Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-12-06
Il PRESS AND FAMILY JOURNAL :

ihe slavery yessuon. hks sysgythlDg hz,-Sn.. ID
have rs Day. 4 nrzaly bsi,ess thai y be- slrealy
re l,s., 1881 ,ss euln.l.anss .ni pa q
psrish the syii may fhss bse..,s r,ersrshls Coo.
re-s ian eontr butte usuch 70 aver Il By prupcslng
ss,ss ire rs-y e 70 s sss,sss. q =, ,s go
s,iiution has sef provided fr ~ osn pfrsery arin
Tbs has been tried At daer,,, critical peod, u
hstpfl and always With enrsat success n Is 10 be
toand IN The 5th article providing e,r fts own amend
neut under this article smends.spts have been Trv-
pod ~ ieothifts ~ bOth houses ~ Cnnertss aud
have Oc<h = ratified Nv ths lss1sls,sre. ~ thses
trih, 81 me several Sthtss and have consequently
become paris % abe Constitution To M. prsss he
country IL tndeofed Tor tae clause prohsdtin Con
sress non passing any law respecting er.shi.h.
asni Y rslg,on. pr abrsdEipF he freedom % syssch
also indebted ',r lie BIZ - RiEht.. which =.
Nc Pcopls against any abuse q poser - tie
- yossrnsnt such wers the spprshenssoos
letG tn'srtainod ny the fiesds q Satarghfs a.
that t>rod - 30 have rendered extremely dous,fl
whether the Consdturoa eoald hays lonr Survived
Nausout these amendments. SEA
AfAir The Constitution was amended By the san,
siisI me eleetiou q Prssdeni Jersrsoa BY hs
hosss OF Represeniatives. IN February. iso,. mis-
sInsnomcht las rendered necessary Ia prr~ent . re
eeuenee q The dangers hich bad seriously thre
dtns existence o. The Government during the pen
denef cf NAT eiectcn- The article Cor " amend
meot eas Intended secure The snlcable Adjustment
deoancslnE constitutional 9uest.ns ike the pgcser;
Shiea nlfAi ara bergen ihs Ie,srnpfhis o. iis
S'Atrs and thn o. the Tplted States. Ills appeas
shal merely eAi sftsotion 10 a few sepiencss IN ~.
ais q vSslsis II shis & sbiy ard ias
~ deftodfd the resolutions % the preceding leeisa.
isre agsns' the ,rctures Of several oheE STAT es
turns. Fhese were malniy founded upon the prote.t
81 the trgna legislature against ibe ALIEN snd Sc.
ntien Acts ~ . palpahie ard alarming infracfioos
aud constitutional remodel ard Sc rrferred 10 none
c;her 20 which the States were authorized 10 rssoTt
e ssn psssis ,S. he sensss y ssyas ssi iss
felrsentston 70 Congress riih view 20 obtain
sedins q the two offensive acts they might have
lhfT vish that t-o-thirs thereof would propose an
tNFiantofy aInentmsn ~ 10 the Constitution. OF two
uari. q themselves, II such had been their OPTION
might hy an application 10 ConrrcsS have obtained
convention for the same object
Tbs y The very euaTse which I earnestly recon.
'nsso N order % obtain an explanatory amendment
OF the Constitution the subject Of slavery This
might originate with Congress OF the State ecfsla
Object ' '''"'" 'D''' A'' ''-''e 70 a'iA'a The
i, The explanatory amendment mi sht &c confined 10
We hnni settlement OF the cpnstrusfion 81 the
CONSTITUTION on threc sT<eial points
An cNprefs recognition o. the iEht Of proter1v an
Save. N TIC States Nherc i nov exists may here.
. The dnty q Tru,ectins this rich, in All the com
mon Territories fhrou Ehont their territorial stepre
sni unhl they shali be admitted States into the
Dn WIN ~ without slavery ~ their consfitEiIoas
J. Ike recognition Of the right cfihs master to
have HE slave who has escarsd fr,,,n ,',s s,as =,
other. restored and elise cred up' o. him az, iic
validity Of the ngiiycs Law enacted fr ths talr
"se together Nith declsraf0n thai 81 stale laws
'3nsstui,on. and are consequently null aud vcad
u may lie objected ID AZ this eonstrctlon on be Ton
SiiHtiun has already been settled by tho sunr me
Court 81 The United States, and what more ought To
hs reauirthf The answer il, thEi n very large pru-
PARTON of The people ~ the Uni.e states sin ccfcst
ihS euTrsstncss 20 This decision au never MI! erAs
nom agitation and adnr n binding f,rce until clear
" established by the people ~ the several States IA
ther sovereign character. Such an exulaIlfory ~
nenuicnt would IL i believed forever terminate The
nnDag the States.
IL ought not 20 be doubted thai such an a1reai IN
the arhitraIneni established Nv the Conststin h,ei
sOSh DC rereiNed With favor hy all The states a lie
tohiensGey. Ia any event u ought "a be tried In a
sTanf oftuncatOu before any OF these STATE shnii
selarate themselves fiom the Unlon
when entered uT.sn the dntics OF the ur.,ideptsl
ONCE. the aspect neither q orT fcrvgn nor dansti
Ai'A4p Nas at All satisfactory. We were Invoked M
Dangerous complications w!ih several nat!nns ana
t"u 81 cur Itrutorirs Nsru in state OF revolution
AgiAisst The GuNurrmsnt. A TestaraI ga Of m,
AiteEn slave trade had numerous na ,fi AN,
Gales unlawful military expeditions were cnuute.
nA4etd Oy many 81 our citizens Fud we're stfs ri In
defiance ~ the eoIts of the Government o. es.ar.a
ton our shorer Tor the purpose % making war ana,
INC nhonondnF Ee"pie ~ neghhoTing rrfiuhlrs with
whom Nc were ~ peace. In addition e. ghe.s and
other dhc ulises. Ne cNperepced a TcvHisn IN mon.
eiafl Affairs -ocu atCT my advent % power Of uncN.
Ampled severity and Of rulnous CONSEQUENCE, 10 an
tlr great interests Of the country. When 80 take
retrospect 81 what was then oar condition and con.
tai This with ss material prosperity az the time Of
the tate presidential election, have abundant r.a
500 20 rctarn our grateful thanks 20 that fnerrisl
providence which has never fprsaken Us o. nation
IN 81 our past trials