The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-12-11

from passing any law respecting establishment of
religion of abrdng the freedom OF speech or of the
press of the right of petition. To this we are also
indebted for the Bill of which secures the people
against any abuse Of power the Federal Government
Such the apprehensions 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 amendments.
Again, the Constitution amended by the same
after the election of President Jefferson by the
House of Representatives, in February, 1903. This
amendment rendered necessary to prevent a
recurrence the dangers which had seriously threat
ened the existence of the Government during the
tendency of that election The article for its
amendment intended secure the amcable adjust
ment of conflicting constitutional questions like the
present. which mig ht arise between the governments
of the States and that of the United States. This
appears from contempora history. In this con-
necton shall merely call attention to few sentences
in Mr. Madson's justly celebrated report, in l799 to
the legislature of Virginia. In this he ably and con-
cusvely defended the resolutions of the preceding
legislature against the structures of several other State
legislatures.
These were mainly founded upon the protest of the
Virginia legislature against the "Alien and Sedton
Acts" ''palpable and alarming infractons ofthe
Constitution" In pointing out the peaceful and
constitutional remedies and he referred to other
which the States authorized to resort such
occasions, he concludes by saying, "that the legs-
latures of the States might have made direct repre-
sentaton Congress with view to obtain resembling
of the offensive acts they might have represented
their respective Senators in Congress their wish
that two-thirds thereof would propose explanatory
|
selves, if such had been their option, might by
application to Congress, have obtained convention
for the same object"
This is the very course which earnestly recommend
in order to obtain explanatory amendment of the
Constitution the subject of slavery. This might
originate with Congress the State legislatures
may be deemed most advisable to attain the object.
The explanatory amendment might be confined to
the final settlement of the construction OF the
Constitution three special points:
l. An express recognition of the right of property in
cla in he wpYiS
exist.
2. The duty of protecting this right in all the
common Territories throughout their territorial exist
ence, and until they shall be admitted States into the
Union with without slavery, their constitutions
may prescribe.
3. A like recognition of the right of the master to
have his slave, who has escaped from State to
another restored and delivered up him. of the
validity of the Fugitive Slave Law enacted for this
purpose together with declaration that all State laws
imparing defeating this right violations of the
Constitution, and consequently null and void.
1t may be objected that this construction of the
Constitution has already been settled by the Supreme
Court of the United States, and what ought be
required? The answer is that very large proportion
the people of the United States still the
of this decision and will from aga
tion and admit its binding force until ceaFly establish
ed by the people o. the several States in their
sovereign character Such explanatory amendment
would it is believed forever terminate the existing
dissenonS and restore peace and harmony among the
States
1t ought tito be doubted that such an appeal to
the arbtramen established by the Constitution itself
would be received with favor by all the States of the
COnfederacy. In any event it ought to be tried in
spirit of Cancellation before any of these states shall
separate themselves from the Union.
When entered upon the duties of the Presidential
Office, the aspect neither of foreign domestic
affairs at all satisfactory. We were involved in
dangerous complications with several nations, and
of our Territories in state of revolution against
the Government. restoration of the African slave
trade had numerous and powerful advocates. Unlaw-
full military expeditions cOuntenanced by many
of citizens, and suffered in defiance of the eff
forts of the government from Shores for
the purpose of making upon the unofending peo-
pie of neighboring republics with whom
peace In addition to these and other difficulties,
experienced revulson in monetary affairs, after
my advent to power of unexampled severity and ofrn-
nous consequences to all the great interests of the
country When take retrospect of what
then condition and contrast this with its material
prosperity the time of the late Presidential election
have abundant to return grateful thanks
that mercifu Providence which has forsaken
us as nation in all our past trials.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
GREAT BRITAIN.
Our relations with Great Britain are of the most
friendly character. Since the commencement of my
administration, the two dangerous questions arising
the Clayton and Buwer treaty and from the right
of search claimed by the British government, have
been amicably and honorably adjusted.
The discordant constructions of the Clayton and Bull
wer treaty between the two governments, which, at
different periods of the discussion, bore threatening
aspect have resulted in final settlement entirely
tisfactory to this Government. In my last annual
sage informed Congress that the British government
had not then completed treaty arrangements with the
republics of Honduras and Nicaragua in pursuance of
the understanding between the two governments 1t
is nevertheless confidently expected that this good
work will ere long be accomplished" This confident
citation has been fulfilled. Her Britannia Majesty
concluded treaty with Honduras the 18th Noyem-
Der, 1885, and with Nicaragua the 2sth August 1860,
renquishing the Mosquito protectorate Besides by the
former. the Bay Islands recognised part of the
stipuatons of these treaties conform in every import
| particular to the amendments adopted by the
Senate of the United States the treaty concluded
London the 18th October, 1856, between the two
governments 1t will be recollected that this treaty
rejected by the British government because of its
objection to the just and important amendment of the
Senate the article relating Ruatan and the other
islands in the Bay of Honduras.
1t must be source of sincere satisfaction to all clas
ses of our fellowcizens and especially to those
grged in foreign commerce. that the claim the part
of Great Britain orciby to visit and search American
merchant vessels the high in time Of peace has
been abandoned This was by far the most dangerous
question to the of the countries which has
existed since the of 1912. Whilst it remained open
they might at any moment have been precptated into
! This rendered manifest by the exaspera-
ted state of public feeling throughout entire coun
try produced by the forcbe search of American mer
chant vessels by British cruisers the of Cuba
in the spring of 1858. The American people hailed
with general acclaim the orders of the Secretary of the
Navy naval force in the Gulf of Mexico, ITO pro-
tect all vessels of the United States the high seas
from search detention by the yesses-ofwar OF any
other nation" These orders might have produced an
immediate collision between the naval forces of the TWO
countries. This most fortunately prevented by an
Justice Great Britain and to the law OF