The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-12-07
NUMBER rs.

with eminent success. 1t is to be found in
the 9th article, providing for its own amend
ment. Under this article amendments have
been proposed by two-thirds Of both Houses
of Congress and have been ratified by the
/ Legislatures of tEree-foUrths of the several
States, and have consequently become parts
of the Constitution To this process the
country is indebted for the clause prohibit
ing Congress from passing any law respect
ING IN establishment of religion, or abridg-
ing the freedom of speech or of the press,
or he right of petition. To this we are
also indebted for the bill of rights which
secured the people against any abuse of
power by the Federal Government. Such
were the apprehcnsions justly entertained
by the friends of State rights mt that period
as 10 have rendered it extremely doubtful
whether the Constitution could have long
survived without these amendments
Again, the Constitution was amedned by
the same process after the election of Presi-
dent Jefferson by the House Of Represent
atives, in February 1903. This amend
ment was rendered necessary to prevent "a
recurrence of the dangers which had seri-
ously threatened the existence Of the Gov
ernment during the tendency Of that cleo
ton. The article for its own amendment
was intended to procure the amcable ad-
justmcnt Of the conflicting Constitutional
questions, like the present, which might
arise between the Governments of the
States and the United States This ap-
pears from cOntemporaneOus history. In
this connecticut shall merely call attention
to n few instances in Mr.. Madson's Justly
celebrated report, in 1879, to the Legisla-
ture of Virginia. In this, he ably and con-
clusively 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 alien
and seditiOn acts rs palpable and alarming
infracuons upon the Constitution In
pointing out the peaceful and constitutional
he referred to none other
to which the States were authorized to re-
sort on such occasions he concludes by say
ing, that the Legislatures of the States
might have made direct representation to
Congress, with a view to obtaina resembling
of the two offensive acts, or they might
have represented to their respective Sena-
tors in Congress their wish that two-thirds
thereof would propose any explanatory
amendment to the Constitution; or two
thirds of Themselves if such had been their
option, might, by an application to Con-
gfess, have obtained Convention for the
very same object.
This is the very course which / earnestly
in order to obtain an explana-
tory amendment Of the Constitution on the
subject Of slavery. This might originate
with Congress or The State Legislatures. as
nay be deemed most advisable to attain the
object. The explanatory amendment might
De confined to the final settlement of the
rue construction Of the Constitution on
hran cF,api11 Eitgt
Of the right of property in slaves
n the States where it now exists, or may
hereafter exist. Second, the duty Of protect
ng this right in all the common territories
throughout their territorial existence, and
until they shall be admitted as States into
he Union, with or without Slavery, rs their
Constitutions may prescribe. Third, a like
Of the right Of the master to his
slave, who has escaped from one State to
mother, to be restored and delivered M 70
iim and the validity Of the Fugitive Slave
LAW, enacted for the purpose, together with
declaration that all State Laws impairing
,r decreasing this right, arc violations Of
he Constitution, and consequently, null
md void.
1t may be objected, that this construction
# the Constitution has already been settled
" the Supreme Court Of the United States.
liu W lldb ilioli OuB III ~ bt ltAlulEtEs nc
nswer is, that a very large proportion Of
be people Of the United States still eontro-
'ert the correctness Of this decision, and
lever- Will cease from agitation and
Idmit its binding force until clearly es-
ablished by the people Of the several States
II their sovereign character. Such an ex-
,lanation would, il Is believed, forever ter
innate the existing discussions, and restore
,eace and harmony among the States. II
night not to be doubted that such an appeal
0 the arbitrament established by the Con-
ttution itself would be received with favor
" all the States Of the Confedcracy In
ny event it ought 70 be tried in a spirit of
onciliatiOn, before any Of these States shall
eparate themselves from the Union.
When ! entered upon the duties of the
Residential office, the aspect neither of our
)reign nor domestic affairs was at all salts
Ictory. We were involved in dangerous
omplicatiOns with several nations, aud two
f our territories were in a state Of rcvolu-
ion against our Government restoration
f the African slave trade had numerous
nd powerful advocates unlawful military
xpeditnns were countcnanced by many OF
ur citizens and were suffered, in defiance
the efforts Of our Government 10 escape
'om our shores for the purpose Of making
ar upon the inoilending people OF neigh
Oring Republics, with whom we were at
eace.
In addition to these and other difficulties,
e experienced u revulsion in monetary at
irs, soon after my advent proving OF am
sampled severity and Of ruinous conse-
lences to the country. When we take Il
trospect Of what was then our condition,
I'd contrast this with its material prosperi-
at the time Of the late Presidential cleo
0u we have abundant reason to return
IT grateful thanks to that mercful Provi-
.nce, which has never forsaken us, as
,ton, in all our trials
CONCLUDED MORROW
BsaS@ The county papers are now mostly
led with the delinquent lists Though
is circumstance makes them rather dull to