Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-12-14

"e"y 'S"S"e", atiu paSscu INC Cu'tbi""
ting POINT l'ut if,,in.aheI Ie,ijst OF 3hce
istiny excitement, the Cuion shall perish,
the evil may then become irrcParable.
Congress can contribute mucl, to avert it
10y proposing aud recommending to the
legislatures of the several States the reme-
Ay for existing evils, which the Constitu-
tiou has itself provided for its own prescrva-
ton.
This has been tried at different critical
periods Of our history, and always with
eminent success. 1t is to be found in the
5.h article providing for its own amend.
ment. Under this article atnenJ,nens have
been proposed by two.thirds of both Houses
Of Congress, and have been ratified by
the Legislatures Of three.foar,ks of the
several -tatcs,' and have consequently be-
come parts Of tue Constitution. To this
process tho country is indebted for the
clause prohibiting Congress from passing
any law respecting an establishment Of re.
lision. or aJ'idging the freedom of speech
or Of the press, or Of the right Of petition.
10 this we are also, indebted for the Bill
Of Rights, which! secures the people against
any abuse Of power by the Federal Gov
ernmeut. Such were the apprehensions
justly entertained 10y the friends Of State
Rights at that period as to hnve rendered
it extremely doubtful whether the Con,ti,u-
tion could have long survived without these
amendments.
Again, the Constitution was amended by
the same process after the election Of Prcsi-
dent Jefferson by tho House Of Represen.
tatives, in February, 1903. This amend
ment was rendered necessary 10 prevent a
recurrence Of the dangers which has seri.
ous'y threatened the existence Of Govern.
mcnt during the pendency of that election.
The article .ur 4. cwn amendment wasinteuded
to secure ':'c aniicab;e adjustment of conflict
ing constitutional questions like the present,
which might q rise hrtwcen the governments of
the States and tha. OF the United States. This
appears from conttnpnraIcons history. In
this connection, shall merely call attention TO
few sentences in Mr.. Madisons jnstIy ccle.
hrn'eh report, in 1893, to the Legislature of
VIRGINIA In this he ably and conclusivcly
defended the rcs"lu:i"ns of Tie preceding Leg
is!ature against the structures Of several o,Ler
State Legislatures
These were mainly founded upon the pro-
test Of tic Virginia Legislature against the
Alien and Sc'liI:on Acts" as .'palpable
lnfraciions OF The Constitution" In pointing
ont the peaceful AID constitutional remedies
q ott f, a..
States were authorized to resort, on such oc
cnsi"Ns, he concludes by saying, that the leg
isiatuT cs of Tic States mig lit have made di-
rect representation to Congress with view to
obtain resembling Of the two offensive acts
ar 'hty might have represented to their respsc
I'VE Senators IN Congress their wish that two.
thirds thereof would propose OH explanatory
nihch!:n",'l TO :he Constitution, or two-thirds
OF the:.:srlvca, if such lad been their opti,n.
might, ty an application t" Congress. have OBJ
tained n Convention for the same object"
This il tie very course which earn estly re-
commeud in order to obtain an Explanatory
amend cnt' of'he Constitution on tile subject
:: "a"ery This might originate with Con.
FresS or The State Legislatures. as may be deem.
cd most advisable to attain the object
Inc explanatory amendment might be con.
fined /" the final settlement of the true con.
strue!on Of the Constitution OH three epec;aI
points:
property in slaves in the States where it low
exists or may hereafter exist.
= Inc duty OF protecting this right in sl
the common Territories throughout their ter
rltoral existence, aud until they shall be ad
mitteed ns States into the Union, with or
without slavery, as their Constitutions NAV
prescribe.
B. a like recognition cf the master TO havc
his slave, who has escaped from on. State to
another. restored and "lelivered up to him
and OF the validity of the fugitive slave law
enacted for this purpose, together with de.
c'arnt"n That all State laws impairing or de.
featng this right nre violations of the Con-
'"Iaelon, ana are consequently null and void.
1t may PC objected that this CONSTRUCTION of
the Constitution has already been settled by
the Supreme Court of the United States, and
~hat more ought TO be required? The answer
is. that Very large proportion of the people
"i The C"ited States still contest the correct
ness Of this decision. and never will cease from
agitation and admit its binding force until
clearly established by the people of the several
states III thei' sovereign character Such an
explanatory amendment would it is believed
forever terminate the existing dssensions and
rest9re peace and harmony among the States.
IL ought not 10 be doubted that such an ap-
peal to the nrhitrament established by the
constitution itself would be received with fa-
Nor oY oil the States Of the Confeieracy In
any event it ought to be tried in a spirit of
cohciilaton before any Of these States shall
separate themselves from the Union.
FINANCES.
In my first annual Message promised to
employ my best e1ertions, in cooperation with
Congi oss. to reduce the expenditures of the
dovernmcIt within the limits of n wise and
ludiclous economy. An Overlooking treasury
had produced habits: OF prodigality and eI
.ravaganee aa which copli only be gradually cor
fected. The work required both time and m.
uenee l applied myself diligently to this
.ass ,,s from The beginning. and was aided by the
ap,e ana energetic efforts Of the heads Of the
u,nereht rem Executive Departments The result of
our iaoors in this good cause did not appear
IN mn the sum totnl Of our expenditures for tite
n.s. swE years mainly in consequence of the
in .Ie T'aGy s1Pe%dre necessarily incurred
amount OF the contingent expenses If Gornrass. ,s.
curing thls period These greatly exceeded
the pay and %aee aa, &c Of the members. % For the
Sr g enaing soth Jue. 1858, whilst tho INV
anu mileage amounted IN CI ion OF =, 10y