Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-01-09
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tFor the Ohio statesman.l
The Crisis.


That We are in the midst of feafful revolu.
tion Ia evident TO the most careless observer.
That VI are about to strand our ship Of State
unon rock Which our fathers saw and avoided,
ia equally evident to him who has read the
history of the formation and adoption OF our
Constitution. The inference arises that the
same wisdom, torbearanoe and patriotism exer.
ercised by our Fathers In l76S, would nov cave
US In tho present hour of danger.
I do not believe the masses ere less wise or
less patriotic now than they were then, but that
wo ar both blind and deaf to existing danger.
We have so long slept In the secnrity of living
under tho best government In the world, drink
ing with our mothers milk the feeling that no
shock could ever destroy II, that we caunot at
ouce awake into O full consciousness OF danger.
You may convice both reason aud the Judgment
of the existence of the danger, yet the heart
still refuses to receive the conclusions or heed
the warnings. We cannot believe that our gov.
ernment has already accomplished It's mission.
There ia ar abiding faith still lurking in each
of our hearts, that our gallant ship will yet
out-ride the storm, and that by come unfore-
seen means the Federal Unlou shall still be
preserved But for the traitors and politicians
we might safely leave this unwavering conf
dence OF the masses, to work out remedy
for the present troubles Bat the danger Is,
that the Directors (the Office holders) will have
torn down the edice before the stockholders
(tbe people) assemble to examine lee condition.
That a pillar 10 needed here or a bracket there,
TO support the additions which have been made
to the original structure, will not be denied;
but that our noble constitution has failed to
perform every duty assigned IL, cannot be ad
mitted, II it had never been called to extend
beyond the territory for which it was created I,
there is little doubt that the machine OF gov
ernment, complicated 40 II Is, would have run
smoothly and without oil or repair for centuries.
Our fathers grappled the questions before
them and mastered them. In the science OF
government, then, the great question for their
solution, was not to provide a government for
the whole western continent, but how to make
one pllable enough to extend over the whole
thirteen colonies.
How TO unite all the thirteen different colonies
with their vast extent Of territory, was then q
question upon which there was greater doubt
than there would be now, OF the prscticability
of annexing and holding all the territory that
adjoins US By the avoidance by the trainers Of
the Constitution, of all but the practical ques
lions before them, they achieved their success
If they had paused TO provide for the distant
future, 80 many questions would have crowded
in prophetic vision, that they would probably
have failed to agree upon any plan of govern
ment.
Their omission to provide the mode OF &C.
ouisition Of territory, and the relation it shoul'
bear if acquired, is the cause OF the presen
sectional agitation. Ye, scarcely any vii
deny that to have given the general governmen
the mower OF unlimited expansion, and to hay
vested in Congress, in direct terms, the powe
of leeisiating for such acquired territory, woul
have made the Constitution so odious, that
would never have been even submitted to q vot
of the people of the several States. +.
The TACT then that our government, Instead O
M merely answering It's appointed purpose haSovsI
run half continent, and now needs come littl
amendment to adapt II TO Its new sphere, Is n
disparsgement of the wisdom of Its trainers, o
the perfection Of the system.
In administering the government over terri
tory, In relations for which IL was not Intend
ed, difference of opinion naturally arose as Il
It's application, and II becomes question, rath'
er what the Constitution should mean, thai
| what IL does mean. Different interests proyok
different views, controversy arises, and grows Ii
bitterness in proportion to the interests involv.
ed, prejudices are aroused, and sectional char
acter is obtained
| lC l9 QatuThl luht tno pSOpio hOh ieoptOs iVl
their government, and confidence In the integ-
rity OF their rulers, should for some time sub
| NIT 10 such an application to tho government
as their Judgment may not approve, but when
ever the whole nation becomes divided Into par
ties, bound together by a common desire tc
administer the government on certain principles
Il is idle to expect peaceful or long continued
submission TO any line Of policy that is not sane
toned by the guaranty Of Q written Constitu-
ton, or the strong arm Of power. The domi-
nant party ofto-day claims Its success as yer
dict in favor Of its construction of duty, anC
oyertlrns the work of the dominant party o.
Yesterday, and if the interests involved are I'm
portant and sectional In character, collision
speedily follows. - -.- ..e
I'm this view of the matter am constraine,
to the opinion that there 10 no permanent RENE
dy for the existing crisis, except in addition
or amendments Of the Constitution, upon thes
three points
lst The mode In which territory shall be sc
quired.
Cd. The relation of acquired territory to tn
| Federal Government and the States. e
3D.. The remedy and redress Of iDdividua
States aggrieved by federal legislation.
| ANY Legislative compromise on these ques
| lions would bind no longer then the party max
| Ing IL remains In power, ana would increas
rather than diminish the hostility of difersn
factions, being regarded as party victory 0
defeat, ~.
Ii the unanimity necessary to embody som
settled policy on these questions can be obtain
ed, tho questions trust, at least, In their pres
ent form would be disposed Of forever l-i.
The present is the most favorable time "
eball, perhaps, ever have for the settlement O
these questions. II we wait III delay were pos
sible) until we have large territories~iih nero
and bitter struggle In progress therein, betwee
opposing principles, the attempt would be bot
fruitless and disastrous. Tho issue isnow fall
ly made and must be fairly met. If there
not strength enough In our Government TO bea
tae shock, then is representative governmer
failure.
The South cannot now recede without SON
Vuarantiesof fundamental concessions, becauG
to do so, would be to surrender the governmer
iuto q settled anti slavery policy. The Mort
, cannot yield to oil the claims Of the Soui
l without re opening the slave trade and becou
ling instruments for the extension Of SLAYER
Neither will CT ought to be satisfied with al
compromise that shall not be o permanent aI
hnal settlement, and irrepealable by q mere pa
: ty majority. We want these amendments
the Constitution, How these shall be obtain'
= will be considered In another article: af
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