The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-12-12


! it? We could not govern it by despotic power
nor could we by physicical force compel its
people to elect Senate and Representative.
The fact Is, The Union rests upon public opin-
i'm, and can never becemsnted by the blood Of
It's citizens shed in civil war II it cannot live
in the affections Of the people it must one day
perish. Congress possesses many means oi
preserving itby eonciiiation, bdi the sword is
not placed in her hands to preserve it by force.
But may be permitted sOlennly to invoke
my countrymen to pause and deliberate before
they determine to destroy this, the grandest
! temple which has ever been dedicated to hu-
man freedom since the world began. 1t has
been consscrated by the blood of our fathers,
by the glories of the past, and by the hopes OF
the future.
The Union has already made US the most
prosperous, and long will, il preserved, render
us the most powerful nation on the face Of the
earth In every foreign region Of the globe the
title o + an American citizen is held in the
| highest respect, and when, pronounced in ior-
eisn land il causes the hearts OF our country
men to swell with honest pride. Surely, when
we reach the brink Of the yawning abyss, We
shall recoil with horror from the fatal plunge,
BY such a dread catastrophe tn, hopes of the
friends Of freedom throughout the world would
be destroyed, and long night Of leaden des-
potism would enshroud the nations, ~,
i Our example for more than eighty years
would not only be lost, but it would be quoted
as conclusive proof that man is unfit for sell
/ government. The slavery question, like every
thing. human, viii! have its day, firmly be-
lieye that it has already reached and passed its
eliminating point but il, in the midst of the
existing excitement, the Union shall perish
the evil may then become irreparable.
Congress, can contribute much to avert IT by
proposing aud recommending to the legisla-
4 lures of the several States the remedy for the
existing evils, which the Constitution has it.
self provided for its own preservation. q,
! The President proposes that his expanato
! ry amendment. TO the Constitution he adopted
4 by Congress for the final settlement OF the true
construction Of, the constitution On three spe-
cial points; an express recognition Of the right
of property in slaves in States where it now
exists or may hereafter exist. the duty Of pro-
tecting this right in all the common territories
throughout their territorial existence, and un-
til ,tkey shall be admitted as States in the Union
with or without slavery as their constitutions
,aov nrascribe
| A like recognition of the right Of the master.
to hays his slave, who has escaped from one
=, State into another, restored and delivered up
to him. And of the validity of the fugitive
slave law, enacted for this purpose, together
with a declaration that all State laws impairng
or defeating this right, are violations of the
Constitution and are consequently null and void
Such an explanatory amendment would, it is
believed, forever terminate the existing dissen-
tons and restore peace and harmony among
the States. , The President then discusses our
foreign relations. Our foreign relations with
Spain have been complicated by the refusal of
the Senate to ratiCy convention for the ad
iustment of certain claims so called. -.
! The President reiterates his recommends
ton for the acquisition Of Cuba by a fair pur-
chase. With the exception Of Mexico, our.rc-
lations are generally Of satisfactory character.
In relation to Kansas the Presid mt says =
"a desperate band, recently assembled under q
notorious outlaw, in the Southern portion, OF
the Territory to resist the execution of laws,
and to p'under peaceabie citizens will, doubt
not, be speedily subdued and brought TO jus
tice." p .,....,..-t- ,... r.,. - ,...- ...
He recommends Pacific Railroad, congratu.
lates the country upon the, apparent dimnu-
ton of the slave trade and the fillbusterng sem
timent. And in view Of the destitution in
Kansas, recommends. to Congress that if any
constitutional measures Of relic fcan BE- devised
that subject should be duly considered,