The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-06-20

Congress had become Republican, au
amendment to the Constitution was adon.ad
by . two thirds vote. declaring ,ha, Con.
| gress should never interfere with Slaverv In
the States. and declaring further. ,h., thi,
amendment should be irrevocabIe. Thu,
was fAlsifiied tho clamor SO long and a.
nsidiously rurg in the ears of the Southern
people. that the abolition of Slavery in the
States was the ultimate aim Of the Republi.
can party. But even this amendment. And
all others which may be needed to furnish
the guarantees demanded. are now defeated
by the secession of eleven States. which
claiming to be out OF the Union, will rsfuse
to vote upon. and in effec. will vote agains,
any proposal 10 modify the Federal Cous,i.
tuition. There are now thir,y-four States
in tho confederacy. three fourths of which.
being twenty-six must concur in the adop.
ton Of any amendment be fore it can become
part Of the Constitution; but the secession
Of eleven States leaves but twenty. three
whose votea can possibly be secured, which
is less than the constitutional number.
Thus We have the extraordinary and dis
creditable spectacle Of revolution made by
certain States. professedIy on the ground
that guarantees for the safety of their insti.
tutions are denied them; and at the same
time. instead Of cooperating with their sis
ter States in obtaining these guarantees,
they designedly assume hostile attitude,
and thereby render it constituli lionally i'm
possible to secure them. This profound
dissimulation shows that it was not the safe
ty Of the South. but its severance from the
Confederacy, which was sought from the
beginning. Contemporary with, and iu some
instances preceding these acts of secession,
the greatest outrages were committed upon
the Government of the United States by the
States engaged in them. Its forts, arsenals,
arms. barracks. customhouses, pos,of6ces.
moneys, and, indeed. every species of its
property within the limits of these States.
were seized and appropriated. down to the
very hospital stores for the sick soldiers
More than half q million of dollars was
plundered from the mint at New Orleans
U. 5. vessels were received from the de6led
hands of their officers in command, and, if
IN the hope Of consecrat'ng official treachery
as one OF the public virtues of the age, the
Of an entire military department
BY General. to the keeping of whose hon.
Dr. 1t had been con6ded. was deemed worthy
Of the commentator and thanks of the
Of several States. All these
awless proceedings were we'll understood to
have been prompted and directed BY men
seats in the Capitol. some of
whom were frank enough to declare that
hey could not and would not. though in q
live under Government tha. they
could not control. In this declaration IS
ound the key which uniocks the whole Of
he complicated machinery of this revolu-
ion.
The profiigate ambition of public men in
III ages aod lands has been the rock on
lave 8rIscH s...o- ,LF -,
,uable permanently to grasp the helm OF
he ship. are willing 10 destroy it in the hope
o command some one of the RATS that may
1oat away from the wreck. The effect is to
degrade us to a level with the military BAN
1its of Mexico and South America, who,
y hen beaten at an election, fv to arms. and
seek to master by the sword what they have
been unable to control by the ballot box.
The atrocious acts enumerated were acts
Of war. and might all have been treated as
such by the late Administration; but the
President patrio,ically cultivated peace
how anxiously and how patiently the coun-
try well knows. While. however. the revo-
leaders greeted him with all halls
to his face. they did not less diligently con-
tinue to whet their swords behind his back.
Immense military preparations were made.
so that when the moment for striking at the
Government Of the United States arrived.
the revolutionary States leaped into the con-
test clad in full armor.
As if nothing should be wanting to dark
en- this page of history. the seeded States
have already entered upon the work Of con-
fscating the debts due from their citizens to
the North and Northwest. The millions
thus gained will doubtless prove pleasant
substitute for those guarantees now SO
scornfully rejected. To these con6scations,
will probably succeed soon those of lands
and negroes owned by the citizens of loyal
States: and. indeed. the apprehension o.
this step is already sadly disturbing the e
deity of nonresident proprietors. Fortu
nately. however. in6rmity of faith. spring
ing from such . cause. is not likely to b.
contagious. The war begun is being prose
cu,ed by the Confederate States in a temper
IS fierce and unsparing as that which char
| acierize conflicts between the most hostile
nations.
Letters Of marque and reprisal are being
granted to all who seek them. so that ou
coast will soon swarm with these piratica
cruisers. IS the President has properly de
nounced them. Every bucaneer who Dc
sires to rob American commerce upon th
ocean, can. tor the asking. obtain . waran
to do so. In the name OF the new republic
To crown all. large bodies of Indians hav
been mustered icto the service Of the revo
lutionary States. and are now conspicuou
in the ranks Of the Southern army.
leading North Carolina journal. noting thei
s;alwart frames and unerriug Workmanship
observes. with an exultation positively 6end
ish. that they are armed. no. only with .h
ride. but also with tie sealpi~g knife q.
{ tomahaek.
IL Kentucky willing To link her name
. history with the e1eesses and crimes whie
{ have sullied this revolution at every step
, i,s progress! Can she soil her pure han<
with its boosys She possesses the noble
. heritage that God has granted to his childre
/ is she prepared 70 barter it away for th
{ miserable mess of possage. which the gra,il
: cato of the unholy ambition of her publ
men woald bring to her lips? Can Oh
s-;,hoc, l. r;oo hep fnn> IN tba dcx% r.. -,