The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-12-14


The use Of farce aga,ns, STATE would look
more like declaration OF a'ar than an inilic-
ton Of punishment aud would probably be-
considered 5y ,h= party attached as a dissolution
Of all previous compacls by which it might be
bound" Upon his moilon thr clause was
unanimously postponed, and was never | be-
IIrVe again presented. Soon afterwards, on
The 9Th June, 1877, when Iaciden.Hy advert
lng 10 the subject he said "Any Government
for The United States, formed on the supposed
Practlcabil:y Of using force agan;ft 81, fhs
coasiiiniial~t.@.y aru IaIiacious as the govern
nrnt of Congress-" evidently meaning the
then existing Congress OF the old Confedera-
ton.
Without descending 10 particulars, il may
be safely asserted, that the power 10 make war
against State is at variance with the whole
spirit and intent oi the Constitution. Suppose
such war should result in he conquest OF
State, how are we 10 govern II afterwards
Shall we bold It as province, aad govern It
by despolic power! In the nature OF things
we could not, BY physical force, control the
vii! OF the people, and compel them. TO elect
senator's and representatives, to Congress, and
tn perform all other duties depending upon
Their own voIition, and required from Tue tree
cIliZens of free Stale as a constituent mem
ber Of the ConirdeIacy.
But, If We possessed this power, would II be
wise 10 exercise it uadrr existing circumstan-
ces The object would doubtless be 20 pre-
serve the Union. War would not only pre-
sent the most eGectuai means OF destroying it
but would banish all hope Of its peaceabe re-
Construction. Besides, IN he ifaernal conflict
a vast amount OF blood and treasure would be
expended, rendering future reconciliation be-
tween the States impossible In the mean
time, who can .oretell what would be- the
suffrrngs and privatious of The people during
Its existence
The fact is, that our Union rests upon public
opIalon, and can never be cemeated by the
! blood OF lis Citizens shed in civil war. If'at
cannot 1--we in the affections Of the people it
must one day perish. Congress possess many
means of preserving It BY Cancellation but the
sword was not placed in their hand TO preserve
II bv force.
Bat may be permitted solemnly to invoke
my countrymeR . pause and deliberate, before
they determine 10 destroy this, the grandest tem-
pie which has ever been dedicated 10 human
! freedom since the world began Il has been
dteri by the blood OF our fathers, b,, tho
glorirs OF the past, and by the hopes OF the fu-
ture. The Unon has already made US the
Z
render Us the most pow ertul nation OF the face
OF the earth. In every foreign region OF the
globe The title OF American citizen is held in
the highest respect, and when pronounced in
foreign land it causes the hearts Of our country
men 10 swell with honest pride. Surely when
we reach the brink OF the yawnng abyss, we
shall recoiI with horror from The last fatal
plunge. By such a dread catastrophe, the
IF frta anAS NJ tYr,t -bo- h,
world wou d be destroyed, and long nigh, Of
eaden drspo,lsm would enshGoud the nations
Oar example for more than eighty years would
not only be lost but it would b. quoted as a
conclusive proof that man is unfit for self-gov-
ernment.
II is not every wrong-nav, II IS not every
grievous wrong-which can Justify resort 10
such fearful alternative. This ought 10 be
The last desperate remedy Of deSpaIrinE peo-
pie, alter every other constitutional means of
cancellation had oeen exhausted. We should
reflect that under this free government there is
an incessant eb5 and flow in public opinion
The slavery question, ike everything human,
will have its day. | firmly believe that it has
already reached and passed sthe eliminating
point. Bul it, in The midst OF the existing ex-
citement, the Unlon shall perish, the evil NAV
then become irreparable. Congress cannot con
tribute much 10 avert it by proposing and rec
omendlng 10 the legislatures Of the several
States the remedy for existing evils, which the
Constitution itselFhas provided for its own pres
ervaion. THIS has been tried at different crit
iCal pc; lods OF our history, and always with
eminent success. Ii is 10 be found in the 9Th ar
tcle providing for lis own amendment Hinder
this article amendments have been proposed by
tsvo-ihirhs OF both houses of Congress, and have
been ''raii6ed BY the legislatures ofthee ,foufths
OF the several Srdtv>,'' anL hapa consequently
become parts of the Constitution. 10 this pro-
cess the country is indebted Tor the clause pro-
hibuing Congress from passing any law respec-
ting an establishment OF religion, or ahridging
The freedom OF speech or OF the press, or the right
OF petition. To this we are, also indebted for
!he Bill OF Rights, which secures The people a.
ganst any abuse OF power by the Federal Cow
ernnent. Such were the apP.ehensons Justly
entertained by the lliends Of Sate-rights at that
period as to have rendered il extremely doubt
lul whether the Constitution could have long
survived wIlhnu; these Amendments.
Again, the Constitution was amended by the
same process after the election Of President JET
tefson by the House OF Representatives, in Feb
ruary, 1903. This aa.endmen: twas rendered
necessary 10 prevent recurrence Ct the dan
gers winch had seriously threatened the exis-
tence of the Government during the pendency
/ OF that election. The article for is own amend
ment was intended t. secure the amicable adj
iustment of conflicting constitutional questions
! like the present, which might arise between the
Governments of the States and that of Uaited
States. This appears from contemporaneous
history In this connection, shall merely call
attention to few sentences in MIR. Madison's
justly celebrated report, in 1925, 10 the legisla.