Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-12-14
VOL 53. NO. SO,

I human freedom since the world DeGan. tf hAs
been consecrated by the blood Of our fathers.
| by the gloriea Of ehe pass, aud b5 The hopes Of
| the future Tho Union has already made IN
the most prosperous, and, ere long, will, Ii
preserved, render us the most powerful HAtirn
on the face of the earth. In every foreiga ft-
gion on she Globe the title of AmeEiean zifa-
zen Is held Id tho highest raapRet 80 a4#afHn
pronounced in a foreign LAND il causes tte
hearts OF cur countrymen to swell with honest
pride. Surely when we reach the brink or the
yaWning abyss, We shall recoil With horror
from the last fatal plunge. BY such dread
| catastrophe the hopes of the friends of tree-
dom throughout the world would be destroyed,
and long night of despotism would enshroud
the naticns Our example for more than eigh-
ty years would not only To lost, but would be
| quoted as conclusive proof that man is unit
for self government.
1t is not every wrong-nay, it is not every
grievo1s Wro Dg--Waich can Justify resort TO
such fearful alternative. This ought TO be
thc last desperate remedy of despairing peo-
pie, after every other constitutional means Of
-concIiiation had been exhausted. We should
reflect that under this free government there
is 40 incossant ebb and flow in public opinion.
The slavery question, like everything human,
| will have its day. frmly believe that il has
already reached and passed the eliminating
point. But if in the midst of the existing ex-
citement, the Uuion shall perish, the evil may
then become irreparable. Congress can con-
| tribute much to avert il BY proposing and re-
commencing to the Legislatures 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 periods of our history, and always with
eminent success. Is Is to be found in the fifth
article providing for its own amendment
| Under this article amendments have been pro-
posed by two thirds Of both Houses Of Con-
| gress and have been ssratifed by the Legisla-
lures Of three fonrths of the several States"
and consequently become parts of the Constitu-
tion: To this process the eonntry is indebted
for the clause prohibiting Congress from pas
sing any law respecting the establishment of
| religion, or abridging the freedom Of speech,
- ~ tAo press, or OF the right cf Pasision---
To this ne are also indebted for the Bill Of
| Rights which secures the people against any
abuse Of poser by the Federal Government.
Such were the apprehensions justly entertained
| by the friends of States rights ar that period
as to have rendered it extremely doubtful
whether the Constitution could have long sur
vlVed without these amendments.
| Again, the Consultation was amended by the
same process after the election of President
Jefferson by the House of Representatives, in
| February, l803.> This amendment was rem
dered necessary TO prevent q reourrance Of the
dangers which had seriously threatened the
existence of the Government during the pen
deney of that election. The article Tor its
OWL amendment was intended to secure the
amicable adjustment of conflicting constitution
| al questions like the present, which might
arise between the governments of the States
! and that of the United States. This appears
! from eontemporaneous history.
In this connection, shall merely call at
tentioa to "a few sentences in MIR. Madison's
justly celebrated report, in 1899, to the legis-
latuEe of Virginia. La this he ably and con-
clusiEaiy defended the resolutions of the pre-
eeding legislature against the structures of sew
eral other State Legislatures. These were
mainly founded upon the protest of the Vir-
| ginia legislature against the s'Alieu and Sedi-
ton Acts "palpahle and alarming infrao-
tions Of tha Constltntion." 10 pointing out
the peaceful and constitutional remedies, and
| ne referred to none other, to which the States
we're authorized to resort, on such occasions,
he concludes by saying, tsthat the legislatures
| or tue States might have made direct repro
| sentativn to Congress with view TO obtain the
resembling of the Two offensive acts, or they
might have represented TO their respective
Senator IN Congress their wish that two-thirds
| thereof would propose an explanatory amend
ment TO the Constitution, or two-thirds of
| themselves, if such had been their option.
might, by an application 10 Congress, have
obtained eonGen tlon for the same object
Thls l. the very course Which | earnestly re-
| commend in order to obtain an explanatory
amendment" of the Constitution on tue SUBJ
leet Of slavery. This might originate with Coa-
gress or the State Legislatures, ms NAV be
deemed most advisable 20 attain the object.
The explanatory amendment might be con-
fined 10 the 6nal settlement of the true con-
slructon Of the Constitution or three special
points
/. An express recognition OF the right of
property IN slaves in the States where ii now
exists or may hereafter exist.
2. the duty of protecting tAis right 10 all
the common territories throughout their ter
| ritorial existence, and until they shall be ai-
united as States into the Union, with or with
out slavery, as their constitutions may pre-
scribe.
3. A like recognition OF the right of The
master to have bis slave, who has escaped from
one State TO another; restored aad ssdelivered
ape 60 him, and Of the validity Of the fugitive
slave laE enacted for this purpose, together
with declaration that all Stale laws inIpsiring
OF defeating this right are violations rf the
Constitution, and ere consequently null and
void.
Ii may be objected that this construction of
the Constitution has already been settled by
the Supreme Court Of the United States, and
what more ought TO be required The answer
10, that a very large proportion OF the people