The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-12-13

to particular, it may be safely as
Orted that the power to make war
u a nSt 4 state is ut variance with
tue whole spirit and intent OF the
Constitution. Suppose such a war
should result in the conquest Of Il
state, how are we to govern it AT
forwards Shall we hold it as II
province and govern it by despotic
power? In the nature Of things
we could not by physical force con
troll the will Of the people and com
pei them to elect Senators and Rep
resentatives to Congress, and to
perform all the other duties de-
pending upon their own voIition,
and required from free citizens of a
free state as q constituent member
Of the Confedcracy. But if we pos
Sessed this power, would it be wise
to exercise it under existing circum-
stances? The object would, doubt
less, he to preserve the Union
War would not only present the
most .etfectual means OF destroying
it. but would banish all hope of its
peacHG!y reconstruction; hes de-,
in the fraternal conflict, Il vast IL
mount of blood and treasure would
be expended, rendering future re-
conciiiation between the states im-
possible.
In the mean time who can fore
tell what would he the sutfrrings
and privationS of the people during
its existence? The fact is that our
Union rests upon public opinion.
and can never be cemcnted by the
blood of its citizens shed in civil
war if it can not live in the atiec-
lions OF the people, ii must one day
perish. Congress possesses many
means OF preserving il 10y tOuciIia
ton, bat the sword was not placed
in their hand to preserve it by
force. But may | be permitted
solemnly to invoke my coantrymcn
to PAUSE and deliberate before they
determine to destroy this the gran
dest temple which has ever been
dedicated to human freedom since
the world began. 1t has been von.
Sccrated bv the blood Of .Our faith
ers, by the glories Of the past and
by the hopes Of the future.
The Union has already made us
the most prosperous, and ere long
will, if preserved, render lis the
most powerful nation ON the face of
the earth. In every foreign region
Of the globe, the title Of American
citizen is he!a in the iligLert re-
spect, and when pronounced in Il
foreign land it causes the hearts of
our country-mcn to swell with
honest pride. Surely when we
reach the brink of the yawning
abyss we shall recoil with horror
from the last fatal plunge. BY
such u catastrophe tie hopes o.
the friends Of freedom throughout
the world would be destroyed, and
IL long night Of lealon le,po'ism
wouId enshroud the nations. Oar
example for more than eighty years
would not only be lost, bat i WoH.l
be quote az Il conclusive pro f
that man is unit for self govern
ment.
1t is not every wrong-aay, it is
not every grevious wrong, which
can justly Il resort to such Il fearful
alternative. This ought to be the
last desperate re he " of Il despair
ing people, after every other con-
stitutional means of Cancellation
had been exhausted. We should
reflect that, under this free gov
ernment. there is an incessant ebh
and How in plbjic opinion. The
slavery question, ike every thing
human, will have its day. | firmly
believe that it has alrcad reached
and passed the eliminating point ;
but if in the midst of the existing
excitement the Union shall perish,
the evil may then become irrepra-
bic. Congress can contribute much
to avert it, by proposing and roe
ommendins to the Legislatures OF
the several states the remedy for
existing evils which the ConStitu-
ton 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
fifth article providing for its own
amendment. Under this article
amendments have been proposed by
t~wo.thirdS Of both houses of Con.
gress, and have been III lied by
the Legislatures Of tn rc-io1rth, 0i
the several STATS. aud nave CONF
qucnt'y lie oni part q: the Con-
<%tituti IN; o ais process tAe con-
try is indeb ed for The cIause pno,
hibiting any law respecting an cs.
Establishment Of religion, or abrdg-
ing the freedom of speech or ottho
press. or Of the right OF Petition
To this we are also indebted for the
Bill Of Rights, which secures th>
people against any abuse Of power
by the Federal Government. SnclI
were the approximations justly Ell.
tcrtained by tie friends of the state
rights at that period, as to have
ron1ornl If n~Ytrpmnlv 1ouhtfn