Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-11


ernment.
It is not every wrong-nay, it is not every
grievous wrong-whch can justify resort to
such fearful alternative. This ought to be the
last desperate remedy of a despairing people, af-
ter every other constitutional means of concilla-
tion had been exhausted We should reflect
that under this free government there Is an IN
cessant ebb ard flow in public opinion. Tie
slavery question, like everything human, WILL
have its day. / firmly believe that 1t has al
ready reached and passed the eliminating point.
But if, in the midst of the existing excitement,
the Union shall perish, the evil may then be-
come irreparable. Congress can contribute
much to avert it by proposing and recommend
ing to the legislatures of the several States the
remedy for existing evils which the consultation
has itself provided for its own preservation.
This has been tried at different critical periods
of our history, and always with eminent success.
It is to be found in the 9th article providing for
it's own amendment Under this article amend
ments have been proposed by two-thirds OF both
houses of Congress, and have been "ratifed by
the legislatures of three-fourths of the several
States" and have consequently become parts OF
the Constitution.
| To this process the country is indebted for the
clause prohibiting Congress from passing any
law respecting an establishment of religion, or
abridging the freedom of speech or of the press
or of the right of petition. To this we are, also,
indebted for the Bill of Rights, which secures
the people against any abuse of power by the
federal government. Such were the apprehen-
sions justly entertained by the friends of State
rights at that period as to have rendered it ex-
tremely doubtful whether the Constitution could
have long survived without these amendments
Again, the constitution was amended by the
f<or tbo of Tof
terson by the House of Representatives, in Feb
ruary, 18O3 This amendment was rendered
necessary to prevent recurrence Of the dangers
which had seriously threatened the existence of
the government during the pendency of that e.
lection. The article for its own amendment
was intended to secure the amicable adjustment
of conflicting constitutional questions like the
present, which might arise between the govern
ments of the States and that of the United
States This appears from contemporaneous his
| tory. In this connection shall merely call at
tention to few sentences in Mr.. Madison's just
ly celebrated report, 10 1899, to the Legislature
of Virginia.
| In this he ably and conclusively 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 "Alen and
fractions of the Constitution"
In pointing out the peaceful and constitutional rem
edes and he referred to none other, to which the
States authorized to resort such occasions,
he concludes by saying hat the legislatures of the
States might have made direct representation to
Congress with view to obtain resembling of the two
offensive acts, they might have represented to their
respective senators in Congress their wish that two
thirds thereof would propose an explanatory amend
ment to the Constitution, thirds of themselves
if such had been their option. might by applica-
ton to Congress, have obtained convention for the
same object"
mend in order to obtain explanatory amendment
of the constitution the subject of slavery This
might originate with Congress the State Legisla
tures may be deemed most advisable to attain the
object. The explanatory amendment might be con-
fined to the final settlement of the true construction
of the constitution on three special points:
1. An express recognition of the right of property
in slaves in the States where it now exists may
! hereafter exist
/ g. The duty of protecting this right in all the com
mon Territories throughout their territorial existence
and until they shall be admitted States into the
Union with or without slavery, as their Constitution
may prescribe.
g. like recognition of the right of the master te
have his slave, who has escaped from State to
other restored and delivered up to him, and of the
validity of the fugitive slave law enacted for this pur
pose, together with declaration that all State laws
mpairing defeating this right violations Of the
Constitution, and are consequently null and void.
|
stituon 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 pro-
portion of the people of the United States still contest
the correctness of this decision, and will
from agitation and admit its binding force until clear
established by the people of the several States in
their sovereign character. Such explanatory a.
mendmentwOuld, it is believed forever terminate the
existing dissentions and restore peace and harmony
among the States
1t ought not to be doubted that such an appeal to
LII.
would be received with favor by all the States of the
Confederscy. 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 our foreign domestic
affairs at all satisfactory. We were involved in
dangerous complications with several nations and two
of territories in state of revolution, against
the government. A restoration of the African Slave
Trade had numerous and powerful advocates. I'm
lawful military expeditions were countenanCed by ma
ny of our citizens and suffered in defiance Of the
efforts of the Government to escape from our shores
for the purpose of making war upon the unofending
people of neighboring republics with whom we were
at peace. In addition to these and other difficulties
we experienced revulsion in monetary affairs, soon
after my advent to power of unexampied severity and
of runous consequences to all the great interests
the country. When we take retrospect of what was
then condition. and contrast this with its material
prosperity at the time of the late presidential election
have abundant reason to return grateful thanks
to that mercfu Providence which has never forsake1
us as nation in all our past trials.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
| GREAT BRITAIN.
Our relations with Great Britain are of the mos
/ friendly character. Since the commencement of my
administration, the two dangerous questions, arising
! from the Clayton and Bulwer treaty, and from the
right of search claimed by the British government
have been amicably and honorably adjusted.
The discOrdant construction of the Cayton and Bull
wer treaty between the two governments, which, al
different periods of the discussion, bore threatening
aspect have resulted in final settlement entirely sat
isfactory to this government In my last annual
sage informed Congress that the British government
had not then sscompleted treaty arrangements with
the republics of Honduras and Nicaragua in pursu
ance OF the understanding between the two govern
ments It is nevertheless confidently expected that
this good work will ere long be accomplished" This
confident expectation has since been fulfilled
Her Brittanic Majesty concluded treaty with Hon
duras on the 28ih November 1859, and with Nicara-
qua the 2Sth August, $780, relinquishing the Mos
quito protectorate. Besides, by the former the Bay
Islands recognized as part of the Republic Of
Honduras. 1t may be observed that the stipulatons
of these treaties conform in every important parcu
United States to the treaty concluded at London on
the 18th of October, 1856, between the two govern
ments It will be recollected that this treaty re-
ected by the British because of its objec
ton the Just and important amendment of the Sem
the article relating to Ruatan and the other Is
lands in the Bay of Honduras.
It must be source of sincere satisfaction to all
classes of feowcitizens and especially to those
engaged in foreign commerce, that the claim on the
part Of great Britain orcibly to visit and search A.
merican merchant vessels the high seas in time
peace has been abandoned, This was by far the
dangerous question to the peace of the two countries
which has existed since the Of 1872. Whilst it