M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-13
Us, lhe grandest temple. Which has

uVul siuce llle NOTlu began. Ii mas
been constcrsted by the blood of ON
Fathers, by the glories OF our past,
and by the hopes of the future, and
the ULion hrs already made MS the
most prosperous, and ere long will, il
preserved, render us the most power.
tul nation or the face of tic earth.
In every foreign region of the globe
the title of American citizen is held
in the highest respect, and when pro
nounccd in foreign lands, it causes the
hearts OF our countrymen to swell
with honest pride. Surely, when VIC
reach the brink Of the yawhing abyss
we shall recoil with horror, from the
last fatal plunge. BY such dread
catastrophe, the hopes oflhe friends OIL
freedom throughout the world wo'd bt
destroyed, and along night OF eaden
ldespUtism would enshroud the nation
Our example for more than eighty
wears would not only be lost, but il
would be quoted as a conclusive proof
that man is unfit for self.governlnent.
IL is not every wrong, nay, it is moi
every grieveus wrong which can justi
! fy resort to such fearful alternative
This ought to be the last desperate
remedy VI despairing people, after
every other constitutional means ot
Cancellation had been exhausted. We
should reflect that nnder this free gov
ernment there is an incessant ebb and
flow Of public opinion. The slavery
question, IKE every thing human, will
have its day. firmly believe that i
has already reached and passed the
eliminating point; but ii, in the midst
Of the existing excitement, the UnioI
shall perish, the evil may then becom,
lrreparabIe. Congress can contribut,
much to arrest it, by proposing ant
recommending 10 the Legislatures o
the several States the remedy for ex
isting evils which the Constitution ha,
itself provided for it's own preserva
ton. This has been tried at diffrrsn
periods OF Our history, and alwayi
with eminent succ, IS. 1t is to b,
found in the 5lh article, providing fol
its own amendment. Under this arti
Gle amendments have been propose
by two thirds of both Houses Of Con
greSs, and have been ratified by Tho
Legislatures OF three. .iourths OF the
several States, aud have consequent,
become parts Of the Constitution. TC
this process the country is indebted fol
the clause prohibiting Congress from
passing any law respecting an eslab
IiShment of religion or abridging the
freedom Of speech or of the press, OF
the right Of petition. To this we are
also indebted for the bill of rights
which secured the people against any
abuse Of power by the Federal Gov.
crnmert. Such were the apprehen.
sionS justly entertained 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
nents.
Again the Constitution was amend.
I'd by the same process after the cleo
ton Of President Jefferson by the
House OF Re presentatives, in Februa
ry, 1903. This amendment was rem
dcred necessary TO Ltevent a recur
renee Of the dangers which had seri.
0usly threatened the existence OF the
Government during the peDdancy Of
that election. The article Of its own
amendment was intended to procure
tho amieablc adjustment of the con.
ficting Constitutional questions. like
the present, which might arise be.
tween the Governments of the States
and Of the United States This ap.
pears from contemporaneOus history.
N this connection, | shall merely call
to few instances in Mr..
Madison's justly celebrated report, in
1879, to the Legislature of Virginia.
In this, he ably and conclusiyely de.
Tended the resolutions Of the preceding
Legislature against the structures Of
several other State Legislatures -
These were mainly founded upon the
protest Of the Virginia LegislatureI
against the alien and sedition acts as
palpable, and alarming attractions on
the Constitution. in pointing out the
peaceful and constitutional remedes :
and he referred to none Uther-to
which the States were authorized to
resort on such occasions, he concludes
BY saying, that the Legislatures of the
States might have made a direct rep.
resentation to Congress, with IA view
to obtain a resembling OF the two Of,
lensive acts, or they might have rep
resented to their respective Senators
in Congress their wish that two, thirds
thereof would propose any explanatory
amendment to the Constitution; or
two thirds Of themselves, if such had
been their option, might, by an appll.
cation TO Congress, l,ave obtained a.
Convention for the very same object.