New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-23
rur pRNNsYLyANIA SENATOR'S

THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR'S
The men who framed the Constitution OF the
United States, and the people who accepted IT.
felt that all the concessions had been made
therein TO the holders of slaves that either justice
demanded or the cause of Freedom could afford.
The lapse of time and the growth of Slavery
have shown that if they fell into any error, 1t
was in Welding too much, and not too little, to
that class of citizens IT. for instance, the three
ffhs rule in the apportionment OF Represent
atiyes had not been assented to, the system OF
Slavery would not have had, as it always mas
had a representation Of from twenty to twenty
five members in the lower House of Congress
who, holding the balance of power IN thcir
hands, have invariably shaped the legislation oil
he Government so as TO secure the domination
Of the powerful interest in money and influence
which they represent. At any rate ifwith the ngot
and experience of more than seventy years 10 giac
ia we are so faithless to the traditions OF the
Fathers. so forgetful of the noble purpose which
was the guide of their lives, so treacherous to
the fundamental principles of the Constitution as
TO give to Slavery any further recognition
or guaranty in that instrument than 1t
has. uuhappily, already then it has fallen upon
this generation to bear witness to the fact a. it
has never been attested to before in all history
that man is incapable Of sefeoyernment. For
if government of the people set at defiance,
outraged, insulted, and robbed by few rampant
rebels, has no better remedy for lawlessness, no
other stay for utter confusion and anarchy, than
unconditional submission and the surrender OF the
first principles Of democracy, then such people
have neither the intelligence, nor the courage,
nor the selfrespcct required in community that
undertakes to govern itself
OF all the propositions which haze yet been
offered to placate the freeaters and to hui
initiate the North, that Of Mr.. Bgler, which
Mr.. Cameron said, on Monday he would vote Tor,
is the most detestabe, the most cowardly, and
the most irregular. The others have ALL at least,
the negative merit of being in accordance with
the forms Of law, but Mr. Bigler disdains to
cover with even that mantle the deformity of his
scheme. 1t proposes not only to subvert the
principles Of the Constitution, but II disarns the
Constitution Of its only defense, that II may get
the opportunity to overthrow it, That instfu-
ment provides for its own amendment, and the
clause containing that provision can no more be
rghtfully set aside than any other section. n
Ward primary meeting, or School District
Committee have Just % much right rs the Sen
ate Of the United States TO override the Cons'i-
tution-that is 10 say none OF them have any bust
ness to NEEDLE with it. That instrument belongs
to the people, and when the people accepted 1t,
IL was with the condition that it should be amended
only in certain way and in accordance with
certain prescribed forms, essential IN themselves
TO guard against basty measures that might
be determined upon in the sudden heat oil
some public passion. But it is proposed
by Mr. Bieler to submit to vote Of the
people certain amendments to the Constitu-
ton, disrcgarding first, the Constitutional re-
quirement Of the action Of two-thirds Of
both Houses of Congress; and secondly sub
hitting the questions to q vote on the 18th
Of next month, date so early that it is mani
testify impossible that large proportion of the
people should even hear that such vote is to
be taken.
This feature alone Of Mr.. Bigler's proposition
j enough to entitle it to the speediest eondemna-
ton. But il is in other respects more objcc-
tionabc than any other Of the miserable schemes
to pacify the rebels, whose gentlest handling
ought TO come only from the hands of the hang
man. 1t embodies Mr.. Crittendens concession
miscalled a ompromise-whereby il is made Oh
ligatory to establish Slavery whether the people
wish il or not, in all Territory now belonging to
or that ever may be acquired by the United
States south Of So 30. II denies TO Con.
gress the power to abolish Slavery where
il has exclusive jurisdiction within the Slave
States, or in the District Of Columbia long as
it exists in Maryland and Virginia. 1t provides
for the payment for fugitive slaves when not re-
covered; takes away from Congress the power
TO prohibit the domestic Slaye-Trade provides
that the President shall be elected for six years.
and not be eligibeor reelection; prohibits Congress
sional interference with Slavery in the States;
and, finally, amends the Constitution by proyid
ing that it shall never be so amended as to
DESTROY the effect of that provision which secures
to the shareholders the representation OF their
slave property by counting those who have no
votes as three-6fths Of those who have.
Such is Mr.. Biglers way of dealing with trea-
son, which Mr.. Cameron proposes to vote for.
Does Pennsylvania give it her approval