The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-12-12

Congress- possesses many means Of preserving y 9
by Cancellation; but the sword was not piacea ~
their hand to preserve il by force
But may Be permitted solemnly to invoke my u
eountrvinen 10 pause and deliberate, before they
determine 10 destroy this, the grandest temple
which has ever been dedicated to human freedom !
since the world began! Il has been conseuated {
by the blood Of our fathers by the glories Of the
past, and hy the hopes of the future. The Union
has already made US the most prosperous and, ere
long will II 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 pronounced
in foreign land it causes the hearts of our coun-
trymen to swell with honest pride. Surely when
we reach the brink Of the yawning abyss, we shall
recoil with horror from the fatal plunge ~ such
q dread catastrophe the hopes Of the friends q
freedom throughout the world would be destroyed,
and a long night Of leaden despotism would en- i
shroud the nations. Our exomple for more than
eighty years would not only be lost but il would
be quoted as a conclusive proof that man is unit
for selfgoycrnment
II is not every wrong-nay, it is not every grev-
aus wrong-which can justify resort to such .
fearful alternative This ought to be the last des
perate remedy Of despairing people, after every
other constitutional means OF conclliauon had been
exhausted We should reflect that under this free
Government there is an incessant ebb and TOW IN
public opinion. The slavery question, hike every
thing human, will have its day. | firmly believe
that it has already reached and passed its culmna-
ting point But il, in the midst Of the existing
excitement, the Union shall perish, the evil may
then become irreparable. Congress can contribute
much TO avert il by proposing and recommending
TO the legislatures Of the several States the remedy
for existing evils which the Constitution has Itself
provided for its own preservation. This has been
tried at different critical periods Of our history and
always with eminent success. 1t is TO be found N
the 9Th article providing for its own amendment
Under this article amendments have been proposed
by twothirds of both houses Of Congress, and have
been ratified BY the legislatures Of three-fourths
of the several States" and have Consequently be-
come part Of the Constitution. To this process
the country is indebted for the clause prohibiting
Congress from passing any law respecting an estab-
hshment Of religion, or abridging the freedom Of
speech or Of the press or Of the right Of petition.
To this We ere also indebted for the Bill Of Rights
which secures the people against any abuse Of
power by the Federal Government. Such were the
apprehenions justly entertained by the friends q
State rights at that period as 10 have rendered y
extremely doubtful whether the Constitution could
haye long survived without these amendments
Again, The Constitution was amended by the
same process after the election of President Jefer
sen BY the House q Representatives IN February,
1903 This amendment was rendered necessary e
prevent q recurrence Of the dangers which had Sc
rionsly threatened the existence Of the government
during the pendency Of that election The article
for its own amendment was intended to secure tn
smicable adjustment Of conflicting constitutions
questions Ike the present, which might srise be
tween the governments Of the States and that Q
the United States This appears from contempt
raneOns history. In this connection, shall merel
call attention 70 few sentences in Mr.. Madison
Justly celebrated report in 1893, to the legislator
Of Virginia In this he ably and conclusiyely Dc
Tended the resolutions Of the preceding legislator
against the structures u several other State lcis
istures. These we're mainly founded upon IN
protest Of the Virginia legislature against n
= Alien and Sedition Acts" as "pslpable an
alarming infrsctions Of the Constitution" 1
pointing out the peaceful and constitutional RENE
dies. and he referred 70 none other, 20 which n
States were authorized % resort on such occasions
he concludes BY saying . that the legislatures 9
the States might have made direct representation
to,Conress with view 70 obtain resembling 9
thu two offensive acts or they might have repre-
serted TO their respective senators IN Congress ihel
wish that txoshirds thereof would propose an e,
plarlatory Amendment 70 the Constitution, or tHs
thirds Of themselves Il such bad been their option
might, by an application 70 Congress have obtalI
Cd convention for the same Object
meni In order 70 obtain an explanatory amens
faentr Of the Constitution on the subject Of SLAYER.
This might originate with Congress or the stat
legislatures as may be deemed most advisable
attair the object
The explanatory amendment might be confine
Is the: final settlement u the true construction
the Constitution on three special points:
d Al express recognition Of the right q prc
perty n slaves in the States where il nov exists Q
NAV hereafter exist
3 The duty q protecting this right ~ Al III
common Territories throughout Their territorial e
isuBcc. and until they shall be admitted As stats
into tie Union with or without slavery - the
constitutions may prescribe
g. A Ike recognition Of the right Of the mast
70 have biz slave. who has escaped from one stat
10 another. restored and delivered up 70 hin
and of the validity u the fugitiye-slaye aw enae
"a fyr this purpose. together with declaraiia
that al State laws impairing or defeating this rigf
arr violations of the Constitution and are cons
anenily null and void
Il nav be objected that this construction Of u
Constitution has already been settled BY the :,
preine Court Il the United states, and what MOI
ought 70 be requireds The answer. is that = yer
i4rgs proportion u the people q the United State
efili contest The correctness a this decision, an
never viii cease from agitation and admit is fors
until clearly established by the people q The sess
81 states ~ Their sovereign cilar1cter. Sueb AZ g
planaf1ry amendment would. il il believed. f0ref.
terminate the existing dssensioDs and restore pca'
and harmony among the states.
Il ought not % be doubted that such an sppe
y re srbtralnent established BY the Constitute
iiseif would be received with favor By all the stat
81 the Confederscy. In any event i ought %
tired ii 4 spirit Of Cancellation before any q the'
sia,e. silall seperste themselves from The Unioi
when entered upon the duties Of the presidei
tial Ofiet the aspect neither q Our foreign nor d
mesiie Affairs was II al satisfactory. We were q
VOWED ~ dangerous complications sith segeral q:
tons and I've q our Territories were IN : state :
revolution against the Government, ! rest0raiio
" tht AfiCaa slave trade had numerous and pOn
erfui advocates Unlawful military expedition
were eountenaheed ~ many Of our citizens, IN
were suffered ID defiance 81 the efforts " tis Co
ernmeut % escape from shores ior the purp0.
Of making War upon the mn0Heudiny people {
= II Il