The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-12-13

fecoil with horror from the last fatal
blunge. BY such dread catastrophe
ffie' hopes of the friends of freedom
throughout the world would be de-
stroyed, and long night of leaden
despotfsm would enshroud the nation.
Our example for more than eighty
years would not only be lost, but it
would be quoted as d conclusive proof
that man is unfit for selfgovernment.
1t Is not every wrong, nay, it is not
every gretiohs wrong, which can justi-
II arssort to such fearful alternative.
This ought to be the last desperate
remedy of despairing people, after
every other constitutional means. of
Cancellation had been exhausted. We
should reflect that under this free gov
eminent there is an incessant ebb and
fow of public opinion. The slavery
question, like everything human, will
have its day. ] firmly believe that it
has already reached and passed the
eliminating point; but if, in the midst
of the existing excitement, the Union
shall perish, the evil may then become
irreparable. Congress can contribute
much to arrest it, by proposing and
recommending to the Legislature 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. 1t is to be found in
the 9Th article, providing for it's own
amendment. Under this article,
amendments have been proposed by
two-thirds of both Houses of Congress,
and have been ratified by the Legisla-
lures of three-fourths of the several
States, and have consequently become
parts of the Constitution To this pro-
cess the country is indebted for the
clause prohibiting Congress from pas
sing any law respecting an establish
ment of religion, or abridging the free
dom of speech or of the press, or 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 Government.
Such were the apprehensions Justly en-
tertained by the friends of State rights
at that period, as to have rendered il
extremely doubtful whether the Consti
tuition could have long survived these
amendments.
~ Again the Constitution was amended
by the same process after the election
of President Jefferson by the House
of Representatives, in February, 1903
This amendment was rendered neces
sary to prevent recurrence of the
dangers which had seriously threatened
the existence of the Government dur
ing the spendancy of that election
The article for its own amendment was
intended to procure the amicable ad
justment of the conflicting Constitu
tional questions, like the present, which
might arise between the Government.
of the States and of the United States
This appears from contemporaneou,
history. In this connection. / shall
merely call attention to few instance:
In Mr.. Madison's justly celebrated re
port, In 1879, to the Legislature of Vir
ginia. In this, he ably and conclusive
ly defended the resolutions of the pre-
eeeding Legislature against the stric
lures of several other State Legisla
lures. These were mainly founded
upon the protest of the Virginia Leg
islature against the alien and seditior
acts as palpable, and alarming infrao
tions on the Constitution. In pointing
out the peaceful and constitutions
remedies-and he referred to none 9th
er-to which the States were author
lied TO resort on such occasions, he con
.sluded by saying that the Legislatures
of the States might have made direc
representation to Congress with view
to obtain resembling of the two of
fensive acts, or they might have repre-
sented to their respective Senators il
Congress their wish that two-third
thereof would propose any explanator,
amendment to the Constitution O
two-thirds of themselves, if such hat
been their option, might by an applica
tion to Congress have obtained con
vention for the very same object. Thi
Is the very course which earnestly re
commended, in order to obtain an ex
planatory amendment of the Constitu
ton on the subject of slavery. Thi
might originate with Congress or tn,
State Legislatures, as may be deeme,
most advisable to attain the object
The explanatory amendment might b.
confirmed to the final settlement of tn,
construction of the Constitution 'ol
three special points: First, an expires
recognition of the right of property il
slaves in the States where it now exists
or may hereafter exist. Second, tn
duty of protecting this right in all tn
common territories throughout thei
territorial existence, and until the,
shall be admitted as State into tn
Union, with or without slavery, as thei
Constitution may prescribe. Third,
like recognition of the. right of tn
master of his slave, who has escaped
from one State to another, to be re
stored and delivered up to him an,
the vilidity of the Fugitive Slave Law
enacted for this purpose, together witt
= declaration that all State laws i'm
pairing or decreasing this right are vic
lations Of the Constitution, and conse
quently null and void.
1t may be objected, that this con
struction of the Constitution has al
ready been settled by the Suprem
Court of the United States, and wha
mora ox7obf 40 he roouirn1 , Tho or