The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-11-14
What Shall BE DOnes

TINS question, like the dentists fingers, is
in everybody's mouth; and, as is generally
the ease when crowd has gathered around
sick horse, every man is ready with a re-
Spouse to the question, and willing to risk
his reputation upon the success of his pre-
scription, if the country can only be induced
to swallow it.
Upon one point, all seem to be agreed.
We do not know an individual, who, il the
rights and honor of the South could be Sc
cured within the Union, would be in favor
of secession, even now. There is, in the
heart of our people, deep and abiding love
for the Union; but that love is not stronger
than their sense of justice and selfrcspeet.
They are the descendants of the same men
who were as true and loyal subjects as any
who were born within the allegiance of the
British crown, but whose loyalty was not
proof against the attempt of their monarch
and his advisers to strip them of their rights
as British subjects.
Secession is the remedy which seems to
find most advocates among those with whose
opinions we are acquainted. The advocates
of this measure are convinced that we have
nothing to hope from the justice or forbear-
ance of the North, and that we have every
thing to fear from their fanaticism and rapac-
ity, if we remain longer in the Union.
There is another and more moderate class,
who are unwilling, at present, to take the ex-
treme step of Withdrawing from the Union,
while, at the same time, they are equally un-
willing to continue in the Union, unless they
can ''provide new guards for our future secu-
rity." They believe it to be still practicable
to effect some satisfactory adjustment of the
existing difficulties; and, therefore, they de-
sire to exhaust all the means at hand for the
preservation Of the Union, before the ave-
nucs to negotiation are finally closed. They
look forward to n general Convention, COM
posed of delegates from all the States, ami
charged with the duty of revising the present
Constitution. Let us see how such Con-
yention is to be called together.
The Constitution provides TART. W that
'the Congress, whenever two-thirds of both
Houses shall deem it necessary, shall pro-
pose amendments to this Constitution, or,
on the application ofthe Legislatures of two
thirds of the several States, shall call Con
vention for proposing amendments, which, in
either case, shall be valid to all intents and
purposes, as part of this Constitution, when
ratified by the Legislatures of threc-fourths
of the several States, or by Conventions in
three-fourths thereof, as one or the Other
mode of ratification may be proposed by the
Congress"
Is it likely, that, in accordance with thi.
provision, the Constitution can be amended
The South, constituting less than two-third,
of all the States, cannot require Congress t.
call a Convention, nor can she command tlC
majority of two-thirds, in both Houses o
Congress, requisite for proposing amend
ments by that body. 1t is scarcely to be cS
pccted that she could succeed in securing thu
cooperation of such number of Norther
members as would suffice to place amend
mchts before the States for their adoption
But, supposing this obstacle to be surmount
ed, it would be still more unlikely that a
many as nine of the non-slaveholding State
could be induced to ratify such amendment
as would satisfy the South. The North de
sires no amendment of the Constitution
Conscious, as she is, that, owing to unfore
seen changes which have occurred since tina
instrument was formed, she now has 9Th,
best of the bargain" she is disposed t.
insist upon all that is nominated in tn
, bond," and will never willingly surrender an,
of the advantages which she conceives her
self to have acquired under it. Perhaps, a
last resort, if she were really convinced tina
r the South could in no other way be induce
to remain in the Union, she might becom
more compliant in her views but, even ther
she would part with her supremacy-f sh
narted with it at all-with the same reluC
, lance that would mark the relaxation of tn
: miser's grasp upon a new-found treasure {
: inestimable worth, in the presence of peri
threatening his very life, from which he coul
!. purchase exemption only at the price of a
that he most dearly priced.
As serving to show something of the pre-
ent tone of feeling at the North upon thi
subject, we reproduce the following articl
which appeared, on the morning after til
election, in the columns of the Cincinna
Gazette, one of the Lincoln organs of Ohio
:, aNo MORE CoMPRoMIsING.-There are a
ready indications that the Secessionists, VIII
have inflicted a most serious injury on the
IS own section, without any evil effect els
r where hope to bring about another compr
n mise. Alarmed at the personal ruin impel
;. ding over them, land which can not now
averted by any device,) these conspiratoi
T are sad to be planning a Convention of I'll
g several States, for the purpose ofpatching u
Is another compromise, for the protested obje
le of keeping the Union together, 10y some CO..
, stitutional amendments.
TIL. ,on ,,avar he effected. as propose