Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-12-13

tensions Justly entertained by the friends of
State Rights at that period az to have render
ell it extremely doubtful whether the Consti-
ton could have long survived without these
amendments,
Again, the Constitution was amended by
the same process after the election OF Presi-
dent Jefferson by the House of Representa-
tives, in February 1903. This amendment
was rendered necessary to prevent recur-
renee Of dangers which had seriously threat
ened the existence of the Government du-
ring tie tendency of that election The ar
ticle for its own amendment was intended 10
secure the amicable adjustment of conflicting
constitutional questions like the present.
which might arise between the governments
If the States and that of the United States
This appears from the contemporaneous his
tory. In this connection, | shall merely call
attention to few sentences in Mr.. Nadison's
Justly celebrated report, in 1893, to the leg
islatnre Of Virginia. In this he ably and
conclusiyy d tended the resolutions oi the
preceding legislature against the structures
of several other State legislatures. These
were mainly founded upon the protest of The
Virginia legislature against tho "Alien ard
Scdition Acts" as 1alpable and alarming liz
fractions Of the Constitution In pointing
out the peaceful and Constitutional remedies
and he referred to none other, to which
the States were authorized to resort to, on
such occasions, he concludes by saying, THAT
the y iraturcs Of the States might have
maze direct representation toCongress with
a<view to obtain the resembling of the two OIL
ensive acts, as they might have represented
TO their respective senators in Congress their
| wish that two-thirds thereof would propose
an explanatory amendment to the Constltu.
ton, or two-thiris Of themselves,if such had
been their option, might by application to
| Congress, have obtained a convention for the
| object.
! This Is the very course which l earnestly re-
commend in order to obtain an explanatory
amendment" of the Constitution on the subject
of slavery. This might originate with Congress
or the Sta legislatures. rs may be deemed
most advisable to attain the object.
The explanatory amendment might be confln-
ed to the final settlement ofthe truo construction
of the Constitution on three special points:
J. An express recognition Of the right OF
property in slaves in the States where 1t now
exists or may hereafter exists
.. The duty Of protecting this right in all the
common Territories throughout their territorial
existence, and until they shall he admitted as
States into the Union, with or without Slavery,
as their constitutions may prescribe.
g. A like recognition Cfthe right OF the mas
ter TO have his Slave. who has escaped from one
State to another, restored aud "delivcred up
to him, and OF this validity of the fugitive slave
law enacted for this, purpose together with a
declaration that all State laws impairing or de-
featinc this right are violations ofthc Constitu-
ton, and are consequently null and void.
1t nav be objected that this construction OF
the Constitution has already been settled by the
Supreme Court of the United State', and what
more ought to be required The answer is,
that n very large proportion of the people of the
United States still contest the correctness Of this
decision, and never will cease from agitation and
admit its binding force until clearly established
by the people Of the several States in Il cir
ereign character. Such an explanatory amend
ment would it is believed. forcvs terminate the
existing dissentions and restore peace and har-
mony among the States
1t ought not to BIO doubted that snch an ap-
peal to the orbirament established by the Con-
stitutNn itself would be received with favor by
an the States of the Confed acy. In any event
it ought . be tried in aspirit of Cancellation be-
fore any Of these States shall scperatc them
selves from the Union.
The rest Of the message is occupied with n
report of foreign relations, in which vo find
nothing of much interest.