Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1860-12-07

tueTt NcIO SuCu un olhOSi, ehO OuoiiO PoP-
ulation would constitute one solid combi-
nation to resist him.
1.-The bare enumeration of these pro-
visions proves how inadequate they are
without further legislation to overcome a
united opposition in single State, not
to speak of other States who may place
themselves in similar attitude Congress
alone has power to decide whether the
present laws can or cannot be amended
so as to carry out more effectually the
objects of the constitution.
"The same insuperable obstacles do not
lie in the way of executing the laws for
the collection of the Customs. The rev.
enue still continues to be collected, as
heretofore, at the Custom House in Charles
ton; and should the collector unfortunate
ly resign, successor may be appointed
to perform this duty.
"Then, in regard to the property of the
United States in South Carolina. This
has been purchased for fair equivalent,
"by the consent of the Legislature of the
State" " for the creation of forts, mag
azines arsenals," &C., and over these the
authority " to exercise exclusive legisla-
ton" has been expressly granted by the
Constitution to Congress. 1t is not be-
lieved that any attempt will be made to
expel the United States from this property
by force; but if in this | should prove to
be mistaken, the officer in command Of the
forts has received orders to act strictly on
the defensive. In such contine pncy,
the responsibility for consequences would
Irightfully rest upon the heads of the
assailants."
The President then, apparently unnind-
full of the course he took when he sent an
army to coeree the people of Kansas, and
forcibly prevent the city of Lawrence
from watering their streets under an or
dinance of their city government, pro-
ceeds to discuss his authority to coerce the
seeding States, and insists that lie has
no power to use force in retaining them;
and although he makes no specific men
ton of that particular result, the tenor of
his argument would indicate that tho
President has no right to enforce the laws
of the United States, when there is any
objection to such enforcement.
He then most humbly and most meel1ly
entreats and beseeches the Southern States
not to use force against the General Gov
eminent.
Then, as if somewhat relieved, he goes
on to suggest a compromise OF settlement,
by amendments to the constitution. He
goes on to recite the way in which the
Constitution provides for it's own amend
ment, and then says:
This is the very course which ear
nestly recommend in order to obtain an
explanatory amendment of the Consti-
tuition on the subject of slavery. This
might originate with Congress, or the
State Legislatures, as may be deemed most
advisable to obtain the object.
"This explanatory amendment might be
confined to the final settlement of the true
construction of the Constitution on three
special points:
81. An express recognition of the
right of property in slaves in the States
where it now exists or may hereafter ex-
list.
"2. The duty of protecting this right
in all the common Territories throughout
their territorial existence, and until they
snail be admitted as States into the Union,
with or without slavery.
80. A like recognition of the right of
the master to have his slave who has es-
capped from one State to another, restored
and delivered up to him, and of the va
lidity of the fugitive slave law enacted
for this purpose, together with a declara-
ton that all State laws. impairing or de-
feating this right are violations of the
Constitution, and are consequently null
and void
" 1t may be objected that this construc-
ton has already been settled by the Su-
preme Court of the United States, and
what more 0uOht tn he reouired9 Tbo