Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-12

ciectlon OF PRESIDENT Jefferson by the House
oi Representatives, in February, 1903. This
amendment was rendered necessary to prevent
recurrence OF the dangers which had serious
~ Threatened the existence Of the Government
during the pendency OF that election. The
article Tor its own amendment was intended
TO secure the amicable adjustment of condic-
ting constitutional questions like the present,
which might arise between the government OF
the States and that of the United States. This
appears from contemporaneous history. IN
this connection, shall merely call attention
to few sentences in Mr. Madison's justly eel
ebrated report, in 1893, to the Legislature OF
Virginia. In this he ably and conclusively
defended the resolutions of the proceeding
legislature against the structures of several
other State legislatures. These were mainly
founded upon the protest of the Virginia legis-
latnre against the s.Alien and Sedition Acts" !"
as sspapable and alarming infractions of the
Constitution" In pointing out the peaceful
and constitutional remedies, and he referred
to none other, to which the States were author
lied to resort, on such occasions, he concludes
by saying, s'that the legislatures of the States
might have made direct representation to
Congress with view to obtain a resembling Of
the two offensive acts, or they might have rep
resented to their respective senators in Con-
gress their wish that two thirds thereof would
propose an explanatory amendment to the
Constitution, or two thirds OF themselves, if
such had been their opinion, might, by an APP
plication to Congress, have obtained a conven-
tion for the same object. This is the very
course which earnestly recommend in order
to obtain an ssexplanatory amendment of the
Constitut ion on the subject of slavery. This
might originate with Congress or the State
legislatures, as may be deemed most advisa-
ble to attain the object. The explanatory a
mendment might be confined to the final set
MT of fho frnn ctr nnfin .,f fha
stitutiOn on three special points:
l. An express recognition of the right of
property in slaves in the States where it now
exists or may hereafter exist.
2. The duty of protecting this right in all
the common Territories throughout their ter
ritorial existence, and until they shall be ad-
mitted as States into the Union. with or without
slavery, as their constitutions may prescribe.
3. A like recognition OF the right of the
master to have his slave, who has escaped from
one State to another, restored and sdeivered
up'' to him, and of the validity of the fugitive
slave law enacted for this purpose, together
with declaration that all State laws imposing
or defeating this right are violations OF the con-
stitution, and are 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 more ought to be required The answer
is that very large proportion of the people
of the United States still contest the correct
ness OF this decision, and never will cease from
agitation and admit its binding force until
clearly established by the people of the sever
al States in their sovereign character. Such
an explanatory amendment would, it is believ-
ed, forever terminate the existing dissentions
and restore peace and harmony among tho
States. 1t ought not to be doubted that such
an appeal to the arbitrament established by
the Constitution itself would be received with
favor by all the States of the Confcderacy.
In any event it ought to be tried in spirit of
conciliation before any of those States shall
separate themselves from the Union.
FILLIBrsTERISG, &C.
When entered upon the duties of the Pres
dental office, the aspect neither of our tore ign
or domestic affairs was at all satisfactory. We
were involved in dangerous complications with
several nations, and two of our Territories were
in a state of revolution against the Govern
ment. restoration OF theAfrican Slave Trade
had numerous and powerful advocates. Un-
lawful military expeditions were countenanc-
ed by many of our citizens, and were suffered.
in defiance Of the efforts of the Government,
to escape from our shores, for the purpose of
making war upon the unoffending people of
nelghborlng republics, with whom We were at
peace. In addition to these and other difficult
ties, we experienced revolution in monetary
affairs, soon after my advent into power, of un-
exampled severity and of ruinous censequen-
ces to all the great interests of the country.
When we take retrospect of what was then
our condition and contrast this with it's ma
teterial prosperity at the time of the late
Presidential election, we have abundant rea-
son to return our grateful thanks to that mer-
citul Providence which has never forsaken us
nation in all our past trials.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with Great Britain are of the
most friendly character. Since the commence
ment of my administration, the two dangerous
questions, arising from the Clayton and Bull
wer treaty, and also the right of search claim
ed by the British government, have been ami
cably and honorabiy adjusted. The recent
visit of the Prince of Wales, in a private char
acter, to the people of this country, has proved
to be a most auSpicious event. In its conse-
quences, it cannot fail to increase the kindred
and kindly feelings which l trust may ever
actuate the government and people of both
countries in their political and social inter-
courses with each other. With France, our
relations continue to be of the most friendly
character. A decision has recently been made
recognizing the natural right of expatriaton.
Frenchman, who has become citizen of the
United States, cannot, therefore, be compel
led to serve in the French army in case he
should return to his native country. Between
the great empire of Russia aud the United
States the mutual friendship and regard which
has so long existed still continues to prevail,
and, if possible, to increase. Our relations
with Spain are now of more complicated
though less dangerous character than they
have been for many years, growing out of
claims held by number of our citizens. The
acquisition of Cuba by purchase from Spain is
again recommended. Our relations with Aus
tria, China, Japan, and other foreign govern
ments, with the exception of Mexico, are in
satisfactory state. The President urges the
Senate to confirm the treaty, formed by Mr..
McLane with the government of Mexico. the
stipulations of which, he says, are calculated
to promote the agricultural, manufacturing,