The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-05
Reforming the Constitution.

When the old confederacy had in the opinion of some
Of the States failed TO effect the objects for which
reformation without any threats of coercion talk Of
war. They assembled q convention which formed the
present constitution and provided for Union when rat
ifed by nine States and between all the Stases ratyng
There was as much objection to the old confederation
there Ia now TO the present Union, and there as
against the Of the present nonfederaey
But notwithstanding all this forefathers proceeded
which the admiration of the world the nulfying
States Of the North excepted.
We know no reason why the example Of forefahers
cannot be followed at the present timcwhy conven-
ton outside Of the present constitution and appointed
by the State Legislatures cannot assemble forthwith and
prepare constitution TO be submitted 70 all the States
and binding between the first ten twelve or fifteen States
that ratify II.
1t may be urged that States not contiguous might fat
fy and that the new Union would not be composed Of
contiguous and coterminous States. We do not think
there Is any danger of this for the delegates would know
the sentiments and wishes of their States and would
guard against this danger The Southern States without
consulting the North should appoint delegates TO such
convention and the constitution then agreed upon should
be submitted 10 all the States for ratidca-
ton or rejection. The submission of such a
constitution 10 the Northern States would pre-
sent an issue TO the conservatives and abolitionsts
which would enable the Union to rally and defeat
the destrrctives The States not rafyng would be
as well as political opinion. Under existing affairs the
black republicans having possession of the organization
OF the Northern States enabled to smother the
servative sentiment but the Submission of new con
sttution with the certainty of its adoption by the
south and the permanent dissolution of the
federacy would introduce revolution every Northern
State which would result in the overthrow OF black re-
pubcanism.
There many thousands Of persons at the North who
despse black repubicansm much do the people of
the South These powerless at present the
submission ef constitution for ratification rejection
would present issue which would enable the Northern
conservatives to rally and destroy black republicansm
Such constitution would form new confedcracy of
the Southern States, into which any Northern State
willing TO comply with the terms Of its ratification
could enter and some Of the Northern States would
raty such constitution; for between the manufacturing
tar III States Of New England and the farming free trade
States OF the Northwest there nothing save
black repubcansm, and this would be surrendered by
some Of the Northern States rather than submit New
England policy.
Such constitution would unite tho South and divide
tho North, would tsansfer tho battle ground the
North and divide ard distract those States that the
South would not be molested.
We have not undertaken 10 intimate what changes
should be made in the present constitution, indeed We
not satisfied that II could be improved, but its
vision by convention Is necessary order
II the wisdom Of the States suggest improvements