Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1861-05-02
THE "BLsr AMENDMENT"


Platform" and being broken up. that parry
lails- ior the prssent-snd until Missouri
Is ready to act. See how Mr.. DOUGLASS,
Delegate to the Convention from Cooper,
completely demolishes it, and triumphantly
defends the Convention! He is writing to
tbs Boonville Observer, 10 correct q notice
1t made Of his speech: ~ d b. =
Permit ne briefly 10 state the three rea .
sons given by me for my vote on the Bias,
amendment. y
/. The amendment pledged Missouri 10
blind and passive acquiescence in the nc.
ton Of other States. could not thus con.
sent 10 negative the existence and n,w,r
OF our great State. With population and
resources greater than any of them: ,b.
was entitled to, at least, an equal. voice In
2, The amendment contemplated the
destruction Of the Union. I was pledged
to do nothing to aid or hasten that result
Besides, if the amendment meant ANYTHING.
ii was secession in prospective, and there
fore the law required its submission TO the
p eopls for their ratification or reiection.-
Sect. 10 Of the act calling the Convention
reads: 800. -.-.fg. g,.--
"No act, ordinance or rsslation of said con-
yention shall be deemed to be valid to change or
dissolve the political relations Of this State to the
government of the United States or any other
State until minority of the qualified voters of
this State, voting upon the question, shall ratify
the same"
Now this "resolutioh" either "changed"
the political relations Of this State pros sct-
lively, or il did not. II ii did. then It mus,
he ratified by the people-if II did not, then
1t was a mere expression of opinion. Not
the opinion Of the people, as you seem TO
suppose, Tor the convention was not called
to express "opihions" as 10 what the peo-
pie wond do at future day and upon fu-
,ure contingencies, but it would simply
have been the opinion Of the ninety-nins
citizens composing the convention. l trust
no Que believes the convention was called
for such purpose.
3. My third reason, and that which |
stated 10 be tbs most conclusive with me,
was that tho decision Of the question in.
volred in the Bast amendment was moi
within the powers Of the convention. The
powers Of the convention are ascertained IN
The fifth section Of the act calling il into
being:
"SEc. B. The delegates elected under the pro-
visions or this act shall assemble at Jefferson City,
on Thursday, the 2sth Of February, 1861, and Or
gahize themselves INTO convention by the cleo
ton OF President and such other officers as they
may deem necessary; and shall proceed TO consid-
er the then eristing relations between the govern
meEt OF the United States, the people and govern
ments Of the different States, ana the government
and people Of the State of Missouri; and to adopt
such measures for vindicating the sovereignty Of
the State: and the protection of It's institutions, as
shall appear to them TO be demanded."
From this it clearly appears thu, the
powers OF the convention are limited to "tbe
then erising relations"-in other words
TO the relations existing at The time The
powers are exercised. The convention.
ihen' had no power to act upon future con-
tingencies which nigh, happen when it
would no longer be in existence. The
power to decide all such questions was re-.
served in the people, and sny attempt BY
The convention to exercise such power would
have been usurpation. For this oonstruo
ton Of the powers Of the convention, have
the highest and most ample judicial author
ity. And may say. without intending 10
detrac: from your well known sbiliiy, that
there is a strong presumption amounting /
almost 10 absolute certainly, that these au. |
thorilies ars sound and correct, while. M !
against them, there is small and yery re.
mote possibility that you are right. Hence,
most men will be governed by such author.
ily and reject yours. The Bast amendment,
hen, asked the convention to do that which
il had no power 10 do.
Further: you say sit (the Ba,t amend.
nent) proposed, substantially, that in tn.
event OF the failure of the border slave
states TO obtain an adjustment, that in such
contingency as was there defined. Mis-.
Iourl would bear these states company.
This is not only misstaiement, but n mis-.
,oncsption Of its purpori and meaning
gu make II say, "ihat in the event Of the
allure OF the border slave states to obtain
IN adjustment, Missouri would bear these
tates company" Company how and where?
DO you mean 10 say that il, in the even,
ont empisted, the other border slave states
lect TO stay in the Union. Missouri will
bear them compahy?" Or if they 90 ont
4 the Union and form central confeaeraov
hat Missouri will bear them compapvpS
DR. they 60 out and join the cotton DON.
ederacy. that Missouri will stiIl bear the
ompany." We are left in doubt a. tot
Ghsre bearing them company" would lead
IS. The Bsst amendment declares that if !
he border states naming thsm) .'shall do.
ermine to change The relations they now i
old TO the general government the state Of 2
1issouri will not hesitate 10 take a firm [;
nd decided stand in favor of her sister
order slave states, as you construe it, bu, n
or sister slave states. Whether this
leans the Dor Ter states. the cotton states
r all them together is uncertain. 1t was
erhaps intended to pIedge Missouri to
bin the cotton states, whether the other
order states SO decided or NOT. Members
Missouri convention could not so vote $
the absence of popular Instructions. t
have made this communication much
niger than intended, but could not well
ave said less. This in conclusion, when 3
he eyenta conf am Mai cd in tha r., .-I u