The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-12-11

who can foretel what would be the suf
ferings and prvations of the people dur
ing It's existence. The fact is that our
Union rests upon public opinion, and
can never be cemented by the blood of
its citizens shed in civil war. If it can
not live in the affections of the people it
must one day perish. Congress possess
ses many means of preserving by con-
ciation But the sword was not placed
in their hands to preserve it by force
But may be permitted solemnly to in
woke my countrymen to pause, and de-
liberate before they determine TO destroy
this, the grandest temple which has ever
been dedicated to human freedom, since
the world began. 1t has been consecra-
ted by the blood of our fathers, by the
glories of the past, and by the hopes of
the future and the Union has already
made us the most prosperous, and ere
long will, if preserved, render us the
most powerful nation on 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 pronounc
ed in foreign lands it causes the hearts
OF our countrymen to swell with honest
pride. Surely, when we reach the brink
OF the yawnng abyss, we shall recoil
with horror from The last fatal plunge
BY such dread catastrophe the hopes
of the friends Of freedom throughout the
world would be destroyed, and a long
night of leaden despotsm would en-,
Shroud the nation. Our example. for
more than eighty years would not only
be lost, but it would be quoted as CON
elusive proof that man is unfit for self
government. 1t is not every wrong, nay,
It Is not every grevious wrong, which
can justify resort to such fearful al
tentative. This ought to be the last des-
perate remedy of a despairing people, at
ter every other constitutional means OF
cancellation had been exhausted. We
should reflect that under this free gov
eminent there is an incessant ebb and
flow of public opinion. The slavery
question, like everything human, will
have its day. | firmly believe that it has
already reached and passed the culmin
aling point; but if in the midst of the
existing excitement, the Union shall per-
is h, the evil may then become irrepar
able Congress can contribute much to
arrest 1t, by proposing and recommend
ing TO the Legislatures Of the several
States the remedy for existing evils
which the Constitution has itself pro
r!ded Tor It's own preservation. This has
been tried at different critical periods Of
our history, anl always with eminent
success Ii is to Be founi in the 9TH art
icle. providing for its own amendment.
Under this article amendments have been
proposed by wo-hirds of both Houses
/ of Congress, and have been ratified by
/ the Legislatures Of three -fourths of sew
eral Safes, have consequently become
parts OF the Constitution. To this pro
cess the country is indebted for the clause
prohibiting the Congress from passing
any la" respecting an establishment of
religion. or abrdging the freedom Of
speech or OF the press, or the 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
apprehensions justly entertained by the
friends of State rights at that period. as
TO have rendered it extremely doubtful
whether the Constitution could long have
survived without these amendments.
Again the Constitution was amended
by the same process after the election of
President Jefferson by the House of Rep
resentalives, in February, 1908. This
amendment was rendered necessary TO
prevent recurrence Of the danger which
had seriously threatened the existence of
the government during the tendency of
that election. The article for its own
amendment was intended to procure the
amicable adjustment of the conflicting
Constitutional questions, like the present,
which arise between the governments of
the States and Of the United States. This
appears from contemporaneous history.
In this connection | shall merely call at
tention to few instances in Mr.. Madi-
sons justly celebrated report in 1879 10
the Legislature Of Va. In this, he ably
and conclusively defended the resolutions
OF the preceding Legislature against the
structures of several other State Legisla
lures. These We're mainly founded upon
the protest Of the Virginia Legislature
against the alien and sedtion acts as
palpable. and alarming infractiors of the
Constitution In pointing out The peace
iul and constitutional remedies-and he
referred to none other--to which the
States were authorized to resort on such
occasions, he concludes by saying that
the Legislatures of the States might
have made a ectrepresentatio 10 Con-
gress with a view to obtain resembling
OF the two offensive acts, or they might
have represented to their respective Sen
ators IN Congress their wish that two
thirds thereof would propose any explain
atory amendment to the Constitution F.; or
two thirds Of themselves, ii such had
been their opinion, might by an applica
ton to Congress, have obtained a con
'entlon for the very same object. This
is the very course which earnestly rec
ommend, III order to obtain AN explana-
tory amendment of the Constitution on
the subject of slavery. This might orig
mate with Congress or the State Legisla-
Ia, Il