Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-15

The South has never either individually
or collectively, asked an amendment to the
Constitution. II does not do SO now. Not
one Of her Legislatures, Conventions or
leading men have ever demanded specifically
a change IN the organic law of the United
States. To an our Northern plans and
projects looking in that direction, they seem,
and doubtless are, totally Indifferent. The
travail is all upon our side. Even their
journals and politicians who are in favor of
a return TO the old allegiance, do not pro-
pose to do so upon any but the old terms.
Under such circumstances, gentlemen who
advocate the holding Of Constitutional Con-
v%entions should be required to state, with
reasonable di~stinctness, in what respect the
Constitution needs to be amended. What
would the mover of these resolutions desire
hat the Constitution should contain that
now it does not2 So far as appears, the
States are equal under it, and the people.
Its operation is Upon all alike-sections and
individualsl Would he introduce provisions
to destroy or disturb this equality AS it
stands, each part enjoys the political power
that belongs to it by virtue of its population.
Would he bring in a new rule, by which to
overthrow this national equilibrium Sec
tons which enact inequality will not meet
with much indulgence in the Northern
States, nor will there be many thanks to
those by whom they are devised.
Before much is don't toward a Constitu-
tional Convention to pacify the South, it is
worth while to inquire; What is the con-
dition of the South2 What are we to as
sumo is her present status? Are the Cotton
States out of the Union, or are they in? A
convention TO pacify them assumes that they
are in; for to amend our Constitution to
please the people of a neighboring nation,
would be an absurdity too great for a ra-
tional community to commit. We must as
sumo that they are in; that they will, by
their Legislatures, aid in calling the conven-
ton, send delegates to assist in its delibera-
tions, act upon the propositions which it
presents, either to accept or reject, and abide
by the action, whatever it may be, of the
constitutional majority in the premises.
Unless there is some assurance that they
will do this, there is nothing so idle as to
call q convention. Is there any such assur-
ance? Has Judge Key any late and anthem
tic Southern adviees to that effect?
The Cotton States declare themselves to
be out of the Union-fnalIy, ire Vocably
out. Is there any reason to disbelieve their
declaration2 They nave established q ma
ton, and founded a government OF their
own, endowing it with every attribute of
sovereignty, and surrounding it with all the
muniments capable to insure its perpetuity.
Is there a mar who can tell wherein the
Southern Confederacy wants any of the
necessary constituent parts Of a nation? 1t
is independent, self-sustaining, in possession
Of all the territory to which it claims title,
with no war on its hands that involves the
question of its right to be, to act, or to con-
tinue and in a state of internal unity an /
tranquility and what more is required2
Whether the States of the Southern Con.
federacy are hereafter TO form a part of what
we call the Union or otherwise, there is nc
case that requires a National Constitutions
Convention, or whose condition the doing:
of such a body can effect. There has been,
during the whole Of these agitations, no de
msnd upon the North for the services o
deliberative bodies and there is to be none
The Cotton States have gone out upon thei
own motion and if they ever return it viii
be in the same way. They did not ask &C
ton to enable them to go; they will no
seek it to enable them to come back.
Nothing could be conceived more mis-
judged and out of place than the doings o
the deliberatiye bodies that have attempted
to interfere in these affairs. Congress ha
only made mischief, and increased the agita
ton; while the poverty of its devices fo-
paciication is apparent in the universal con
tempt into which they have fallen. Of tn
weakness of the Peace Conference, there i
but one opinion. Nobody desires to be re
membered as having belonged to it. 1t 50
in secret and there is no curiosity to remoV
the vail that hides from the light the proc
of its collective imbecility. And can an,
one suppose that a Constitutional Conven
tion having nothing but a state Of popula
agitation to act upon, will be any wiser? I
is no time for Constitution making, nor 70
Constitution m lending; and they who EN-
bark in the enterprise of tinkering the Con
stitution of the United States, will reap NJ
honor from their labors.