Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-12-13
I WHOLE NO. 2l4.


framed the Constitution. aeo -ia3 1shrI
1tappears from the proceedings Of that body, on
the 3lst of May, 1877, that the clause authorizing
an execution of the force of the whole against n
delinquent State came up for consideration. Mr.
Madison opposed it in brief but pow erful speech,
from which shall extract but a single sentence
lie observed: "The use OF force against a State
would look more like declaration of war than an
naiction OF punishment, and would probably be
considered by the party attacked as dissolution
of all previous compacts by which it might be
bound" ,sr-
Upon his motion the clause was unanimously
postponed, and was never, believe, again pre-
sented.
Soon after, on the 9Th of June. 1871, when in.
cdentally adverting TO this subject, he said "Any
Government for the United States, formed on the
supposed practicabiity Of using force against the
unconstitutional proceedings of the States, would
prove visionary and fallacious the Govern
ment of Congress-" evidently meaning the chen
existing Congress of the old Confederation
Without descending to particulars it may be safe
ly asserted that the power to make war against
State is at variance with the whole spirit and intent
of the Constitution. Suppose such warshould re-
suit in the conquest ofa State how are We TO govern
il afterwards Shall we hold it as province and
govern it by despotic powerl In the nature Of
things we could not by physical force control the
will of the people, and compel them to elect Sena-
tors and Representatives to Congress, and to per-
form all the other duties depending upon their own
relation, and required from free citizen of free
State rs a constitutional member of the Confedera-
cy. But if we possessed the power, would it be
wise to exercise it under the existing circums.an-
cesl The object would be doubtless to preserve
the Union, but would not only present the most
efectual means of destroying it, but would Danish
all hope Of its peaceabe reconstruction. Besides,
in the fraternal conflict vast amount of blood and
treasure woald be expended, rendering future re-
Cancellation between the States impossible. In the
meantime who can forctell what would be the suf-
fering and privations of the people during its ex-
istence. The fact is that our Union rests upon
public opinion, and can never be ccmented, by the
blood of its citizens shed in civil war lift cannot
live in the affections of the people, it must one day
perish. Congress possesses many means of pre-
serving by conciation; but the sword was not pla-
ccd in their hands to preserve it by force But NAV
be permitted solemnly to invoke my countrymen
to pause, and deliberate before they determine TO
destroy this, the grandcst temple which has ever
been dedicated to human freedom, since the world
began, it has been consccrated by the blood of our
Fathers, by the glories Of our past, and by the
hopes Of the future; anu the Union has already
made US the most prosperous, and ere long will, ii
preserved. render us the most powerful nation on
the face OF the earth.
In every foreign region ofthc globe the title of
American citizen is held in the highest respect.
and when pronounced in foreign lands it causes the
hearts Of our countrymcn to swell with honest pride
Surely, when we reach the brink Of the yeawning
abyss, shall rccoil with horror from the last ia
tai plunge. BY such dread catastrophe the hopes
of the friends of freedom throughout the world
would be DESTROYED, and long night of leader
despotism would enshroud the nation. Our ex-
ample for more than eighty years would not only
be lost, but il would he quoted rs a conclusive
proofthat man is unfit for sclf-govcrnment. 1t is
not every wrong, nay, il is not every grievous
wrong. which can justify resort to such fearful
alternative.
This ough be the last desperate remedy of desaair
ciIaiion hal been exhausted We should
this free government there is nesnt cbb and flow Of
public opinion The slavery question like every thing hu
will have its day firmly belle, has already
reached and passed the eliminating Ioin but if in the
midst OF the excitement, the Union shalt perish the evil
then become irrcrarale Congress contribute
much to arrest it, by proposing and ,mmcndng the
Legislatures of lbs several States the reey for existing
evils which the Constitution has itself provided for
preservation. This has been tried different critical pc
riols ofour history and always with eminent success 1t
il e found in the 9Th article providing for its
menimcnt. Under this article amendments have
proposed by twofhrs of both Houses Of Congress- and
have been ratified by the legislature Of tis Of
she several States and have consequently become parts
the Constitution To this process the country is indebted
for the clause prohibiting Congress from passing any law
respecting establishment of religion abrdging the
freedom of speech or Of the press the right Of PETITION
To this as) idebted for the bin Of rights which
cured the people against abuse Of power by the Federal
Government suri, tlAa apprcensons justly enter
have rendered extremely doubtful whether the Constu
ton could have long survived these amendments.
Again the Constitution amended by the pro-
the election of President Jefferson by the House
of Representatives in February, lSr The amendment
as rendered necessary to prevent rcrreIce Of the dan
Government during the pcnancy Of that eletion. The
article for is amendment intended 10 procure the
fens. like present which might between the
Governments Of the States and Of the United States
This appears from contemporaneos history In this
to in
Nr. Maiison Justly celebrated i'm 1799 to the
Legislature Of Virginia In this he ably conculsively
defended the resolutions oe preceding Legislature aganst
the structures Of several other State gisainres These
isatue against thu alien and son acts palrable and
alarming infractions the Constitution In pointing out
the peaceful and constitutional remcdicsand he referred
c occasions, he concludes by saying that the
gisaures Of the States might have made direct presen-
ta.lon 70 Son VIII, view 70 % OBTAIN o. me
respective Senators Congress their wish that twohirds
thereof wcu propose explanatory amendment to the
Constitution; or twohrs OF themselves II such had becn
their option might by application TO censress have oh
tanned convention for the object. This
very course which earnestly recommend IN ordor TO OBJ
tain explanatory Amendments Of the Constitution
subject Of slavery This might originate with Congress
tho State Legislatures, be deemed most advisable
attain the Object The explanatory amendment might be
confined to the final settlement Of the construction Of the
Constitution three special points, First
cognition of the right of property in slaves in the States
where il exists may hereaf exist Second the
throrhet their territorial and until they shall
admitted States into the Union. with or without
slavery. their Constitution may prescribe Third alike
recognition of the right Of the master 10 his slave who
has escaped from State to another to he restored
delivered up him. and the validity Of the Fugitive Slave
Law enacted for this purpose together with declaration
inparng decreasing this right
violations of tho Constitution and consequently null and
void ff
1t nav be objected this construction Of the Consfitu-
tion has already been settled 10y the Supreme
United States and what ought rcquirede
is that large proportion OF the people Of the
United States still eonfrover the correctness of this dc
ion, and will cease from agitation and admit
binding frce until clearly established by the people Of Tho
several States in their sovereign character. Such exp
nation would il believed forever terminate the existing
ssnsions, and peace and harmony among the
States IL ought be doubted that appeal
the arbitrament established by the Consfitu>ion ITSELF
would be received with favor I all the States cf Con-
fcdcracy In il ought be tried in spirit Of
concafion before Of those States shall separate them
selves from the Union
When [ entered upon the duties of the
Presidential office, neither our foreign nor
domestic affairs were at all satisfactory
We were involved in dangerous complica-
tions with several nations, and two Of our
territories were in o state of revolution
against our Government; a restoration of
the African slave trade had numerous
and powerful advocates; unlawful military
expeditions were countcnanced by many Of
our citizens, and were suffered. in defiance
of the efforts of our Government, to es-
cape from our shores for the purpose Of
making war upon the unoffcndiDg people
of the neighboring Republics. with whom