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

honest pride. Surely when we pass tn
brink of the yawning abyss we shall recoi
with horror from the fatal plunge. BY sue
a dread catastrsphe the hopes of the friend
OF freedom throughout the world would b,
destroyed, and long night OF leaden des-
potism would enshroud the nations. 0ui
example for more than so years would no
only BE- lost, but it would be quoted as ,
conclusive proof that man is unfit for sel
government. IL Is not every wrong, nay
1t is not every grievous wrong whica can
Justify resort to such fearful altsrna
tive. This ought to be the last desperate
remedy OF dsspairing people, after every
other constitutional means of conciliation
had been exhausted. We should rehec,
that under this free government there is
an ncessant ebb sad flow Of public opin
ion. The slavery question like everything
hnman, will have its day I firmly believe
that it has already reached and passed the
culminsting point; but if in the midst OF
the existing excitement the Union aha
perish. tho evil may then become irrepara-
ole. Congress can contribute much to arrest
1t by proposing and recommending to the
Legislatures Of the several States the rem
edy for existing evils which the Constitu- =
ton has itself provided fer its own preser
vation. This has been tried at different
critical periods Of our history. and always
with eminent success. 1t is TO be found
IN the 5th article. providing for its own
amendment. Under this article amend
msnts have been proposed by two-thirds of
both Houses OF Congress, and have been
ratined by the Legislatures of three -fourths
oil The several Statss, and have consequent.
ly became parts Of the Constitution. To
this process the country is indebted for the
clause Prohibiting Congress from passing g
any law respecting an establishment Of re.
iigion or sbrdging the freedom of speech
or OF the press, or the right of petition
10 TINS We are also indebted for the bill
OF rights which secured the people against
any abuse of power by the Federal Gov
eminent. Such were the apprehensions
justly entertained by the friends OF State
rights at that period as to have rendered it
extremely doubtful whether the Constitu-
ton would have long survived without
these amendments.
Again the Constitution was amended by
the same process afer the election Of
President Jefferson by the House OF Rep
resentatives. in 1903. This amendment
was rendered necessary to prevent recur
fence OF the dangers which had seriouly
threatened the existance of the Govern
ment during the pendency of that election.
The article for its own amendment was in.
tended to procure the amicable adiestment'
OF the conflicting Constitutional questions
like the present which might arise beveen
the Government of the States and of the
United States This appears from the
contemporaneous history. In this connec-
ton, | shall rasrely call attention to a few
instances in Mr. Madison's Justly celebra-
ted reports, in 1779, 20 the Lezislature of
Virginia. In this, he ably and conclusivly
defeated the resolutions Of the preceding
Legislature against the structures of seve-
raj other State Legislatures. These we're
mainly founded upon the protest ofthe
Virginia Legislature against the alien and
sedition acts as palpable, and alarming in
franctions on the Constitution. In point
ing out the peaceful aod constitutional
remedies-and he referred to none other-to
which the States we're authorized to resort
on such occasions. he concludes by say
ing, that the Legislatures of the States
might have made direct representation
to Congress, with a view to obtain a re.
scindisg of the two offensive acts or they
might have represented to their respective
Senators in Congress their wish that two
| thirds thereof would propose any explani-
tory amendment to the Constitution; OF two
thirds of themselves. il such had been their
option, might. by an application to Con-
gress, have obtained Convention for the
very same object. This is the very course
! which earnestly recommended, in ordel
to obtain an explanatory amendment Of the
Constitution on the subject of slavery
This might originate with Congress or tn,
State Legislatures, as may be deemed mos
advisable to attain the OBJECT. The ex-
lanatory a mendment might be con.
fined TO the for the final set.
tlement of the true construction of tn
Constitution on three special points:-First
express recognition of the right of propert,
in slaves IN the States where it nov exists
or may hereafter exist. Second, the duty o
protecting this right in all the commou ter
ritories throughout their territorial exist
ence. and until they shall be admitted a
States into The Union, with or withou
slavery, as their Constitutions may pre-
scribe. Third a like cognition Of the righ
OF the master TO have his slave who hs
escaped from one State to another restol
ed and delivered up t. him: aud Of tli
validity of the Fugitive Save Law. ena,
ted for this purpose, together with
declaration that all State laws impairin
or decreasing this right, are violation
of the Constitution, and consequently
null and void. h''N -' o."
u 1t may be objected. tha this construe
ton ofthe Constitution has already bee
settled by the Supreme Court Of the Unite
, States, and what more ough. to be requir
ed. The answer is, that very large pr'
> portion of the people of the United STATE
Q still controvert the correctness OF this de
cisions. and never will cease from agit;
ad init to ms
clearly established by the people OF tl
u sew eral States in their sovereign cheracte
u Such an explanation would. IL i believes
I forever terminate the existing dissension
and restore peace aud harmony among q
j. States. 1t ought not to be doubted tn
: such an appeal to the arbitramsnt e,tab
f., lisbod by the Constitution itself. woall
7 received with favor by all The States of Il
= Confederacy. In any event it ough to
tried in a spirit of conciliatlon, before al
from the Union.
,, when I entered upon the duti
~ of the Presidential office. the aspect nett
er of our foreign nor domestis affairs W
Nv at all satisfactory. We we're Involved
~ dangerous complications with several n
a tions, and two Of our territories were il
y state Of revolution against our Cover
W ment; a restoration of the African sla
aae trade had numerous aud powerful adv
n. w. Gates; unlawful milita.y expeditions we
NC cou ntenanced by many OF our citizens a
:" were suffered, in defence to the efforts
% our Government, to escape from our sho
'' for the purpose of making war upon
" inoffending people of neighboring j
puublics, with whom We were ae peace.
ua 10 addition to these and other dadic
!: ties, we experienced a revolution in Z
ell mentary affairs, soon after my adve
~, proving of fuuexampled severity and rai
M M'a' Gus consequences to the country. WI
we we take a retrospect of what was our C
dition, and contrast this with its mat
sss nal prosperity at the time Of the late r
I've idential election, we have abundant
lne SON to return our grteful thanks TO I
,,1's merciful Providence, which has never
, o' saken us, as nation, in all our trials,
On n oUn FOREIGN RELATIONS.
ufe Our relations with Great Britain ar
eli the most friendly character. Since
tell commencement Of my administration,
va two dangerous questions arising from
- CLAYTON and Bulwer treaty, and from
ub- right of search claimed by the Br
by Government, have been amicably and
var orably adjusted. The discordapt const
the ton Of the Clayton aud Bulwer treaty
ress tween the two Governments. which at