The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-04-13

zion or ine special order, the Senate proceeded
80 consider the following resolution, submitted
~, Mr.. DouGLAs on the 10th inst
p.,oyrsd.srh4tthe committee OF the judiciary
- ioefrDctrrl to report bill for th- protection
of each State and Territory oflha Union against
INVASION by The authorities or Inhabitants Of any
other State or Territory and for the suppress
sion and punishment Of coaspiracies or com5I-
nations in any Stale or Territory with intent
10 modest the government, inhabitants, proper
~, or institutions Of any other State OF Terrific
ry n lhe Union.
Ma DocGLAs. Mr.. President, on the 25th
OF November last, the Governor Of Virginia ad-
dressed an oiiicidt communication 10 the Presi-
dent of the United States, 10 which ne said
81 have Information from various quarters,
upon which | rely, that conspiracy Of iormI-
dable extent, 10 means and numbers, IS formed
in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and other
States, 10 rescue John Brown ana his associates,
prisoners at Charie>town, Virginia. The into7-
nation IS specific enough TO be reliable. =
"Places in Maryland, Ohio, aud PrnDsylva-
MIA have been occupied as drrntS and fendrz-
vous by these drspeIadaes, and uaoostructrd ag
qua rds or otherwise, 10 invade this Stale, and
we are kept 10 continual apprehension OF out
rage from fire aud rapne. ! aPPrlse You Of
these facts in order that you may take steps 10
preserve peace between the States"
To this communication, the President of the
United States, on the 2Sth Of November, relur-
ned a reply, from which read the following
sentence:
II am at loss to discover auv provision in
the Constitution or laws Of the United States
which would authorize me 10 'Iaks steps for
this PURPOSE" That is, 10 preserve the peace
between the States.
THIS announcement produced profound i'm
preston upon th- public mind, and especially
IN the siayphodiag States. II was generally
received and regarded as an authoritative au-
nouucement that the Constitution oithe United
States coniegs 10 power upon the Federal Gov
eminent 10 protect each OF the States oE This
Union azaiust iavasian from the other States.
l shall not stop To inqaTe whether the PresI-
dent meant 10 declare that the existing laws
confer no authority upon MN, or aat The Con-
stilulion empowers Congress 10 enact 70 .a"s
which would authorize the Federal jn.erposi-
ton to protect ths States from Invasion; ny oo-
iect is to raise the inquiry, and 10 ash Tie judy
insnt of the Senate aud @! the House Of R-Prr-
seatatiyes Oh the question, whether II IS not
wj,ain tie power OF Congress, and the duty
o. Congress, under tls Constitution, 10 rnaci
all laws which NAV be necessary and proper
for the ncotpc. ion Of each and every State d
cainst invasion, either from Foreign Powers or
from anv portion OF the United States.
The deaiaI OF the existence oisucn power
IN the Federal Government has induced an IN
quiry amoRg conservative men-Inen loyal %
the Constitution and devoted 10 the Cni3u-as
20 what means they have Of protection, ii the
FEDERAL Government is not authorized to pro-
tect them against external violence. I. Elust
b- conceded that no community Is sale, no
State can enjoy peace or prosperity, or Comes-
tic tranquility, without security against .eXter-
nal violence. Every State aud nation at the
world, outside this Republic, is supposed to
maintain armies and navie5 for this precise pur-
posa. It is the ony legitimate purpose for
which armies and navies are maintained ia
time Of peace. They may Dc kept up for am
bilious purposes OF otaEgresson and foreign war {;
out the legitimate purpose ola military force in
time Of peace is 10 insure domestic tranquility
against violence or aggression irom With
oat. The States of this Guioa would possess
that power, were it not TOR the restraints imPo-
s+d uuon them by the Federal Constitution
When that Constitution was made, the States
surreudert1 to the Federal Government tie
power 70 raise and support arnies, and the pow
or 20 provide and maintain navies, aud no! on
IS i6us surrendered the means Of protection
from iuvasion, bat consented to a prohibition
upoa themselves which declares that no State
shall keep troops or vessels OF war in time OF
peace.
The question now Fecurs whether The States
Of his Union are in that helpless condition,
with their hands tied BY The constitution, strip
ped fall means Of fepelling assaults and mains
tanning their existence, without q G0arantee
from the Federal Government, 10 protect tarm
against violence. Fl the people OF this country
S no pouer- in the Federal GoverUm, nj un-
Ger the Constitution to protect each and every
State from violence, from aggression, from in
yason, they will demand that the cord be sew
cred, and that the weapons be restored to their
hands with which they may defend themselves.
This inquiry involves the question OF the per-
pe,ui,y Of the Uaon. The means Of defence,
the means Of repeIling assaults, the means Of
providing against invasion, must exist as con-
dilion ofthe safety OF the States and the exls-
tence OF the Union.
Now. sir, hope 10 be able 10 demonstrate
that there is no wrong in this Union for which
the Constitution of the United States has not
pravIded remedy. I believe, and | hope |
shall be abl4 10 maintain, that remedy is fnr-
hished for every wrong which can be pefpP-
tra,ed within the Tnion, if the Federal Gov