Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-01-14
.aslFor the Ohio Statesman.
The Crisis.--No. 9.

n .
y In former article was considered the ne.
cessity for amendment of theiC Constitution of the
United States. Let us enquire hoa this amend
ment shall be obtained. Two methods only are
provided in the constitution. First, Congress
may (two-thirds of both houses concurring) pro.
pose amendments for adoption by the States.
Second. Congress shall, on application of the
Legislature Of two.thirds of the States. cell a
convention for proposing amendmeps, which,
in either case, become valid only when ratified
by the legislatures or conventions of three
fourths of all the States. vs ,.4at- !, ,
r The first of these plans, although the simplest
and one might naturally suppose, the most fea
sible, is at present impracticable. Three proofs
of this are found, in the failure of the Senate
and House committees 20 agree upon any COM
promise, and the refusalo of the Republican eau.
Gus to approve the compromise rendered by the
representatives of the border States. The reason
of this Is obvious. Members of Congress- are
politicians, and most, IL not all Of them, were
elected directly upon the issues now dividing
the country. Republicans are pledged to make
no compromise with slavery and secesaionists
are sworn to csyil for hairs breadth of their
rights. How, then, can these men, without
the mutual concessions necessary to adopt such
amendments as will silence the present strife; T;
They cannot do il; and IL is idle to look TO Con-
gress for settlement of our political diferen.
ces, at least until time is afforded for an inter-
change Of opinion with their constituents. 1t ID
true, general expression ofopinion from those
who elected them requiring such concession,
would secure It, but this requires much time, and
for palpable reasons ID uncertain in character.
The failure of these committees to agree, ought,
therefore, to excite no surprise Indeed, it is
unjust to our Representative to expect gener.
ersl stampede on either eide, to sserifce the prin:
ciples Of their constituents, without their con-
sent. - - FAa4i &4uss - t4 - y I
Taking It for granted that an suthori tatiye
expression Of the will Of the people to their Rep.
resentatives, cannot be had IN time for the pre-
sent crisis, we must abandon the hope ofamend.
ment BY this method. ~. ,-.,,....
The only alternative then ID in National
Convention. Believing this, the only effectual
remedy III any can be found) and that no settle
ment viii be made until this Is tried, I have
been surprised that It's suggestion, made here
and there, does not meet more general favor
IL is said that tWo-thirds of the States cannot
be induced to ask for Convention. II our love
for the Union Of these States has grown so cold
as this, the attempt to preserve twill be fruit-
less, sas561 q sfss IS sssK
Ifitbe true, that two-thirds Of the States
{ annot unite ia q mere effort 10 commpromfbe
their differences, what hope then 10 there that
of them will ratifya scttlement
Il proposed by Congress7 Is II eaid, this too
lakes too much time. Most Of the legislatures |
ire now in session, and II the initiative were ta