Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-12-21

gress contribute much to arrest it by propo-
sing and recommending to the Legislatures of
the several lStatesa the remedy for existing
evils, which the Constitution has itself pro-
vided for itssoszn presentations This has been
tried at different critical periods of our hsto-
ry, and always with eminent success It isl
to be found in the 5ah article providing for its
own amendment. Under this article amend
ments have been proposed by two-thirds of
both Houses ofsCongress, and have been rati-
fed by the legislatures Of f-three-fourths of the
several States, and have consequently become
parts of the Constitution. To this process the
country is. indebted to the clause Tproh ibit-
ing Congress from passing any law respect
ing establishment of religion or abridg-
ing the freedom of speech of the press,
the right of petition.-To this also
indebted fer the bill of rights which secures
ithet people against any yzabuse =ofzbpewer by
the Federal Government. Such. were the ap-
sprehensiens justly entertained by the friends of
State rights at that period as to have rendered
it extremely ,doubtfaIG G whether the nConsti-
; tuition could have long survived without
these amendments. Again, the Constitution
was amended by the same process after the
election of President Jefferson by the House
of Representatives, i'm Februsrys T8U3I This
amendment was rendered necessary to prevent
q recurrence of the dangers which had seriously
threatened the existence of the Government
during the pendancy Of that election. The Ar
yticle for its own amendment was intended to
procure the amicable adjustment Of the con-
ictng constitutional questions like the, ,PEeeeAt,1
which might arise betWeen the Govefnments Of
the States and the United States. This appears
from contemporaneous history. In this connec-
stion shall merely call attention toa fev in
stances in Mr.. MadisonS- Justly celebrated re-
port in 1779, to the Legislature of Virginia.
In this he ably and conclusiyely defended the
resolutions of the preceding Legislature against.
the strictares aof several other State Legisia7
III dad he
protest Of the virgina Legislature against the
alien and sedition acts, palpable and. alarm
'ipgsinfractions of the Constitution. *f;s,ft
In pointing out the peaceful and constitu-
tional remedies, and he referred tonpneg other
to which the States were authorized to resort
on such occasions, he concludes by saying
that the legislatures of the States might have
made adfrect representation to Gong gress, with
aview to obtain a resembling of the two often
sive acts, or they might have represented to
their respective Senators in Congress their
| wish that two-thirds thereof would pro-
| pose any explanatory amendment to the
| Constitution or two-thirds of them
selves, if such had been their op-
ton. might, by an application to Congress,
have obtained Convention for the same
object. This is the yEeourse which bearnest t.
| ly recommend, in order to obtain explana-
| tory amendment of the Constitution on the
subject of Slavery. This might originate with
Congress or the State Legislature, as May be
deemed most advisable to obtain the object, The
I explanatory amendment might be confined to
the final settlement of the true constructions Of
the Constitution on three special points: First
Tan express recognition of the right of property
in slaves in the States where it now exists, OF
+ may hereafter exist. Second, the duty of PRO
tecting this right in all the common Terrific
, tories throughout their Territorial existence
and until they shah be admitted States int
the Union, with or without Slavery, theil
Constitutions may prescribe. Third, lik'
J recognition of the right of the masters 70 hav
T. his siave who has escaped from one State 1T
= another restored and delivered up to him an,
of gthe yalidity of the Fugitive Slave LaWo en-
acted for this purpose together with declara
81 tion that all State laws impairing or decreas
ing this right are iyiplatlons 5of9 the Gonst1tu
: tion and consequently null and void. 1t ma
be objected that this construetion'of the Const
:. tuition has already been settled by the Suprem
4 Court of the United States, and cEhat more ougf
I, to be required? The answer is, that yer
. large proportion of the people of the Unite
States still doubt The correctness of this decision
= and never will cease from agitation an
. admit its binding force until clearly establishe
= by the people of the several States, in the
: sovereign eharacter77ss 21< 'ssy -77 'is' 81
: Such an explanatory amendment would,
= is believed, forever terminate the existing
- sensions, and restore peace and harmer
> among the States Il ought not to be doubt'
:, that such an appeal to the arbitrament estaI
q . lished BY. The Constitution itself would be 7
n ceived with favor by all the States of the Go
y federacy. In any event. it ought to be tri
in q spirit of oconciliation, before any of the
10 States shall seperate77 themselves from Il
III Union. -3-sHS a5i@ 2aits f.'
When 1 entered upon the duties of the Pres
= deutialoffic the aspect Mother of our fore
-, nor our domestic affairs was at all satsfacter
~ We were involved in dangerous complicatio
- with several nations, and two of onr Terri
t1 ries in state of revolution againt the 90
81 ernment.A RESTORATION of the African wSla
Ia sfrrl ri 4of 90
Nv unlawful military expeditions were eouute
II anced by many of our citizens aud were suffer
~ in defiance of the efforts of the Government
~ escape from our Shores forlthe purpose OF ma
- ing war upon the unofending people of neig
- boring republics with whom we were at pea
- In addition to these and other difficulties we
Il periencedEa revolution, in monetary aHalrset
H., after my advent into power, of unexampled
he verify, and of ruinous consequences to all !.
IA great interests of the country. When we tax
~ retrospect of what was then our condition, q
" contrast this with its material prosperity at
.oS time Of the late Presidential election, we hl
abundant reason to return grateful thar
ny to that tmercifuhProsidenee which has never
,Ia saken us as nation in all our past trials
'ls '1d OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
pie GREAT BRITAIN,
,ur Our relations with Great Britain are
yer the most friendly character. Since the ct
1ed mencement of my administration,
DDS two dangerous questions arising from
1ss Clayton and Bulwer treaty, and from
ey 9y right Of search claimed eby the British
IN IN ernment, have been amieably and Aonora
~ adjusted The discordant construction of
~ II Clayton and Bulwer treaty between the
iah Governments, which, at different periods of
Iom discussion, bore a threatening aspect have
ted suited IN hnal settiement entrely sausiac'
of to this Government IN my last annual N
and sage, l reformed Congress that the Brit
ros- Government had not then completed arrar
der ments with the Republics of Honduras
the Nicaragua, in pursuance of the, understand
the between the two governments IT, Is, ne
hest theless, confidently expected tnat tnis
and work will ere long be accomplished.
With conhdnceH mas since peen su'hlleu' Her
ink tanic Majesty concluded treaty with Hon
rror ras on the Zoth November, 1909, ana win
tas- caragua on the zotn august, LOU, reinqu
,ro' ing the Musquites Protectorate; besides by
ong former the pay isiahos are recognizes as /"