The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1860-12-06

Then in regard to the properyof the United States in
South Carolina. This has teen purchased for fair
equivalent, by the consent of the Legislature of
for the erection of forts magazines arssnals"
&c and these the authority o exercise exclusive
legislation has been expressly granted by the Constitu
ton Congress. 1t is not believed that any attempt
will made to expe the United States from this prop-
sry by forces buff in this should prove be mistaken
the officer in command of the forts has received orders
act strictly on the defensive In such contingency The
for consequences would rghtfully rest
upon the heads of the assailants.
Apart from the execution of the laws far as this NAV
be practicable the Executive has authority to decide
what shall be the relations between the federal
ment and South Carolina. He been invested with
no such discretion He possesses power to change
the relations heretofore existing between them much
less to acknowledge the independence of that State.
This would be to invest Executive officer with
of recognizing the dissolution of the Confeder
resemblance to the recognition Of foreign de acto
government involving no such responsibility. Any at
tempt to do this would on his part be naked act of
usurpation 1t therefore my duty to submit to Con-
grefs the whole question in all its bearings. The
Of events so rapidly Fastening forward that the
gency may soon srise when you may be called upon to
decide the mementous question whether the
power by force of arms to compel State 10 remain in
the Union. Ishould feel myself recreant to my duty
were not to express an opinion on this important
subject
submission which is attempting to withdraw or has
tually withdrawn from the Confedsracy? If answered
in the oirmatvs it must be the principle that the
has been conferred upon Congress to declare and
to make against State. After much serious reec
has been delegated to Congress to other depart
ment OF the Federal Government. 1t manifest, upon
the specific and enumerated powers granted to Congress-
and equally apparent that its exercise is not neces
these powers far this power having been dele
gated to Congress- was expressly refused by the con-
vention which framed the Con.titution:
appears, from the proceedings of that body that
the 3lst May, 17S7 the clause 'duth0Tisn0 ecer-
10. q The 1orcs Of The s01o7e aoai1st dslinqaent
State" came up for consideration. Mr.. Madison op
posed 1t ina brief but powerful Speech from which
shall extract but single sentence He observed 1he
of force against State would look like dec.
laration of than il Ifcton of punishment; and
would probablyte considered by the party attacked
be bound" Upon motion the clause was unanimous
ly postponed, and never believe again presented.
Soon afterwards on the sth June l7e7 when incden-
tally adveIting to the subject, he said: Amy Govern
ment for the United States formed the supposed prac
cabity of using force against the
ceedngs of the States would prove visionary fall
acous the government of Congress-" evidently
meaning the then existing Congress of the old Confede
ration.
Without descending to particulars, it may b. safely
serted, that the power to make war against State is at
variance with the whole spirit and intent of th Constu
ton Suppose such should result in the conquest
of State, how we to govern it afterwards? Shall
err In the nature Of things we could not by physical
force control the will OF the people, and compel them to
elect senators and to Congress- and to
perform all the other duties dependig upon their
ition required from the free citizens of free State
as constituent member of the oonfederacy.
But, possessed this power, would it be wise to
ercse under existing circumstances? The effect would
doubtless be to preserve the Union War would not
ly present the most eecual destroying it, bat
would bar all hope of its peaceabe reconstruction.
Besides in the fraternal conflict vast amount of blood
and treasure would be expended future recon
ciliaton between the States impossible. In the
time who foreell what would be the suerings and
| privations of the people during its existence?
The fact is that Union rests upon public opinion
and can cemented by the blood of its cize
shed in civil If it cannot live in the affections of
mary means Of preserving it by conciliaon but the
not placed in hand by force
But may be permitted solemnly to invoke my coun-
trymen pause aid deliberate before they determine to
destroy this the graIdess temple which has ever been
dedicated to human freedom si ce the world began? II
has consecraed by the blood of ia hers by tbs
goIies of the past and by the hopes of the future The
Union already made the most prosperous and
long will if preserved, render the most powerful
ton on the face the earh In every foreign
the globe the title of American citizen is held in the
bebest resnect and Etea pronounca ed in foreign land
IL he hears Of cur countymen to sWell witt
honest pride. Surely when we reach the brink of tde
yawning abyss, shall recoil with horrer from the las
fa.al plunge By such dread catastrophe, tt hopes
the rreEd of freedom throughout the world would Ii
destroy ed, and long night of leaden despotism wou
wears would not only lost but it would be quoted
conclusive proof that man is unfit for selfgovernment
1t is not every wrGsg@nay ttas ~ no. every
native. This ought to be the last desperate remedy of
despiring people, after every other mean
of conciiiaton had been eXh listed. We should refec
that under this free Government there is incessan
ebb and flow in public opinion. The slavery question
like every thing human will have its day. firmly be
eye that it already reached and passed the cumina
ting point if, in the midst of the existing excite
ment the Union shall perish the evil may then becom
rreparable Congress can contribute much to ave,tit
proposing and recommending to the Legislatures of tn
several States the remedy for existing evils, which tn
Constitution has itself provided for its preservation
This has been tried at different critical periods of
history, and always with eminent success. 1t is to
found the 5th article providing for its amendment
Under this article amendments have been proposed
wo-thirds both houses of Congress- and have beel
by the legislatures of three efourths of the
era States and consequently become parts tn
Constitution. To this process the country is indebte
for the clause prohibiting Congress from passing lay
respecting establishment of religion abridging
freedom speech of the press of the right of pe
ton To this we also indebted for the Bill Rights
which the people against any abuse of
the Federal Government Such were the apprehension
justly entertained the friends of State Rights at tha
period have rendered it extremely doubtful whethe
the Constitution could have long survived without thes
Again the Constitution was amended by the same prs
cess after the election President Jefferson by
of Representatives, in February, 1903. This amend
ment rendered neces ay to prevent recurrence
dangers which had seriously threatened the exsenc
the Government during the pendency of that election
The article for its amendment intended to- Sc
the amicabe adjustment ofconficng constitutions
stions like the present. which might arise betwee
the governments of the States and that of the Upte
IL States This appears from contemporaneous history
In this connection, shall merely call attention to fo
sentences in Mr.. Madison's jusy-ceebrated report
17e9 to the legislature of Virginia In this he ably
legislature against the structures of several other Stat
legislatures. These mainly founded upon the pre-
test of the Virginia legislature against the Aen
sedition Acts pslpable and alarming nfractions
the Constitution In pointing out the peaceful an
constitutional remedies and he referred to other
which the States authorized to resort such oc
casion he concludes saying, THAT the legislatures
the States might have made direct representation
Congress with view to obtain resembling of the tw
offensive acts, they might have represented to the
respective senators in Congress their wish that
thereof would propose explanatory amen dment to IL
Constitution, twohirds of themselves, if such ba
been their option might by application to Con2res
have obtained convention for The same ohject.'
This is the very which earnestly recomrn end
order to obtain Explanatory endment Of the Cor
stituton the subject of slavery This might origina
with Congress the State legislatures may be deems
l most advisable to obtain the object
The explanatory amendment might be confined to th
settlement of the true construction the Copstit,
4 tion on three special points:
l. An express recognition of the right of property
slaves in the SaeS where it exists hereafte
exist
3. The duty of protecting this right in all the commo
Territories throughout their territorial existence an
until they shall be admitted States into the Unior
with without slavery as their may
scribe.
g. like recognition of the right of the master to hay
his slave, who has escaped from State to another
stored selvered up to him, and of the validity
fugitive slave law enacted for this purpose
with declaration that all State laws mparng or d.
featng this tight violations of the Constitution,
are consequently null and void.
1t may be objected that this construction of the Cor
sitution has already been settled by the Supreme Cou
The that large proportion of the peopl
the United States still contest the correctness of TIL
decision and will cease from agitation adm
its binding force until clearly established by the peopl
of the several States in their sovereign character
an explanatory amendment would it is believed foreve