Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-12-05


lready resigned
We no longer have 4 District Judge.
District Attorney, or Marshall in South
Carolina, in fact the whole machinery OF
he Federal Government necessary for the
distribution Of remedial Justices among
he people has been demolished. sud il
would be difficult if not impossible to re-
place it.i The only acts Of Congress on the
statute book. bearing on this subject are .
those Of the 2sth February 1895, aud the
3rd Of March 1917. These authorize the
President after he shall have sscertaiued
that the Marshall with his posse comitatus
is unable 10 execute civil or criminal pro-
cess in any particular case to call forth
the militia, aud employ the army and ma
w to aid him in performing this sos'ee.
having first by proclamation commanded
the insurgents to dispense aud retire
peseeably TO their respective sbodes with
in limited time. This duty cannot by any
possibility be performed in a State where
no judicial authority exists to issue pro-
cess, where there is no Marshall to execute
it and where even if there we're such an
officer, the entire poPu'ation would con
st itnte one solid combination 20 resist him
Congress alone has the power 70 decide
whether the present laws can OF cannot be
amended. so to carry out more efectual
iy the ubjec. Of the Constitution. Revenue
still continues 10 be collected as heretofore
at the Custom House at Charleston. Should
the Collector unfortunately resign, sue
cessor may be appointed to perform this
duty. II is not believed that any at |
tempt will be made 10 expel the UNI |
ted States from its property there
be mistaken, the officers in command Of the
Forts have received orders TO act strictly
on the defensive in such contingency,
the responsibility for consequences woulo
rightfuily rest upon the heads Of the as
sailanls. In reference to recognizing Sc
ceding State as an Independent Govern.
, | ment by the President, he says, it would
bea naked act Of usurpslion on bis part,
and it is hi. dsty to submit to Congress
the whole question in all its bearings.
r The probability Of any emergency arising
J when Congress will be called on to decide
the question whether il possesses power TO
compel State 10 remain in the Union
i authorizes him to express The opinion,
i that no such power has been delegated bv
| har mi Of he
federal government. Ii is manifest that
l. this is not among the specific and enume
l. rated powers granted to Congress and it is
N equally apparent thet its exercise is moi
N necessary aad proper Tor carrying int
i. execution any one Of these powers,
The President declares that to make w a.
t, upon a State is at variance with the sPiri
or of the Constitution. and after having con
W qusred a State, how govern ia it
te We could not govern it by despotic power
in nor could We by physical force compel it
y, people to elect q senator and represents
i. tive and perform all other duties spper
'rt tanning to an independent State. The fac
en- is, that our Union rests upon public opin
ID ion and can never be cemented By tn
MT blood of its citizens shed in civil war; il
he cannot live iu the affections OF the peopl
n it must one dsy perish. Congress posse.
- ses many means of preserving it by cor
ss ciliation. but the sword is not placed ]
an their hands preserve it by force.
b. But may be permitted solemnly to il
let woke my countrymen to pause and delib,
- rate before they determine to destroy thi
8, the graudest temple which has ever bee
ms dedicated to human freedom since tn
in world began. 1t has been consecrated B
n the blood of our fathers, by the glories
the past aud by the hopes of the future
tie The Unios has already made US the mo-
OF prosperous, and ere long will, If preserves
N, render US the most powerful nation on II
he face Of the earth. In every foreign regic
OF of the globe the title of American citize
mt is held in the highest respect, and whe
oil pronounced in a foreign land, it causes Il
re- hearts OF our eountrymen to swell wit
es' honest pride. Surely when we pass tn
~ brink of the yawnins abyss we shall reco
n's with horror from the fatal plunge; by sue
BIS dread catastrophe tie hopes ofthe friene
AZ Of freedom throughout the world would
"s destroyed, and long night Of IeadeH des
potism would enshroud the naiious. o.
: example for more than so years would NJ
- only BE- lost, but it would be quoted
a. conclusive proof that man is unfit for sc
- government.
81 The slavery question, like everythin
49, hnman. will have its day. firmly belieV
thnt it has already reached and passed III
n culminating point; bun if in the midst
,re The existing excitement the Union shs
VII perish, the evil may then become irrepars
Of HE. Congress can contribute much to ave-
in it by proposing and recommending to III
or Legislatures OF the several States the rem
Nv edy for existing evils which the Conslitu
me ton has Itself provided fer its own preset
nv walton.
pg The President proposes that his ~
or Planatory amendment to the Constitute
d. be adopted by Congress for the final sci
~ tiement OF fhe irue CONSTRUCTION OF IN
be Constitution on three special Points:-A
Is, express recognition of the right ef propsrt
se in slaves N the States where Is now exist
'se or may hereafter exist; the duty Of protect
ne ing this right in all the common lerritoris
a throughout their territorial existence an
to until they shall be admitted as States int
Go the Union with or without slavery, a. thsi
he Constitutions may preseribe; like cogni
as ton of the right OF the master 10 have hi
ch slave who hss escaped from one State {
rs another restored ana delivered up to him
I'd aud OF the validity of the Fugitive Slsv
a Law enacted for this purpose, togethe
I'd with n declaration that all State laws i'm
or pairing or defeating this right are viola
y tipns of the Constitution and are conse
D quently null and void.
st Such an explanatory amendment would