The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-14

New York, Indiana Maryland and others have unend-
Cd their constitutions, and no Immediate evil results have
followodL - 80 - ,itE i.saa ~ 5.,t ~
But the fact that In all the State constitutions guards
have been thrown around the amending power reuiring
conc,rring votes Of successive legislatures, aud IN many
majority Of two thirds and thereafter rthca,
tio by the qualiAc electors shows the opinion of the
people adverse sen alterations and tnt danger
be spYraAened at this point. Mr. Chairman in
this age. the danger to liberty not IN hSnpering major
tiles but the opposite not In rsarsnipg public opinion
but IN giving loose rein TO It's ebutions and eSceseS
Sir majorties always take OF themselves but
private interests and minority rights appeal 10 limitations
and restrictions upon power to protect tem Tbs more
taFdy the process the cumbrous the machinery In
efecting change Of the fundamental law the gseater
the security to The citizen rttssaa ~ 6sAa
Objection is made by 10 the admission oi Kansas
because in the schedule attached to her consultation, the
legislature is not authorized t' call eonvcntica fov pur
poses OF amendment until after The year 1864 Now,
sir, whatever may bc our individual opinions to the
wisdom and propriey this provision, hunly submit
that Congress has nothing To do with this questiont
belongs exclusively to the people of that State But do
those who object remember that Indiana admitted
with siSnilar clause in her constitution only tho tne
incrdicting amendment twelve years just double
that of Kansas Who objected to her alDaiss0n upon
this grounds She free State. No one In the North
far As know, cared about the limitations which she
imposed upon her government. Nut tho force la tho db
ectio In the present may he found m the TACT that
Kansas Is slaveholdng State lndinna notyithsAnd
ing The limitation, changed her constitution before The
te fixed had expired. KANSAS. .if shc 90 desires.
DO the thing. do not say that II will bc wise In
her people to do Ibccve imprient for any State
10 act differently from TIE forms prscrb In her coisst
tuition But what Is my opinion Whist tho opinions of
all the members Of this House Has not State the
power to pursue her policy TO carry out the wishes
of her people !" In her own wsy" Thk clnAse n tho
form We are not permitted to look for any other OBJ
teCtious a. d kHs tNafsEa%3 sA'ti tH sf8sf
Mr.. Chalrman, the State Of Alahsma. whoss people
have the honor u part Y Ispent y ths ~: anan,ons
OF Kaasas. saAhArmd csaventn to be called 10 deter
mine her course Of action TAking her position by the
side of The State of Georgia. she Will and ought 70 resist
(as last resort to drnptiOnof every the which
binds her to the Uno any action of Congress apop the
subject Of slavery i'm the Distgctof Columbia, In places
subject 70 The Jurisdiction of Congress, incompatible with
tine safety, dntic tranquility, the rights and honor of
trade between tho slave holding States any refusal to
admit State any Territory hereafter applying becAuse
Of the exslense Of slavery therein sy act pzht
Utah or New Mexico OF any act repeating materially
modifying tho laws In force for Tho recovery Of fg
tive slaves z Sir, to her Lowe my allegiance. What
she may in her wisdom pursue, s Of her
sons, bound TO her by every tie, in veal OF in VICE. shall
viii NOT disguise my feelings on Ais question II i
Indeed painful To TO contemplate the necessity laid upon
my State to invoke her sovereign power TO rcsiss agcs
sion. Believing, az soemnly do, unless some conssitu
tiOna check be placed upon northern increasing
daily In numbers and il anatics the minority States
will be, at ell tmes liable to oppression heartily CON
In the resolutions adopted y her legislature, The
time for action Is at hand Did not my people OF
the dangers which threaten the overthrow Of their rlghts
should not be faithful sentinel That the deliberations
OF her convention when called, may result in plan
furnishing additional safeguards to liberty protecting the
rights of the South Without sevsing the bonds which
unite the States my most earnest desire 10 this end
limitations upon tho powers of the combined majority section
absolutely md;7oab Those who profess To iovc the
Union nay cry peace nt the passage Of this or that
measure .but there will be peace there will be,
rightly comprehend the strength and designs of the
black republicans cessation of fostilities pause
in the MARCH Of aggression security for opr rights,
afcy 10 the country until this end be attaned The
responsibility rests upon the majority section Consent
ing this necessary choc upon their powers they can
restore harmony between the two sections they cany
up the bitter waters Of strife Otherwise these dark wa
tes will flow on until all the feelings Of friendship
poisoned all motives to union destroyed and all the
lessngs that we nowenjoy in common 50 richly forever
enCuifed " w t M