The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-12-13

Ihls appears from cotemporaneouS
history. In tbs connection | will
merely call attention to Il few sen
tences.in Mr.. Madison's Justly cele-
brated report h 1869, to the Legis-
latpre Of Virginia.
In this he ably and conclusivelr
defended the resolutions ofthc pre-
ccding Legislatures. These w,rc
mainly founlelnpon the pretcXt Of
the Virginia Legislature againstthe
alien and the sedilion acts as palpa
BILE and alarming attractions of the
Constitution in pointing out the
peaceful and constitutional rcmi-
dies, and he referred to none otherto
which the states we're authorized to
resort on such occasions. He con-
cludes by saying that the Legisla-
lures ofthe states might have made
a direct representation to Congress,
with Il view to obtain q resembling
Of the two offensive acts, or they
might have represented to their 70
spective Senators in Congress their
wishes, that two-thirds thereof
would propose an explanatory a.
mendmcnt to the Constitution, or
two-thirds ofthcmselves, ifsuch had
been their optiod, might, by an ap-
pliration to Congress, have obtain
ed Il convention for the same object.
This is the very course which |
earnestly recommended, in ordor to
obtain an explanatory amendment
Of the Constitution on the subject
of slavery. This might originate
with Congress or the state Legisla-
lures, as may be deemed most adj
visible to attain the object. The
explanatory amendment might he
confined to the final settlement OF
'hr Constitution on three special
points: First, an express rcro9ui.
ton OF the right Of property in the
states where it now exists ard
where il may hereafter exist; see
onl, the duty Of protection in tllis
right in all the common Territories
throughout their Territorial exist
enec, and until they shall be admit
led as states INTO the Union, with
or without slavery, us their consti-
tutionS may prescribe; third, Il like
recognition Of the rights OF the
mastrrto have his slave, who has
escaped from one state to another,
restored and delivered up to him +;
and of the validity Of the Fugitive
slave Law enacted for this pur-
pose togathcr with Il declaration
that all State laws impairing or de-
feating this right are violations of
the Constitution and are conse-
q ell ly nall and void.
1t ma; be objected that this con-
struction OF the Constitution has
already been settled by the Sal
p"eme Court Of the United States.
Many still contest the correctness
OF this decision, and never will
cease from agitation and admit its
binding iorcamtil clelrlyeS.ab!ish-
ed by the people OF the several
,la'c%i in ,heia s~overeighn character.
such aupnimnnt would, it is be
].ioYc,l, forever terminate the exist
Ing dis,cuIions, and restore peace
and harmony among the statcs.-
1t ought not to be doutol that such
an appeal TO the arbitrament eStab-
iiSIed BY the Constitution itself
would be received with ftyo by
all the states Of the Contc:loracy.
In any event it ought to be tried
in aspirit Of Cancellation before any
Of these states shall separate them
selves from the Union. When |
entered upon The duties of the Pres
idon'ial office the aspect neither Of
our foreign or domestic affairs was
at all satisfactory. We were in
volved In dangerous complications
with several nations, AMI two OF
our Territories were in d state Of
revolution against the Government.
a restoration Of the African
sIavc-tradc had numerous AMI pow
erful altocl'cl. Unllwfll miisa-
ny. expeditions were countcnlNced
by mluy OF oar citizens, AM were
suffered, in defiance ofthc efforts Of
the Government, to escape from
our shores for the purpose Of ma
king war upon an unoifending peo-
pie of ii noighborin@ Republic with
whom we were at peace. lin addi-
ton to these and other difficulties
We experienced Il revelation in
monetary Affairs, soon after my al
vent to power, OF mn9Xamolcd Sc
verify ami of ruinoHS consequences
to all the great interests of the
60 in.2y. When we take a retro
s}r,t OF what was then or G 'ndi-
ton an | contrast this with &ma-
tcrial prosperity ut the time Of the
late Presidential election, we have
abundant reason to return oar
, grateful thanks to thai mereIfHi
Providence which has never forsA-
ken Us as Il nation in all oar past