Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-12-13

the same process after the election of Pres
ident Jefferson by the House of Represen'
tatives, in February, 1903. This amend
ment was rendered necessary to prevent a
recurrence of the dangers which had serl-
ously threatened the existence of the Gov
ernment during the pendancy of that elec-
ticn. The article for its own amendment
was intended to secure the amicable adjust
ment of conflicting constitutional questions
like the present, which might arise between
the governments of the States and that Of
the United States. This appears from con-
temporaneous history. In this connection,
1 shall merely call attention to- few SEN
tences in Mr.. Madison's justly celebrated
report, in 1899, to the Legislature Of Vir-
ginia In this he ably and conclusively
defended the resolutions of the proceeding
Legislature against the structures Of several
other States.
These were mainly founded upon the
protest of the Virginia Legislature against
the "Alien and Sendition Acts" as opal
pable and alarming infractions of the Con.
stitution." In pointing out the peaceful
and constitutional remedies, and he refer
red to none other, to which the States were
authorized to resort, on such occasions, he
concludes by saying, "that the legislatures
of the States might have made direct rep
resentation to Congress with view to OBJ
tain resembling of the two offensive acts,
or they might have represented to their
respective Senators in Congress their wish
that two.thirds thereof would propose an
explanatory amendment to the Constitu'
tion, or two-thirds of themselves, if such
had been their opinion, might by an appli'
cation to Congress, have obtained a Con-
vention for the same object"
This is the very course which I earn.
estly recommend in order to obtain an "ex.
planatory amendment" of the Constitution
on the subject of slavery. This might
originate with Congress or the State Legis.
latures as may be deemed most advisable
to attain the object.
The explanatory amendment might be
confined to the final settlement of the true
construction of the Constitution on three
special points:
l. An express recognition Of the right
Of property in slaves in the States where il
now exists or may hereafter exist.
2. The duty of protecting this right ir
all the common Territories throughout thei
territorial existence, and until they shal
be admitted as States into the Union, witt
or without slavery, as their Constitutions
may prescribe.
j 8. A like recognition of the right Of th'
master to have his slave, who has escaped
from one State to another, restored and "de
livered up to him, and of the validity o
the fugitive slave law enacted for this pur
pose, together with a declaration that al
State laws impairing or defeating this righ
are violations of the Constitution, and ar
consequently null and void.
/ 1t may be objected that this construction
of the Constitution has already been settle'
by the Supreme Court of the United States
and what more ought to be required. Th
answer is, that very large proportion o
the people OF the United States still contes
the correctness of this decision, and neve
will cease from agitation and admit it
binding force until clearly established b.
the people of the several States in thei
sovereign character. Such an explanator.
amendment would, it is believed, foreve
terminate the existing dissensious and re
store peace and harmony among the States
1t ought not to be doubted that such al
appeal to the arbitrament established b.
the Constitution itself would be received
with favor by all the States of the Confed
eracy. In any event it ought to be triet
in spirit of Cancellation before any 0
these States shall separate themselves from
the Union.
When I entered upon the duties of tn
Presidential Office, the aspect neither Of ou
foreign nor domestic affairs was at all salts
factory. We were involved in dangerou
complications with several nations, and tw'
of our Territories were in state of revo
luton against the Government. A resto
ration of the african slave trade had nu
merous and powerful advocates. Unlaw
full military expeditions were countenancet
by many of our citizens, and were suffered
lin defiance of the efforts of the Government
to escape from our shores, for the purpos'
of making war upon the uuoHending peo
pie of neighboring Republics with whom
we were at peace.
In addition to these and other dificul
ties, we experienced revulsion in none
tary affairs, soon after my advent to pow
er, of unexampled severity and Of ruinou
consequences to all the great interests o
the country. When we take a retrospect
of what was then our condition and con
trast this with its material prosperity at th'
time of the late Presidential election, VI
have abundant reason to return our crate
full thanks to that merciful Providence
which has never forsaken US as a natl on il
all our past trials.
| From the Southern Guardian.
AN APPEAL TO THE SOUTH.
NO. vi.