The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-14

constitutional member of the Confederacy.
But if we possessed the power, would it be
wise to exercise it under the existing cir
cumstances? The object would be doubt
less to preserve the Union, but it would not
only present the most efectual means of
destroying it, but would Danish all hope Of
its peaceable reconstruction. Besides in
the fraternal conflict vast amount of blood
and treasure would be expended, rendering
future reconciliation between the States i'm
possible. In the meantime, who can fore
tell what would be the suferings and pri-
.vations of the people during its existence.
The fact is that our union rests upon pub
lie opinion, and can never be cemented by
the blood of it's citizens shed in civil war.
Ifit cannot live in the affections OF the peo-
pie, it must one day perish. Congress pos
seses many means OF preserving by concili-
alton; but the sword was not placed in their
hands to preserve it by force. But may
be permitted solemnly to invoke my coun.
trymen to pause and deliberate, before they
determine to destroy this, the grandest tenn
pie, which has ever been dedicated to blu.
man freedom since the world began. 1t
has been consecrated by the blood of our
fathers, by the glories of our past and the
hopes of the future; and the Union has al
ready made US the most prosperous, aud
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 high
est respect, and when pronounced in foreign
lands, it causes the hearts of our country.
men to swell with honest pride. Surely,
when we reach the brink of the yawning
abyss, we shall recoil with horror from the
last fatal plunge. By such dread catas.
trophe the hopes Of the friends Of freedom
throughout the world would be destroyed,
and long night of leaden despotiam would
enshroud the nation. Our example for
more than eighty years would not only be
lost, but it would be quoted as conclusive
proof that man is unfit for selfgovernment.
1t is not every wrong, nay, it is not every
grievous wrong, which can justify resort
to such fearful alternative. This ought
to be the last desperate remedy Of despair.
ing people, after every other constitutional
means Of Cancellation had been exhausted.
We should reflect that under this free gov
ernment there is an incessant ebb and flow
of public opinion. The slavery question,
like every thing human, will have its day.
l firmly believe that it has already reached
and passed the eliminating point; but if, in
the midst of the existing excitement, the
Union shall perish, the evil may then be-
come irreparable. Congress can contribute
much to arrest it, by proposing and recon-
mending to the Legislatures Of the several
states the remedy for existing evils which
the Constitution has itself provided for its
own preservation. ssi...,.
This has been tried at different critical
periods of our history, and always with emf
nent success. 1t is to be found in the fifth
article, providing for its own amendment.
Under this article amendments have been
proposed by two-thirds of both houses of
Congress, and have been ratified by the
legislatures Of three-fourths of the several
states, and have consequently become parts
of the Constitution. To this process the
country is indebted for the clause prohibit
ing Congress from passing any law respect.
ing an establishment of religion or abridg-
ing 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 extremity doubtful
whether the Constitution could have long
survived without these amendments.
Again; the Constitution was amended
by the same process after the election of
President Jefferson by the House of Repre-.
sentatives, in February, 1903. This amend.
meut was rendered necessary to prevent a
recurrence of the dangers which had threat
ened the existence of the government DUR
ing 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 might arise between the
governments of the States and the United
States This appears from contemporane,
GUS history. In this connection l shall
merely call attention to few instances in
Mr.. Madison's justly celebrated report, in
l779, to the Legislature of Virginia. In
this, he ably and conclusively defended the
resolutions of the preceding Legislature
against the structures of several other state
legislatures. These were mainly founded
upon the protest of the Virginia Legisla.
ture against the alien and sedition acts, as
palpa5le and alarming infractions on the
Constitution. In pointing out the peaceful
and constitutional remedies--and he refer.
red to none Other-t0 which the States
were authorized to resort on such occasions,
be concludes by saying that the Legisla,
lures of the states might have made di'
rect representation to Congress, with view
to obtain resembling of the two Offending
acts, or they might have represented in
their respective Senators in Congress their
wish that two. thirds thereof would propose
any explanatory amendment to the Consti-
tuition or two-thirds of themselves, if such
had been their option, might, by an appli-
cation to Congr, IS, have obtained convex
ton for the very same object.
OUR FOREIGN RELATI0Ns-aREAT BRITAIN,
Our relations with Great Britain are of the
most friendly character. Since the commence
ment Of my administration, the two dangerous
questions arising from the Clayton and Bulwer
tteaty, and from the right of search claimed by
the British government, have been amicably
and honorably adjusted. The discordant con.
structions of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty
between the two governments, which at dif.
ferent periods of the discussion, bore threat
ening aspect, have resulted in final settle