The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-12-07
February, ,lsOs. This amendment was rem

February, 1903. This amendment was rem
dered necessary to prevent recurrence OF the
dangers which bad seriously threatened the
existence Of the government during the pen
dency of that election. The article for i,s
own amendment was intended to procure
the amicsbls adjustment OF conflicting Con-
stitutionsl questions, like the present, which
might arise between the governments OF the
States and that Of the United States.
This appears from contemporaneous bis
tory. In this connection shall merely call
attention TO a few instances in Mr.. Madi.
sons justly celebrated report in l779, to the
Legislature Of Virgins. 10 this he ably and
cnnclusiVely defends the resolutions Of the
preceding legislature, against the structures
Of several other State legislatures. These
were mainly founded upon the protest Of the
Virginia legislature against the Alien and
Sedtion acts, Ss pslpable end alarming in.
fractions OF the constitution. In pointing
out the pesceful and constitutional remedies.
and he referred 10 none other to which the
States were authorized to resort on such oc.
casions, be concludes by saying that the
legislatures of the States might have made
q direct representation to Congress with q
view to obtain resembling OF two offensive
acts, or they might have represented to their
respective Senators in Congress their wish
that two.thhds thereof would propose any
explanatory amendment to the Constitution,
or two.thrds OF themselves, if such hod been
their option, might, by an application to
| Congress, have obtained a convention for
the same object. This is the very course
which earnestly recommend in order TO
obtain On explanatory amendment Of the
Constitution on the subject of slavery
This might originate with Congress or the
State Legislatures, as mGy be deemed most
advisable to attain the object. The expla.
na,ory amendment might be confirmed to
the final settlement OF the true construction
OF the constitution On three special points.
First, on express recognition of the right Of
property in slaves in the States where it
new exists or Nay hereafter exist. Second,
The duty of protecting this right in all the
common territories throughout their terrific
rial txislsnce, and until they shall be admit
ted as States into the Union, with or with
out slavery, ns their constitutions may pre-
scribe. Third, A like recognition Of the
right Of the master to have his slave who
has escaped from one State 10 another re-
stored and delivered up so him, and Of the
validity Of the Fugitive Slave Law eusctec
Tor this purpose, together with declaration
that all State laws impairing or defeating
this right ore violations OF the constitution
and ire consequently null and void. 1t may
be objected that this construction OF tht
: constitution hos already been settled by tht
Supreme Court OF the United States, ont
Whist more ought to be required The en-.
sw er is that q very large proportion OF tht
: people Of the U. S. still contest the correct
ness OF this decision, and never will ceas
from eeiaticn end admit its binding fore
until clearly established by the people o
= the several States in their sovereign chsrac-
ter. Such an explanatory 8mendmen
> wtult, il is believed, forever terminate th
> existing disseHsions, and restore peace an
harmony among the States. thought not t
be doubted that euch an appeal to the Orbi-
troment established by the constitution tsel
wcuId be received with favor by oil tht
States of contederncy. In any event, i
Guy ht to be tried in spirit of coDciIiator
themselves from the Union.
WI en- entered upon the duties OF the
Presidential office, the aspect of neither our
foreign nor our domestic affairs was at III
sstis'tctory. We were involved in danger
Gus complications with several nations, and
Two CT tur Territories were in q state Of re.
vcluIion sai;st the government. Aresto.
ration Ct the African slave trade had numer.
Gus tnt puSer ul rGvccOtes. Unlawful iHil.
jtsrv expeditions were countenaEced by
mary OF cur itZene, and were suffered, in
d. farce o! the efforts Of the government, to
depart 'rrm cur shores, for the purpose OF
m king war Upon the unofeDding people o.
neia hbrri' republics, with whom we were
at reace. 10 atditon to these difficulties.
He ,xFcrie1 ced reyuson in monetary af-
/ fairs, soon after my advent TO power, OF un-
exempted severity, bnd Of Tuinous conse
qucnce to all the great interests Of the
county. When we take Il retrospect o
what wGs then our condition, and contrast
this with our material prosperity at the time
oi the Presidential election, we have obun
dant reason TO return cur grateful thanks tc
that merci'ul Providence which has never
forsaken US es G nation in III our past trials
Oor relations with Grest Britsn are ot
The most friendly character. Since the
commencement of my administration, the
two dangerous questions arising from the
Clayton and Bulwer treaty and from the
right Of search claimed by the British gov
ernment, have been honorably and amicab!y
adjusted.
i he dsco,dant construction OF the Clay
ton urd Buwer treaty between the two gov
ernments, which, nt different periods of the
discussion, bore threatening aspect have
resulted in final settlement entire ly salts.
factory to this government. In my last
message, informed Congress that the Brit
government had not then "comp!eted
treaty arrangements with the republics Of
Honduras and Nicaragua, in pursuance OF
the understanding between the two govrrn-
ments. 1t is nevertheless confidently cx-
pected that this good work will ere long be
accomplished" This confident expectation
has since been fulfilled. Her Britanic Ma
jesty concluded treaty with Honduras On
the 2Sth Of November, 1859. aad with Nic-
aragus on the 28th of August, 1860, reliu-
gushing the Mosquito protectorate. Be-
sides, by the former, the Bay Islands are
recognized as part of the republic OF Hot
uuIue' IL hdy ue oVse''eu tuat tne etIpu~
lations Of those treaties con: :orm in every
important particular to the amendments
adopted by the Senate of the United States
to the treaty concluded at London, on the
l7,h of October, 1866, between the two
governments. 1t will be recollected tina,
this treaty ives rejected by the British gov
: errment because OF its objection to the jus
and important amendment of the Senate t.
the ortice relating to Rutan and the othe
islands in the BY of Honduras.
> 1t must be source of sincere satisfac,