Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-12-12

PTNoOIII IN TICNIuUI q
ing it ; but would Danish all hope ofits peace :
full reconstruction. Besides, in the fraterna 10
conflict, a vast amount of blood and reasule
would be expended, rendering future recon-
c~illiation between the States lmpossioie,
In the mean time, who can foTetei wnat
would be the sufferings and privatlons OF the :
people during its existence?
The fact is, our Union rests upon pun
lie opinion, and can never be cementca =,
the blood of its citizens, shed IN civil wal +,
If it cannot live in the affections OF the peo- !
pie, it must one day perish. CONGRESS pgaf;
scsseS many means ofpreserylng 10y eon1ni
alton but the sword was not placed IN their
hand to preserve it by force.
But may | be permitted solemnly TO fhFoAe
my country men to pause and deliberate oe.oIo
they determine to destroy this, the grandest
temple which has ever been dedicated 10 nj
man freedom since the world began? IL
has been consecrated by the blood o. our
fathers, by the glorics of the past ana py
the hopes of the future. The Union mas al
ready made US the most prosperous, ana ere
long, will, if preserved, render Us the most
powerful nation on the face OF the earth.-
In every foreign region OF the glooe tne !.
tie of American c~itizen.is held IN the highest
respect, and when pronounced IN a foreign
land it causes the hearts of our countrymen
to swell with honest pride. Surely when we
reach the brink of the yawnlng abyss, we
shall recoil with horror from the last iatai
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 1t
would be quoted as a conclusive proof that
man is nnfit for self government.
IT IL NOT averv wronp-nay 1T iS not every
grieyous wrong-which can justify a resort
to such a fearful alternative. This ought to
be the last desperate remedy of a despairlng
people, after every other constitutional means
of Cancellation had been exhausted. We
should reflect that under this free Govern
ment there is an inceSsant ebb and flow in
public opinion. The slavery question, like
every thing human, will have its day. |
firmly believe that it has already reached and
: passed the eliminating point. But il, in
!, the midst OF the existing excitment, the
t Union shall perish, the evil may then become
> irreparable. Congress can contribute much
!, to avert it by proposing and recommending
/, to the Legislatures of the several States tht
: remedy for existing evils, which the ~constitu
e ton has itself provided for its own preser
walton. This has been tried at different crit
s zeal periods of our history, and always will
: eminent success. 1t is to be found in tn
l. 9TH article providing for its own amendment
r Under this article amendments have beer
II proposed by two thirds of both Houses G
E Congress, and having been ratified 10y tn
Ut Legislatures of three-fourths of the severa
l. States have consequently become par
of the Constitution. To this process tn
lie country is indebted for the clause prohibit
l. ing Congress from passing any law respect
i'll ing an establishment of religion, or abridgin
at the freedom of speech or of the press, or
Id the right of petition. To this we are, ais
C. indebted for the Bill of Rights, which S
us cures the people against any abuse of powt
by the Federal Government. Such were tt
IL appre tensions justly entertained by tn
en- friends of State rights at that period as
n have rendered it extremely doubtful whet'
he er the Constitution could have long surviv
c, without these amendments.
eN- Again, the Constitution was amended |
n the same process after the election of Pres
is dent jefferson, by the House of Represent
de tives, in February, 1903. This amendme
err was rendered necessary to prevent a rccu
to renee Of the dangers which had serious
he threatened the existence of the Governme
on during the p%endency of that election. L
ne article for its own amendment was intend
to secure the amicable adjustment of conf
ting constitutional questions like the prcsel
SO which might arise betwee the governm,
I've of the States and that of the T.. States
nc This appears from contemporaneous histo
In this connection, | shall merely call att
18th ton to a few sentencesi in Mr.. Madison's il
wv ly celebrated report, IL 1899, to the Legs
ing ture of Virginia. In this he ably and c
ige c~lusively defended the resolutions of {
uld preceding legislature against the strictu
lth of several other State legislatures. Th
OF were mainly founded upon the protest of
Virginia legislature against the Allen
TO Sedition Acts as 'palpable and alarming
ern- fractions of the Constitution In point
out the peaceful and constitutional remed
De a and he referred to none other, to which
States were authorized to resort, on such
casions, be concludes by saying: that
e OF i~slatures of the States might have mac
mat direct representation to Congress with a V
you to obtain a resembling of the two often:
acts, or they might have represented to Il
by respective senator's in Congress their v
n III thattwo- thirds thereof would propose an
to planatory amendment to the Constitut
4 on or two thirds of themselves, if such had |
their option, might, by an application
the Congress, have obtained a convention
)oW- the same Object
"a is This is the very course which | earne
'lth, recommend in order to obtain an 'explan
cred ry amendment of the Constitution on
.lple subject Of slavery. This might oliei
Con- with Congress or the State legislatures
list a may be deemed most advisable to obtain
have object.
'Wer The explanatory amendment might be
any fined to the final settlement of the true
'ern- structlon of the Constitution on three SD,
OF points:
: the 1 An express recognition Of the rigf
TO property III slaves in the States where it
Its exists or may hereafter exist.
car 2 The duty of protecting this right i
pow the common Territories throughout t
been territorial existence, and until they sha!
y re- admitted as States, into the Union, with
the without slavery, as their constitutions
prescribe.
tnat 3. a like recognition of the right Of
the master to have his slave, who has csc
force from one State to another, restored and
ate, llveied up to him, and of the validity O
1 op- fugitive Slave law enacted for this nur
from together witha declaration that all State
ence. imparing pr defeating this right, are
nSt a tons ofthe Constitution, and are consea
on OF ly null aud void.
ana 1t may DC objected that this constru
party OF the Constitution has already been Sc
com by the Supreme Court of the United S
opoh and what more ought to be required ?
'ous!y answer 1, that a very large proportion
again people OF the United States will test tn,
z o.n %rectness ofthis decision, and never will
ng to from agitation and ad,,;t Re L;na;na
1t for until clearly established h, a. .aoal