The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-03-23
IFrom la3 \. ., T.c9yune.
Thc,Conssitntiou.

NF''J my pa'e RESUMED, and one which
carries with it the obligation to see that the Stat,
receives no harm from the contract which they
are about to adopt. for they have disarmsd her ~
the right to see to it for herself II is not our
| purpose now to question the propriofy If that
decision or to urge its reconsideration. We have
nothing TO add on that subject to what has already
been said But we would cali the attention of
the convention TO an article in the new cons,itu.
ton which in the not improbable progress Of
events, may prove so inimica to the interests Of
Louisiana, that we should be derelic, In duty
were we not to protest against Il as a part Of
compact which is to bind her forever. We do
not Hattcr ourselves that'whst we have 70 .ubfbi,
| in relation to that clause viii have much weight
with the convention, but il concerns us TO pnt
ourselves right upon the 7, cord that we may not
accuse ourselves Of being silent when we thought
the interests Of the State were in danger Of being
compromised With becoming defarenco TO the
| opinions Of those who may differ from us. we
shall proceed to quote the article, and comment
| upon it without reserve
The third section of the fourth article Of The
constitution contains the following provision in
relation TO the admission of other States into The
Unior;'
-Other States may be admitted into TIL. Con
| ttdrracy by vote Of two-thirtls of the whole
House OF Representatives, and two-ihirds of the
Senate, the Senate voting by States"
What was the object of the ;wo-thirds rostric-
ton upon the admission Of other States into III,
Conffderacy : What was its design And At
what does it aim, whether 50 designed or not
The convention debated this as other important
measures, with closed doors We have therefore.
10 opportunity of canvassing the reasons assigned
for the restriction but we can imagine Them
1t may have been avowcdly 20 hinder any free
States from entering The conG-dcracy but does
a Congress Of slave States require curb on this
point The provisions giving to masters the
transit or sojourn in all the States. with their
slaves, and establishing the inviolaliity Of slave
property in the territories are sufficient 10 keen
any free State from applying for admission. whilst
The subject Of slavery is bone Of intersectioual
contention. Whatever may have been the reasous
assigned for this restriction, whatever may have
been Ifs design, its effect is 70 give TO The Atlantic
states forever the power ofdecdn- thr direction
IN which the empire Of the Confcderacy shall tx
pand, and Of prohibiting its extension along The
valley of the Mississippi. Any three States on
IA" soahoard, whose commercial or political IN
forests may be, OF may over be. in rivalry with
the river States, or with Louisiana. can say 70
the Confcdrracy. thus far Shalt thou 90 and no
farther. The clause is designed 10 fDrosta dovrl
opulcnts which may aTiqr in the prorycss Of Gov
eminent respecting the States which lie upon thr
great tributaries Of The Mississipp--it is aimed
AZ what might prove 60 be p COMMERCIAL. social
and political, as il has boon rerardcd nv many as
= physical necessity Of this State IT has hos
file and menarinr suuint.
The policy Of forming \ permanent government
in M midst If rcvouiion j.. at least doubtful
ono. GnlrsS N" famrrp Of ito constitution on |
i"v"d more than mortal exemption from the weak
n"ss"s of human nature, II might be- expected that
\ constitution SO formed would bear more traces
# the passions which produced the revolution
thsn might provo consistent with tho future |
w"ll-h"ng Of the State Whilst we chrorGuUv |
aimi: that the Montgomery Contention acGuit |
"' 'S.'t' 'u 'n' regard with "a much tTh"ar-
""c' a c"Ud haV" "''R hoped y@' the resuic- !
won We are "'ahn@ "i Is Just That much in OK |
COS" OF ~" f'fhn"m'n'S N Hght rcHson. n" |
r'anS'S f'i''ng to slavery ar" a"pl" FIR III" evil
'h'N remedy ana III" added one Is no; only u7'-
less in that connection, Int in its accidcr'al. ID
mining u 70 D' accidental bearing, positive rc
Siric'ion and probable grievance 10 In" State
which has r>':rd Inor" in proportion n any i'm |
aG'nary gain it may r'a'iz" from revolution, than
any or all others com' ind. Hence it would have |
been The wiser policy for the Provisional Govern
mrnt TO have carried the States through to tho |
establishment of acknowledged Independence !
and for the convection to have framed rcrma- /
went government afterwards. vh"u th~H action |
would be disrntanpi"d of the iuitations and SIS
pcnse which are apt to bias the wiycs' and |
ca'm"st minds. Tho convention thought diFr- |
emily; and we now r.al.e no objection to tho |
time and circumstances Of their doing, but TO
What they id,