The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-09-28
GRAFTON OF GEO. Nj. DALLAS.
dt the unnecessary Mcciing IN independence
Square, Sept. II. 1861.

|
ing last, adopted resolution expressing the
wish to commemorate this anniversary in
some suitable manner, and requesting me to
address you on the subject of the Consttu-
ton of the United States. The duty thus
suddenly but tiatteringly impo scd, is under
taken with diilidence, trusting implicitly to
your indulgence.
| There are epochs of trial in the history 5r
every country, when it becomes indispensable
| to The genera safety, order and honor that
there should be unanimity of sentiment and
exeItatlon We have entered upon such an
epoch, and If the essential unanirnity or any.
| thing near it can be obtained, the epoch
however laden with fruits of bitterness and
anguish, will shortly pass away; if other
wise, then, indeed it ill be as impossible to
see the distant end as to fathom the dark
depths of our calami,ics.
Can there be anything on which we should
so harmoniously and vigorously cooperate
as in maintaining the Const tution! Hereto
fore, American differences as to that insru-
rnent have been those of mere Interpretation,
often subtle and mostly al dent, but always
peacefully disposed Of. Now, however, we
are required to abandon. give up, surrender
abolish the Constitution altogether. to reduce
to dead letter Its cleaTeSt clauses to forcgo its
browning product the Union, and to accept
in its stead something crudcly fashioned by
avowcdly exasperated and untrrndly hands I!
We can't do that: and will try to tell
you why.
Taking for grant, fellow citizens. the abso-
lutte necessity Of some form of government,
tbs fundamental charter has VIGOROUSLY
borne the test of time and talent. Its steady
operation for stventy-two years drew to it
the homage of universal admiration. No
wonder: for it was the offspring of the wisest
and purest deibera,ve council tie world has
ever seen, and its rich fruits of human pros
perity, happiness, strength and glory, have
in unc, asng progression. rvetled the aston.
iShrd gaze and awakened the ycarnng SYM
pathles OF men everywhere.
From the great date when Washinton first
took the oath of Office, as President, April
~, lISo. down to a very recent period. what
purpose contemplated by the sages who
made it, has this Constitution failed to fulfil?
Not one. Those purposes, as enumerated in
the preamble, were to form more perfect
Union, establish justice. insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare. and secure the
blessings of Liberty" summary. compact
and comprehensive, including all the aims
which nation Of the highest civilization
could hope to achieve. Amid the countless
and unavoidable vcissltudcs of human affairs
every dangerous ordeal had been met and
passed foreign war; domestic instruction,
financial panic and fraud, traitorous consp,r.
acy and tacllous strife, had al. successfully
proved its efficacy while its benrticenI
influence was att,sied by vast accessions of
States, Territories and people, by the bound
less spread of industry education and com.
fort, and 10y the unmpedcd enjoyment and
exercise of legal rights.
A Constitution founded upon considerations
CONNECTED with the genius, pursuits, wants,
prospects, and even the climate of numer.
Gus people, is always dcsigcd to be permanent,
to be unallerable or alterable only after
measured care and in the manner prescr bed
within itself. Hence the original formation
Of a Constitution is confded to the best intel
lcctS, soundest hearts, and most enlarged
experience and hence. too, it is that SO
important an arrangement-fixing and fast.
ening the roots OF social and political beng
for all time--if once adequately tred, and
found in every respect appropriate, must b.
chung TO with nectlonae constancy and
reverence. No casual disturbance of tn,
political elements. no quick and menacng
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strike, as with an electric bolt, and to shat.
ter into fragments the solid temple reared fol
Immortality by immortal architects like
Washington, Franklin. Madison Sherman
Hamilton, Wilson, Dick inso1 Read, Pinck
ncy. Society at large has too much at stake
in the future and the present, and in TIT
memories OF the past, rot to spring forward
with its shield of defense as one man.
So entirely satisfied were the illustriou.
founders with the editicc they constructed
aud yet so modest is true wisdom, that AZ
they were about to end their work the iifll
article was inserted. Their language in tia
article is simply this" Amend it, oh yes
amend it if you choose and can: but whrr
you desire that, We prescribe in advance. al
Indispensable. the only course Of prcilnlnar,
proceeding by which you are sure to avoi,
the blindness Of passion, the dangers of pre-
cipitancy, or the foohardness of ignorance
The course then enjoincd is certainly no
rapid or summary, because, as one Of TN
grave and lorecastng sages mentioned woult
have said, " the more haste the less speed =
1t is certainly peaceful. not belligerent
because violence never can be reason and i
is certainly botlomed upon visilant pro
vision of the good will of all. and not alon
of part, whether sectional or industrial. -
Nothing, perhaps, in the Constitution illus
lrates more strongly the consciousness tina
it was designed to be, not an idle play grount
on which capricious and artificial doctrines
might try their experiments, but an cv'rlast
ing government, without suspension or break
conforming to the emergencies Of progress, a
this very provision for amendment, nor il
there feature in the whole worthicr o
defense and adhesion.
The occasion does not allow my entering
fellow citizens. into the detailed distribution
Of the various egisla've. executive and ju
dicial powers tlcally delineatcd il
our governmental chart nor into the prohib
itory restrictions nor the reservation Of Stat
or popular rights. In all this, it is wonder
full to note how saSaciously and scrupulousl.
the instrument was ultimately perfected. =
AT home, dealing with linked and fraterna
commonweallhs, it is marked by forbearanc
and respect: abroad. dealing with indepcn
dent nations, it is fastidious and firm to thu
responsible agencies of public authority it
} direct and peremptory to the private cltlzel
it is fostering and just.
Having given you a hurried, but as far al
it goes, faithful sketch of your Constitution
let me hasten to ask whether you are read,
to rrlinquish so incstmablc blessing, con
signed to you by so honored an ancestry!
, There are these, heretofore sworn brethrel
of ours, who profess doctrines of toitica
association subveIsve of this, or, indeed, an,
/ other government and, who. to enforce null
! fication Secession or revolution, (callcd b,
! n,, II h.,p, \ fur