Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-12-06

Without descending TO particulars, il
may be safely asserted, that the power To
make war against State Is at variance
with the whole spirit Of the Constitution
Suppose such war should result in the
conquest Of State, how are we to govern
it Afterwards. Shall we hold it Rs q prov
ince, and govern II by despotic powerY In
the nature Of things We could not, BY pbysi-
cal force, control the will'of the people, and
compel them TO elect Senators and Repre-.
sentatives TO Congress, and to perform all
the other duties depending upon their own
volition, and required from the free citizens
of free State as o constituent member of
the confederacy. ",.-..
But, If we possessed this power, would il
be wise to exercise II under existing cir
cumstances2 The object would doubtless be
to preserve the Union, War would not on
ly present the most effectual means Of de-
stroying IT. but would Danish oil hope ofits
peaceRble reconstruction. Besides, in the
fraternal conflict vast amount Of, blood
and treasure would be expended, rendering
future reconciliation between the States
impossible. In the meantime, who can
foretell what would be the shfferings and
prtvetions of the people during its exis-
tence7 iat
The fact is that our Union rests upon
public opinion and can never be cemented
by the blood Of its citizens in civil war
II II cannot live in the affections of the peo-
pie, 1t must one day perish. Congress pos
sesses many means Of preserving II by CON
ciliation; but the sword was not placed in
their hand to preserve it by force
But may be permitted sOlemnly TO in
woke my countrymen to pause and deliber-
ate before they determine TO destroy this.
the grandest temple which has ever been
dedicated to human freedom since the world
began2 II has been consecrated by the
blood Of our fathers, by the glories of the
past, and by the hopes Of the future. The
Union has already made US the most pros
porous and, ere long, will, if preserved,
render us the most powerful nation on the
face Of earth. In every foreign region of
the globe the title Of American citizen is
held in the highest respect, and when pro-
nounced in q foreign land it causes the
hearts Of our countrymen to swell with hon
est pride, Surely when we reach the brink
of the yawning abyss, we shall recoil with
horror from the last fatal plunge By such
a dread catastrophe the hopes Of the friends
of freedom throughout the world would
be destroyed, and a long night of leaden
despotism would enshroud the nations
Our example for more than eighty years
would not only be lost but it would be
quoted as q conclusive proof that man is
unfit for self government.
1t is not every wrong-nay, il is not ev-
cry grievous wrong-which can justify
resort to such fearful alternative. This
ought to be the last desperate remedy of a
despairing people, after every other consti-
tutIonal means of Cancellation has been ex-
hausted We should reflect that under this
free government there is an incessant ebb
and flow in public opinion. The slavery
question, like everything human, will have
its day. firmly believe that it has al
ready reached and passed the eliminating
point. But If, in the midst of the existing
excitement the Union shall perish, the
evil may then become irreparable. Con-
gress can contribute much to avert it by
and recommending to the legis-
latures of the several States the remedy
for existing evils which the constitution
has itself provided for its own preservation.
This has been tried at different critical ne
riods of our history and always with emf
nent success. go o.-s
1t is to be found in the fifth article pro-
viding for its own amendment. Under this
article amendments have been proposed by
two-thirds Of both houses of Congress. and
have been "ratified by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the several States and
have consequently become parts of the con-
stitution.
To this process the country is indebted
for the clause prohibiting Congress from
passing any law respecting an established
religion or abridging the freedom Of speech
or Of the press, or Of the right of petition.
To this, we are also indebted for the Bill
of Rights, which secures the people against
any abuse Of power by the Federal Cover
ment Such were the apprehensions justly
entertained by the friends of State rights
at that period as to have rendered it ex-
tremely doubtful whether the Constitution
could have long survived without these
Again, the constitution was amended by
the same process after the election of Presi-
dent Jefferson by the House of Representa-
tives, in February, 1903. This amendment
was rendered necessary to prevent recur-
renee of the dangers which had seriously
threatened the existence of the government
during the tendency of that election. The
article for its own amendment was intended
TO secure the amicable adjustment of confic-
ting constitutional questions like the present,
which might arise between the governments
of the States and that of the UnitVd States.
This appears from contemporaneous history.
In this connection, shall merely call atten-
ii N to q few sentences in Mr.. Madison's % lust
ly celebrated report in 1899, to the Legisla-
ture of Virginia. In this he ably and con-
defended the resolutions of the pre-
ceding Legislature against the structures of
several ,otner State Legislatures. These were
mainly founded upon he-protest of the Vir-
ginia Legislature against the ''Alien and Sc
dition acts" as "palpable and alarming in
fractions of the constitution" In pointing
out the peaceful and constitutional remedies
land he referred to none other-to which
the States were authorised TO resort on such
occasions, he concludes by saying 'that the
Legislatures of the States might have made
a direct representation 10 Congress with q
view TO obtain resembling of the two often
sive acts, or they might have represented to
their respective Senators in Congress their
wish that two thirds thereof would propose
an explanatory amendment TO the constitu-
lion, or two-thirds of themselves, if such had
been their option, might, by an application
10 Congress, have obtained convention for
The same object" ~ e.. .lH
This is the very course which earnestly
in order TO obtain an "explana-
.ory amendment of the constitution on the
Iubject of slavery. This might originate
with Congress or the State Legislatures, as
may be deemed most advisable to attain the
,bject.
This explanatory amendment might be
'on6ned to the final settlement of the true
obstruction OF the constitution on three
pecial points, es-a.l efr
l.. An express recognition of the right of
property in slaves in the States where il now
xists or may hereafter exist. ir 3al
2. The duty Of protecting this right in all
he co mmon Territories throughout their ter
itoriaI existence, and until they shall be