The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-12-14

ish, the evil may then become irreparable.
Congress can contribute much to avert 1t
by proposing and recommending to the
Legislatures of the several Statesthe rem
edy for existing evils, which the Constitu-
ton has itself provided for its own preser-
vation. This has been tried at different
critical periods of our history, and always
with eminent success. 1t is to be found
in the 9Th article providing for its own
amendment. Under this article amend
ments have been proposed by two-thirds
of both Houses OF Congress, and have
been ratified 10y tho Legislatures OF three
fourths of the several States" and have
consequently become parts Of the Consti-:
tuition. To this process the country is in
debted for the clause prohibiting Congress
from passing any law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion, or abridging the free
dom of speech or of the press, or OF the
right of petition. 10 this yys are, also, in
debted for the Bill of rights, which se-
cures the people against any abuse of the
power by the Federal Government. such
were the apprehensions justly entertain
ed by the friends of State rights at that
period as to have rendered it extremely
doubtful whether the Constitution could
have long survived without these amend
ments.
Again, the Constitution was amended
by the same process after the election ot'
President Jefferson by the House OF
Representatives, in February, 1903. This
amendment was rendered necessary to
prevent recurrence of the dangers
which had seriously threatened the ex-
istence of the Government during tho
pendency of that election. The article
for its own amendment was intended to
secure the amicable adjustment OF con-
flicting constitutional questions like the
present, which might arise between the
governments of the States and that Of
the United States. This appears from
contcmporaneous history. In this con-
nection, ! shall merely call attention to
few sentences in Mr.. Madison's justly
celebrated report, in 1899, to the Legs
lature OF Virginia. In this he ably and
conclusively defended the resolutions OF
the preceding Legislature against the
structures of several other State Legisla-
lures. These were mainly founded upon
the protest OF the Virginia Legislature
against the "Alisn and Sedition Acts" az
''palp and alarming iniractions oil the
Constitution" In pointing out the
peaceful and Constitutional remedies,
land he referred to none otherJ to which
the States were authorized to resort on
such occasions, he concludes by saying,
that the Legislatures OF the States might
have made direct representation 20 Con-
grsss with view to obtain resembling
of the two offensive acts, or they might
have represented to their respective Ssna-
tors in Congress, their wish that two
thirds thereof would propose an explana-
tory amendment to the Constitution, or
lwo-thirds Of themselves, if such had
been their option, might, by an applics-
ton to Congress, have obtaineda u conven-
ton for the same object
This is the very course which | earnest
ly recommend in order to obtain an 'ex-
planatory amentlmcuJ" OF tlrc Conetitu-
ton on the subject of slavery. This
might originate with Congress or the
State legislatures, as may be deemed most
advisable to attain the object.
The explanatory amendment might be
confined to the final settlement of the
true construction of the Constitution on
three special points;
/. An express recognition of the right
of property in slaves in the States where
it now exists ormay hereafter exist.
>. The duty of protecting this right in
their territorial existence, and until they
shall be admitted as States iato the Union,
with or without slavery, us their consti-
tions may prescribe.
3. A like recognition of the right of the
master to have his slave, who has escaped
from one State to another restored and
delivered up to him, and of the validi-
ty OF the fugitive slave law enacted for
Ia 10 ,,pr,osn tpratI ,or will, a la,l,rn,;o,,
that all State laws impairing or defeating
this right are violations of the Constitll-
ton, and are consequently null and void
1t may be objected that this construc-
tim of the Constitution has already been
settled by the Supreme Court of the
United States, and what more ought to
be required? The answer is, that a very
large proper ton OF the people of the
United States still contest the correct
ness of this decision, and never will cease
from agitation and admit its binding
force until clearly established by the peo-
pie of the several States in their sover-
eicn character. Such an explanatory
amendment would, it is believed, forev-
er terminate the existing dissensions and
restore peace and harmony among the
States.
1t ought not to be doubted that such an
appeal to the arbtrament established by
the Constitution itself would be received
with favor by all the States of the Con-.
federacy. In any event it ought to be
| tried in spirit of conciliation before any
| OF these states shall separate themselves
| from the Union. ,.. ,... .,lt.+
When entered upon the duties of
| the presidential office, the aspect neither,
of our foreign nor domestic afssirs was xt
all satisfactory. We were involved in
dangerous complications with several ma
tions, and two of our Territories were in
a state OF revolution against the Govern,
ment. A restoration of the African
slave trade had numerous and powerful
advocates. Unlawful military .expedi-
tons were countenanced by many OF our
citizens, and were suffered in defiance OF
| the Government, to escape from our
shores, for the purpose of making war
upon the unotiending people of neigh
boring republics with whom we were at
peace. In addition to these and other
difficulties, we experienced revulsion
in monetary affairs, soon after my advent
to power, of unexampled severity and Of
ruinous consequences to all the great in-
terests OF the country, When we take
retrospect of what was then our condi-
ton and contrast this with its material
prosperity at the time OF tho late Presi-
dental election, we have abundant reas-
on to return our grateful thanks. to that
merciful Providence which mas never for
salSen us as a nation in al our past trials.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
ORIGIN OF CAMP MEETTINGs.-The New
York Evangelist says -,
"The first camp meeting held in Ameri-
ca was in Kentucky. Two preachers one
a Presbyterian, the other a Methodist
| maj in q yillane ON the Sabbath xxhara