The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-03-21

what IS me remedy Inc remedy must De 10
adopt sn amendment that will make an express
constitutional provision the subject, the absence
of such provision being the cause, the su plying
of such provision must be the remedy. Hence
the President has demonstrated with great clear
ness and erce the absolute necessity Of such
amendments to the Constitution OF the United
States will define and settle the question wheth-
er or not Congress has The power to protect slave
ry whether not it has the power to leg:slate on
the subjetc at al. lie gives to understand that
there will never be peace until that question ID
settled l. cannot be settled except by amend
ments to tie Institution and hence he proceeds
to tell US how such amendments be obtained.
He tells us that these amendments TO the Consti-
tuition nav be obtained IN either Of the modes
prescr.bedi in the instrumf Mt ; the one is where
Congress take, the initiative as did the 9th
er day, and submit propose amen ments to the
States the oGh is where the States take. the
initiative anl demlnd national convention TO
amend the Constitution.
The President says that h. prefers nations.
convention the most apr ropriate mode, but has
no ip7uperable objections tho other mode, and
he will not oppose, but gives to understand he
will favor the ratification by the States of the
amendments already proposed prohibiting any
amendment whereby Congress may be authorized
to interfere with Slavery in the States. lie as
signs for his preference for national convention
the very plausible, in fact, very satisfactory
son. 1t is that if Congress originated the amend
ments it might devise such rs the people
would like; whereas ii you allow the pepe to take
H. -, IL
as thev want. The President stands pledged to
his inaugural L" to ALLOW the people to devise their
own amendments to the Constitution and TO
interfere with. Int rather to favor their adoption,
whatever il may be.
What is the inference from all this7 Iaas-
much as all our troubles arise from the attempt
on the part of Congress to proibit slavery with
out the sanction Of an express provision of the
constitution, and the counter attempt the part
of Congress to protect slavery without express
provision of the Constitution authorizing it, there
fore such an amendment must be made as will
settle the slavery question BY exoress provision
and he will not oppose the amendment. Here
, are authorized to infer that if tie people DO
!, originate sncl amcnllme the Constitution
will settle the Saver queston-eyen if the set
tement be reruSnaht to the Republican party, in
violation of the Chicago platform, and against the
right Of Congress to prohibit slavery in the Terri
tories, Mr.. Lincoln viii not oppose. Int favor il.
What more can be skei, Il tn ,cople when
they come to amend the question, shall determine
that Congress shall have no power upon the sub
iect ef slavery anywherc, ex ccpt surrender fu-
, gtve slaves and to prohibit the African slave
trade, Mr. Lincoln i'll oppose it. If the pco-
! pie shall say in their amendment that Congress
shall protect slavery in he Territories, Mr.. in
\ coin is pledged not to oppose that. Ii the people
shall say in their amendment that Congress shall
have the power prohibit slavery in the Terrific
o ries, Mr.. Lincoln is pledged not to oppose that
If, the contrary, the people shall say that they
are in favor of the Critenden proposition dividing
the Territory by geographical line the prn-
' cple of an equts5 PARTITION. Mr.. ;ncoln saws
:, he will not oppose that lie is in favor of such
. amendments as will settle the question forever, by
an express provision of the Constitution, and hs
leaves the people and their repi csenfatives to dc
= wise what those amendments shall be, and he will
;. accent thcm cheerfClly, and not throw any Oh
. struction ia the was of their adoption
4 Taking thc.e tw1 propositions together, | find
. much cause for hope. FOR Encouragement. in his
inaugural. First, his policy viii be peaceful, and
not aggressive he will do no act that tends 10 col.
- lssion, but viii modify hs course always with a
;, view and hope of peaceful solution; a. d.sccond
nasnuch as the difficulties arise oct of the absence
:, of an express provision the slavery question,
he will favor such provisions will enable the
70 people settle that question by expire provis
ion 10 the Constitution.
Now sir, FAR be t from 10 itimats that the
" President, in these recommendations, has not been
3 f,ithful tn, principles OF his party, well
the honor and safety Of his country. Whatever
y departure irom party platforms he has made in
y these recommendations should be regarded an
~ evidence ofpalriotism and not an act of Eideiv
y In nv opinion If Ia. understood the inaugural
Alright, he has sunk the partisan in the patriot, and
= he is entitled the thanks OF all conservative
men to that extent d. not wish it to be inferred
a. from anything have said or have omitted to sa,
W that have any political sympathy with his admin
% istration, or that | expect ih.t any contneeHc,
can happen in which NAVY be identified with it.
~ expect to oppose his administration with all m,
) energy on those great principles which have sep
7" arated parties in former times ; but this on
qucs;ion-;hat of preserving The Union b, a peace
az ful solution of present difficulties that of pre-
venting any future diii 'ulties by such an amend
TN ment OF the Constitution as will settle the questio c.
IS bv an express piovi.i"H-lf1 understand his tru
m intent and meaning. am with him.
= Mr.. President, If the result should prove that
" have put wrong consi ifucton the inauc urs
or | shall dcpore the consequences which bege
rent and aggressive policy may miict upon our be
? loved country without being responsible in an
degree for the disaster and caamlties which ma
'y follow. believe have placed it upon its tru
he interpretations l kaow | have put the patriots
IN construction on il. believe the action OF tn
N President will Justify that construction. vi
never relanquish that belief and hope until
III" shall have doTe such acts render il imposs hl
ro to preserve the peace of the country and the unit
les Of the States Srthis Uuion cannot he nreserye
by war; Ii cannot be cemented by blood Ii ca
only be preserved b, peaceful means. And " he
'ur present troubles shall have been se, d. tui
es. difficulties can only be prevented by on uiution
orc amendments which will put end to all conir,
:. Nersy by express provision These remedies AZ
'u' peveuiatiycs have been clearly marked out