The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-11

dress they VIII demand or they
viii take for their present and future security
Ii there be a remedy for the evils which aiiIct tho
country consistent with the perpeu'ty OF the union,n
will, In my opinion, b. found IN such constitutional
amendments as will doprivo the iansteal maJortes Of
the North OF the power to invade rights impair the
security or value OF our property.
Clear well defined our rights are, under tho
present constitution to participate equally with the citi
zes OF all other states 10 the settlement OF tho common
Territories 10 hold slaves there until excluded
by the formation Of state constitution, yet every
organized Territory win become field Of angry II NOS
litionit, and shall the tragedies Of Kansas
enacted In each Of them az they approach the period Of
forming their state constitutions.
Plain and urmistakeable 10 the duty Of each State
TO deliver up the fugitive slave TO his owner yet the
These evils be Obyiated 10 a great extent II
entirely by the following amendments to tho constu-
l. Establish line upon the Northern boundary OF
the presen, slave States and extend through the Terri
as win divide them equitably between tho North and
South, expressly providing that all the territory now
owned that DO hereafter acquired North OF that
line, shall be forever FREQ aud all South OF 1t forever
slave. This viii remove tho question OF existence or
existence Of slavery in our States and Territories
entirely and forever from the arena OF politics. The
question being settled by the constitution Is longer
open for tho politician TO ride into position by appealing
70 fanatica preudices, or assaing the rights of bus
O. In addition to the fugitive slave clause provide
authority Of the state to which he has he'd If he IS not
delivered and the owner permitted to carry him out Of
shall pay to the owner double the value Of such slave
and secure his right Of action in tho Supreme Court
Of the United suites This VIII secure the return Of tho
slave TO his owner, or his value with suicientBu 70
indemnify him for the expenses necessarily incident to tho
recovery.
able possession OF his ave while in uansjtu tempo
rary soourng any Of the States of the confoderacy
and In the oi the slaves escape being taken
from the owner require the state to return account
for him as in case Of tho fugitive.
A. Expressly prohibit Cong from abolshng slavery
IN the DBtIct OF Columbia, Ia any dockyard, navy
yard arsenal or district OF any character whatever
within 40 limits OF any slave state.
g. That these provisions shall never be changed, ex-
cept by the consent 0f all tho slave States.
With these amendments to the constitution, should
feel that our rights reasonably secure, not only IN
theory but in Net, and should iadngc the hope OF living
in the Union in peace Without these, or some othr
ainty OF security there hope peace security
in the government.
II tho non slavehoding States refuse to comply with
demand so just and reasonable refuse to abandon at
and forever their. unjust upon us,
our institutions and our rights; refuse, as they
have heretofore DONE to perform good faith the obi
cations OF the compact OF rnion much as may appre
ciae the power prosperity greatness and glory of this
government deeply as depore the existence Of
which have already driven State from the Union;
mach as may regret the imperative necessity which they
on Of self preservation and sell respect require tia!
sh0id assert and maintain our equality in the Untn or
inderpndeace ont Of it,"
II my opinion, the only mode left us Of perpetuatng
the Union upon the principles OF Justice and equality
which it was originally established, is by the Southern
States identified they ia interest," Sentiment and
feeling and must in the natural Of events, shace
common destiny uniting in the expression Of fixed
and unaltcrable resolve that rights guaranteed by
tho constitution must be and fully and perfect
y secured in tho present government or asserted and
maintained in homogeneous coniederacy OF Southern
States
Mere questions Of policy may be very often properly
compromised but there compromise of cardinal
and vital principles; no compromise between right and
wrong. Principle must be indicated and right triumph
ant be the consequences what they may TO compromise
the ono or abandon the other, is not only
unmanly and Illuminating in the extreme but always
disastrous In its final results
ments CT violated constitution and once glorious go
ycrnment She is acting on the d fensive. She has
been driven TO the wall and submit to no further az
greeson The North however, restore the consttu
tiona Union Of Iathors by undoing their work of
alienation and hate, engendered by thirty years Of
slant aggression and by unearnng the lessons OF mag
nan hostility to the south and her institutions, with
which their press pulpit and schools have pcrsistentiy
infected tho public mind.
Let them do this and peace will again establish her
court in the midst Of this once happy country, and the
union OF these States be restored to that spirit Of fatcrni
ty, equality and justice which gave II birth.
Let them do this and the vitality which has been
crushed out Of the constitution may be restored giving
renewed strength and vigor to the BODY polite.
But can we hope for such resultsr Two months have
already passed since the development of facts which
make the peretty OF the Union depend alone upon their
cred rights. Yet, there ~ been proposition all
pry ~" IA, seo Oh 'ne M aa
I, their senators and representatives, in Congress have
voted down and purne every proposition that looked to
the accomplishment OF this object, matter whence
emanating and the fact that thor constituents have in
authoritative manner, issued words OF rebuko or
warning to them must be taken conclusive proof OF
their acquieecence in the policy.
In view Of lhesc facts, cannot close my eyes to the
Conclusion that Tennessee ws poweress in any eor u
he may make 10 que the storm that pervades the coun-
try The work Of alienation and disruption has gone
far That It will DO extremely difficult II not impossible to
arrest it. and before your adjournment, in all human
probability the only practical question for the State to
determine, will be whether she will unite her fortunes
with Northern or Southern confederacy; upon which
question, when presented am certain there be little
no division in sentiment identified In every
respect with the South.
II this calamity shall bera the country the South will
have the consolation OF knowing that she Is in
responsible for the disaster The responsibility
alone upon the Northern people, who have wilfully
broken the bond of Unou ldiated the and
duties which Il imposes, and only cling to Its benefits.
Yet even IN this dark hour OF responsibility and peril
let no man countenance the idea for moment thai The
dissolution OF the federal Union reduces the country
anarchy proves the theory Of selfgoyernment 10
failure Such conclusions would be only erroneous
but unworthy Of ourselves and Revolutionary
Try, while our State governments exist, possessing ali the
machinery perfect and complete, which Is necessary
The purposes OF civn government, just as they existed
before ,he Union was formed.
The sages and patriots Of the Revolution, when in the
act OF severing their connection with the mother county
and establishing the great cardinal principles OF free goys
egrmt solomny declared that governments were inst
tuted among men to secure their rights 'to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, deriving their just powers
nom me consent OF the governed mat wheneyerany form
OF government becomes destructive of these
right Of the people to alter abolish 1t and to institute
new government lay ing lis foundations such pruc
ples and organizing It's powers in such form to them
shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happ.
ness. But when long train OF abuses and
usurpatons pursuing invariably the object eyinccs
design TO reduce them under absolute despots u IS
their right II Is their duty throw OH government
and TO provide new guards Tor Their future security"
RECOGNIZING these great principles the people vi Ten
ncssoc Incorporated in their declaration Of rights,
fundamental article OF the constitution OF the State
"tot goceynnnt bang instituted }or he tae6t, he
otfine Of non resttaHc ogrsns arbitrary roer otf
frsssion is astd siagth and destructive of Me good and
hapiiioss Of mankind
Whatever line Of polio. may be adopted by The people
Of Tennessee with regard to the present federal relations
Of the state that The swords OF her brave and
gallant will BE- drawn for the purpose OF
ercing suhjugatug holding conquered province
any her states, whose people may declare
their independence Of the federal government for the
purpose OF being relieved from "a long train of abuses
and usurpations. 7oddt the right policy Of
,0ptd D. untrue 70 the eromlie n fathers the go
ntrssg the past destructive of tn great and
fundamental principles of civil liberty purchased with
their blood dstrtafire IF State or,ryQnty and eloiify
tending to ccntralzaon and thus subject tn rights Of
the minority to the despotism of unrestraincd