Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-03-13

rrt., .",...-, WIN
ca Is after lle $, l,aratiou of tie sections than
brErr.
I'll" +, rriym Slave 'Ira'!r, now imrer:rcrl!y
>u,prtsse wruli la: ul1imafrl y revived with
oat restriction in one src:ion, willie fugitive
,lav now only partially surrendered, w"ud
uol bc surrendered at all by the other. Physi-
caly speaking, we cannot separate. e can
not rr.nnvc unr RESPECTIVE sections from each
other, nor bald III, inrassiblc wall bc,~ecn
them. y husband and wife may be divorced
and go oGt u: the presence a beyond the
reach Of each other, bat the different InTts oI
our country cannot do this: ti.ry cannot but
rci:ain face to face, aud intercourse, either
anir;lbIe or hostile, must cot'inuc between
chem. Is is possible then TO make that inter
coursc more advantageous rr more sa!IacorT
after separation than before? Can a.lcns
make treaties easier than friends can make
laws? Can trealirs bc more faithfully en-.
forced bctwccn aliens than laws can among
friends?
Suppose you 90 to war, you cannot fight
always and when, after much loss on both
.i,le.. nal no gail. on either, YOU cease fight
ing, Tic Identical Ul questions as to terms OF
intercourse are again upon you. This coun-
try. wish lis institutions, belongs 10 the people
who rhahit it. Whenever they shall grow
weary of tie existing government they can
exercise their constitutional right ii an nd
ng it. or ,l.cir revolutionary right TO dlsacn-
Der or overthrow it.
cannot be ignorant Of the fact that many
worthy aud patriotic citizens are desirors OF
having the national Constitution amended.
While make no recommendation Of amend
lncnt, fully recognise tic righlial authority
Of the people over the Who'll. subject, to be
exercised in either of tic modes prescribed IN
the instrument itself, and should, under ex,
isting circumstances, lavcrr rather than oppose,
IL fair opportunity being offered tic people
to net upon 1t. will venture to add, that
t, me the Convention molc seclns preferable,
in that it allows amendments 10 originate with
the people themselves, i.istead of only permit
ting them TO take Or reject propositions or'gi-
mated by others, not especially chosen for the
purpose, and which might not be precisely
such as they would wish 10 either accept or
refuse. understand u proposed amendment
to the Constitution, Which amendment, how.
ever, have not s,c!,, has passed Congress TO
the effect, that the Federal Government shall
never interfere with The domestic institutions
of the States, including that OF rer'olis held
to service. To avoid misconstruction of what
have said, depart from my purpose not to
speak of particular amendments so far ns 10
say, that holding such a provision to now be
implied constitutional law. | have no objec-
ton to its being made express and irreyocabIe
The chief Magistrate derives all his authority
from the people, and they have conferred none
upon him to fix terms for the separation Of
the States. The people themselves can do
this also if they choose, but the executive as
such has nothing to do with it. His duty is
to administer the present government rs 1t
came to his hands, and to transmit it unim.
paired by him to his successor. Why should
there not be patient confidence i'll the uli-
mate justice Of the people? Is there any
better or equal hope in this world In our
present differences, is either party without
faith Of being in the right, If the Almighty
Ruler Of nations, with his ctcrual truth and