Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-08


constitutional remedies, and he referred to none
other TO which the States authorized to resort
on such OCCASIONS he concludes by saying, that
the legislatures of the States might have made a
direct representation to Congress with a view to
obtain resembling of the two offensive acts or they
might have represented to their respective senators
in Congress their wish that two thirds thereof would
propose an explanatory amendment to the Constitu-
ton, or twothirds of themselves, if such had been
their option, might, by an application to Congress-
have obtained convention for the same object"
This is the very course which earnestly recon-
mend in order to obtain an Explanatory amend
ment' of the Constitution the subject of slavery
This might originate with Congress or the State
legislatures, as may be deemed most advisable to
attain the object
The explanatory amendment might be confined
to the final settlement of the true construction OF
the Constitution on three special points:
l. An express recognition Of the right of prop
erty 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 territorial ex-
istence, and until they shall be admitted 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 delivered up" to him,
and of the validity of the fugtiyesave law enacted
for this purpose, together with declaration that all
State laws mpairing defeating this right arc vo
lations of the Constitution, and are consequently
null and void.
1t may be objected that this construction of the
Constitution has already been settled by the SUI
preme Court of the United States, and what more
ought to be required2 The answer is, that very
large proportion of the people of the United Suites
still contest the correctness of this decision, and
never will cease from agitation and admit its bind
ing force until clearly established by the people oil
the several States in their sovereign character Such
an explanatory amendment would, it is believed,
forever terminate the existing dssensions and re-
store peace and harmony among the States.
1t ought not to be doubted that such an appeal to
The arbitrament established by the Constitution
itself would be received with fiyor by all the States
of the COnfederacy. 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 Presiden-
tal office the aspect neither OF our foreign nor do
mestic affairs at all satisfactory. We were In
Eolved in dangerous complications with several ma
tons, and two of our Territories in state OF
revolution against the Government A restoration
of the African slave trade had numerous and power
fIl advocates. Unlawful military expeditions were
countenanced by many of our citizens and were suf
fered in defiance of the efforts of the Government
to escape from shores. for the purpose of making
war upon the unolfending people of neighborng re-
publics with whom we were at peace In addition
to these and other difficulties, experienced re-
vulson in monetary affairs, after my advent to
power, of unexampled severity and of ruinous con-
sequences to all the great interest Of the country
When we take retrospect of what was then our
condition and contrast this with its material pros
perity at the time of the late Presidential election
we have abundant reason to return our grateful
thanks to that merciful Providence which has
forsaken a nation in all our past trials.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Washington, Dec. 3, 1860.