Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-01-24
WHOLE NO. 504.

far their rights have been violated,
the character Of redress or guaranty
thew viii demard, or the action they
will take for their present and future
security.
/ If there be a remedy for The evils
which afflict the country, consistent
With the perpetuity of the Union,
it will, in my opinion, be founded in
such constitutional amendments as
will deprive the fanatical msjorities
of the North Of the power to invade
our rights or impair the security or
value of our property.
j Clear and we'll defined as cur
our rights are, under, the present
Constitution, to participate equally
with the citizens Of all other States
in the settlement of the common ter
ritories, and to hold our slaves there
until excluded by the formation of
State Constitution, yet every organ
lied Territory will become field Of
angry, if not bloody, strife between
the Southern man and the Abolition
ist. and we shall see the tragedies of
Kansas rc-enacted in each of them.
as they approach the period of form
ing their State Constitutions.
Plain and uumistakabls as is the
duty of each State, 10 deliver up the
fugitive slave 70 his owner, yet the
atte mpt to reclSim, is at the peril Of
the masters life.
( These evils can be obyiated to a
great extent, if not entirely, by the
following amendments to the Con-
stitutioH:
lst. Establish a line upon the
Northern boundary o! the present
Slave States, and extend it through
the Territories to the Pacific Ocean,
upon such parallel Of latitude as will
divide them equitably between the
North and South, expressly prOsi-
ding that all the territory now owned,
or that may be be reafter acquired
North Of that line, shall be forever
free. Aud all South Of 1T torerer
slave. This will remove the question
of existence or nou-existence of sla-
verv in our States and Territories
entirely and forever from the arena
Of politics. The question being set
tied by the Constitution, is 10 longer
open for the politician to ride into
position by appealing to fanatical
pfejudices, or assailing the rights of
his neiehbore
! I'd. Ia addition to the fugitive
slave clause provide, that when a
sieve has been demanded Of the
Executive authority Of the State
to which be has 1ed, ir beis not de-
livered, and the owner permitted to
carry him put of the State 10 peace,
that the State SO failing 10 deliver,
shall pay TO the owner. double The
value Of such slave, and secure bis
right Of action 10 the Supreme Coutt
of the United States. This viii
secure the return Of the slave to his
owner, or bis value, With sufficient
sum to idemnify him for the expenses
necessarily incident TO the recovery.
I Sd. Provide for the protection OF
;. the owner, in the peaceable possession
of bis slave while in transitu, or tenn
porarily soiourDiDg in any of the
States Of the Confederacy; or in the
event Of the slsye's escape or being
taken from the owner, require the
State to return, OF account for him
as 10 case Of the fugitive.
;. 4tb. Expressly prohibit Congress
from abolisbing slavery in the District
Of Columbia, in any dock yard, navy
I yard, arsenal, or district of any char
, acter whatever, within the limits Of
| any slave State.
9Th. That these provisions shall
never be changed, except By the
consent Of all the slave States.
, With these amendments to the
f Constitution, ] should feel that our
rights we're reasonably secure, not
0 only in theory, bat in fact, and should
: indulge the hope Of living in the
t Union in peace. Without these, or
Y some other amendments which prom
4 ise an equal smonnt and certainty
n Of security, there Is no hope Of peace
,f or security in the government
N IT the non-slaveholding States re-
St fuse to comply With a demand. SO
;e lust and reasonable; refuse to aban-
d. don al once and forever their unjust
war upon US, our institutions and our
i in rights; refuse, as they have hereto
! k.on.forcr in Uood tait n.