Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-01-25


that state and, If it were in my power,
would not alter the Constitution in that re.
spect. If Misrepresentation of my position
vote for an amendment of the Constitution
declaring that it shall not, by any future
amendment, be so altered as to confer on
Congress power to abolish or interfere with
slavery in any state.
Thirdly. While think that Congress has
exclusive and sovereign authority to legislate
on all subjects whatever, in the common ter
ritories of the United States; and while GER
tainly shall never, directly or indirectly, give
my voice to establish or sanction slavery in
such territories, or anywhere else in the
world, yet the question what constitutional
laws shall at any time be passed in regard to
the territories. is, like every other question.
TO be determined on practical grounds.
voted for enabling acts in the case ofOrcgon,
Minnesota, and Kansas, without being able
to secure in them such provisions as would
have preferred and yet voted wisely.
So now, am well satisfied that, under
existing circumstances, happy and salts
factory solution of the difficulties in the re-
naming territories would be obtained by sim
liar laws, providing for their organization,
if such organization were otherwise practica.
bic. II. therefore, Kansas were admitted as
state, under the Wyandotte constitution, as
l think she ought to be, and if the organic
laws Of all the other territories could be re-
pealed I could vote to authorize the organiz-
alton and admission of two new states which
should include them, reserving the right to
effect subdivisions of them whenever nccessa-
ry into several convenient states but do
not find that such reservations could be con-
stitutionally made
But if the measure were practicable,
should prefer a different course, namely ::
when the eccentric movements of secession
and disunion shall have ended, in whatever
form that end may come and the angry ex-
elements Of the hour shall have subsidized, and
calmness once more shall have resumed its
accustomed sway over the public mind, then,
and not until then--One, two, or three years
hence should cheerfully advise conven-
ton of the people. to be assembled in pursu-
ance of the constitution. to consider and de-
eide whether any and what amendments Of
the organic national law ought to be made
Fourthly. hold myself ready
now, as always, heretofore, to vote for any
properly guarded laws which shall be deemed
necessary to prevent mutual invasions of
states by citizens of other states, and punish
those who shall aid and abet them.
Filthy. Mr.. SEWARD here advocates the
construction Of two Pacific railways, giving
it as his opinion that such physical bonds are
vastly more powerful for holding civil COM
munities together than any mere covenants.
fin the expression of these views, have
not proposed what is desired or expected by
many others, they will do me the justice to
believe that am as far from having suggest
ed what in many respects would have been
in harmony with cherished convictions of my
own. learned early from jefferson. that in
political affairs we cannot always do what
seems to us absolutely best. =
Soon enough, trust, for safety, it will be
seen that sedition and violence are only local
and temporary, and that loyalty and affection
to the Union are the natural sentiments Of
tie whole country. This Union
has not yet accomplished what good for man
kind was manifestly designed by Him who
appoints the seasons and prescribes the duties
of states and empires. No, sir; if it were
cast down by factions to-day, it would rise
again and reappear in all its majestic proper
tons tomorrow. 1t is the only government
that can stand here. Woe! woe to the man
that madly lifts his hand against it.
OK COOP TERMs--It would seem that the
personal relations existing between Major