 20 the eXiSiruce actual extent cf
paEIIcHlAT powers Tor the proper foreign or domes.
iir policy. lar which lis admitted powers should be
executed, IL cannot fail properly TO recognise and
hold sacred the great principle of freedom which
u includes aud srcu.eS.
QrtLcSe thrre ara lWG &c jucalcuabIe value
equality n every POLITICAL right. and absolute, un
IrsIricle'l; unques,ioned erinyment in every Fe.
uous opinion.
Excrptas 10 eligibility lq the office OF President
Aq'hinS but ac;q ! citizenship, without regard TO
origin, Is required.
IN yesting in Congress the power 'ta establish
an uniform rule Of natural zaiion," u was intended
"
adoPii'n, and Toy combining The EXCLUSION If such
cliIzens Eom the rIghl TO Gil the rfice OF Prrsi
dent 81 tie United S!ates, npa from other right
q was designed 10 place tho m in all other Respects
c9uany with the natives.
IL may be that in thus stage of our history it
would be well 10 change the existing role. The
,erOd Of antccrndent residence may be too brief
RCd the guards az usl abuse Insufficient; but to
combine together in any form to exclude from
phicc those who have been or may become
HaipraIized upder The present rule, is clear a
VIOLATION al tie Con>Ii,ut Jon would be forcibe
denial ai any other right, eirh"r Of person or
property. That the wrong is To be doae through
the ballot box, gives it no excuse. The thing is
IN itself at war with The Constitution, wholly ir.
respective OF the means BY which i, is committed.
inceed IT Is rather aggrayarion Of il, as it
ahqses the sacred purpose Of the franchise, BY
converting II into an instrument of injustice from
Icing, as il shoUld BE-, the means ct supporting
~ lha rights thar The Consli uinn conf.rs on the
cIIizens.
But the aspec CT in WHICH such a combination, sue.
ccssiuHy carried out, would present to the
world, should be. matter of deep regret. Il
would prove naEvs Americans false TO IA most
solemn national RFomiSe-Ihai holds forth the ex,
?ecraIon. 10 ~nrdsoo clear for debate, OF equali.
~ Of rights. This, after the expectation has been
ac:ed span in good faith by the eRigrant, denies
y. IL therefore carrfes with ii naIonaI djshonor
il makes also tho CONSTITUTION what it isGot. II
changes the law. which all are equally bound to
pbey. W spirit Us well as letter, and Wakrs fpr !
Iiself law.