The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-29

/ hour arrives,@The doors open.-He enters
"leading his two Sons,v-Romanesque wasn't
it-and takes his seat, while the chamber and
galleries buzz with admiration. His resolu-
tons are called up and then the sGiant' rises.
He reads a part of the Presidents letter to
Gov. Wise, and with a voice full of anxiety
for his country,s welfare, asks sis it possible
Mister President, that neither the Constitution
nor our Laws afford rny protection to the re-
spective States, against invasion 7" From the
ceremony and solemnity of all this scene, this
dramatic Senatorial performance, we might
suppose that soma one of our States, stands or
has stood, with throat ready for the slaughter,
while some sister State was just whetting the
knife for her defenceless juguIar. Surely
there must be some great and imminent danger,
and some gave defect in our political system,
that demands this speedy but formal and por-
%tentious action. He goes on to say that for
his part he believes the Constitution contains
a provision for every contingency which may
arise, and proceeds to discover and apply it to
the case under his inspection. Well, now let
US look at the e~xigency which has called out
this tremendous display of Senatorial anxiety.
This lofty rebuke of implied Presidential de-
linqnency. Here it is. 'sOld John Brown"
invaded Virginia: IA real invasion.-With all
due %alacrity, as in duty bound, the Executive,
when called upon, s'defended Virginia against
Invasion" by sending a company of Marines,
seizingt the invaders and delivering them to the
Virginia authorizes, who made short work of
the miscreauts. AL that did not look as
though the Constitutions or Laws had given no
power to protect a State against INVASION
Rumors had reached Co.. Wise that other in
vasions were preparing in neighboring Safes,
and these he communicated to the President,
who simply told him the truth: that these ru-
mors did not constitute a case for Federal ac-
ton; that he could not send the Federal troops
into Ohio or Pennsylvania, to usurp the func-
t;ons of the respective State Executives, at the
will of Virginia; but that to these executives,
of whose friendly dispositions he had abundant
evidence, he must apply in the matter. The
whole affair ended happily. Virginia execu-
ted her laws to the utmost, without the slight
est hindranee. What could be more in har-
mony with the whole spirit of our Government
than the Presidents action and letter in this
matter? Where does there appear the slight
est necessity for more legislation, on this sub
ject, in the whole transaction? And yet one
would think from Mr. Douglas display that
some dread hiatus-some yawning gulf-had
suddenly been discovered in our Government,
into which the country must faal if not shin
gled over with, new and stringent Legislation.
What his Law will be if not consonant with
the Presidents action and letter in the matter
we cannot tell. IF it shall be consonant there
with, what need can there be of it?. How
can the Senator frame a Law authorizing diff
ferent action, without overstepping Constitu-
tional limits? Can he make that treason"
which the Constitution has not made so? Can
he authorize the President to enforce the in
ternal police of one State lest the neglect of
its Executive might leave its citizens to tres
pass upon the rights of another? Whatever
may be the provisions of the forthcoming Bill,
it can be nothing if not liable to the imputa-
ton of centralizing power; of infringing upon
State Sovereignty; of possessing a slave pro-
tecting character; of coming at an %inoppor-
tune moment: and of exasperating a section
al strife, already too furious. But we suppose
Mr.. Douglas must bid, until the hammer falls,
and then we shall see how shrewd he has
played in his bargains.-Yps2anti Sentinel.