Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-03-08


chy or despotism in some form is all that is
left.
! do not forget the position assumed by
some that constitutional questions are to be
decided by the Supreme Court. nor do | deny
that such decisions must be binding in any
case upon the parties to suikas to the object
of that suit While they are also entitled to
very high respect and consideration in all pa
ralle cases by all other departments Of the
government. And while it is obviously pos
sible that such decisions may be erroneous in
any given case still the evil effect following
it, being limited TO that particular case, with
the chance that it may be oyerruled and never
become q precedent for other cases, can bet
ter be borue than could the evils of differ
ent practice.
At the same time the candid citizen must
confess that ii the policy of the government
upon vital questions affecting the whole poo
Pile is to be irreyocably fixed by the decisions
of the Supreme Court, the instant that they
are made in ordinary litigation between par
ties in personal actions, the people will have
ceased to be their own rulers, having to that
extent practically resigned their government
into the hands of that eminent tribunal
Nor is there in this view, any assault up
ON the court or the judges. 1t is duty from
which they may not shrink, to decide cases
properly brought before Them and it is no
fault of theirs if others seek to turn their de-
cisions to political purposes.
One section of our country believes that
slavery is right and ought to be extended
while the other believes that it is wrong, and
ought not to be extended. This is the only
substantial dispute.
The fugitive slave clause of the constitu-
ton, and the law for the suppression of the
foreign slave trade, are each as well enforced
perhaps as any law can be in community
where the moral sense of the people imperfect
ly supports the law itself
The great body of the people abide by the
dry legal obligations in other cases and a few
break over in each. This, | think, cannot be
perfectly cured, and it would be worse in
both cases after the separation of the sections
than before. The foreign slave trade now
imperftclly suppressed, would be ultimately
revived without restriction in one section
while fugitive slaves, now only partially SUR
rendered, would not be surrendered ut all by
the other
Physically speaking, we cannot separate
we cannot remove our respective claims from
each other, nor build an impossible wall be-
tween them. A husband and wife may bedi-
voreed and go out Of the presence and be-
yond the reach of each other, but the differ
ent parts of our country cannot do this
They cannot but remain face TO face, and
intercourse either amicable or hostile must
continue between them. Is it possible then
to make that intercourse more satisfactory
after separation than before2
Can aliens make treaties easier than friends
can make lawS2 Can treaties be more faith
fully enforced between aliens than laws can
among friends2
Suppose you 60 to war, YOU cannot fight
always; and when, after much loss on both
sides and no gain on either, you cease fight
ing, the identical old questions as to the terms
of intercourse are again upon you. This
country, with its institutions, belongs to the
people who inhal,it it. Whenever they shall
grow weary Of the existing government they
can exercise their Constitutional right OF
amending it, or their revolutionary right to
dismemher or overthrow it.
] cannot lie ignorant Of the fact that many
worthy and patriotic citizens are DESTROYS of
having the national constitution amended
While make no recommendation Of amend
ments, | fully recognize the rghtful authors
ty of the people over the whole subject, to be
exercised il, either of the modes prescribed in
the instrumela. .-clf and should, under ex-
isting circumstances, favor rather than OPP
pose, fair opportunity being afforded the
people to act upon 1t.
will venture to add, that to me the con-
vention mode seems preferable, in Uiat it al
lows amendments to originate with the peo-
pie themselves, instead Of only permitting
them to take or reject propositions originated
by others not especially chosen for the pur-
pose, and which mightnot be precisely such
as they would wish TO either accept or APP
prove.
understood that proposed amendment to
the constitution, which amendment, however,
| have not seen, has passed Congress- to.the
effect that the federal government shall never
interfere with the domestic Institutions Of the
Gfotac influl tnsg that IF uprsons held Ia SER
vice.
To avoid misconstructions Of what have
said depart from my purpose not to speak
/ Of particular amendments, so,far as to say
Z that holding such provision TO now ee inI-
/ piled constitutional law, have no Objection
1 to its being made express and irreyocable.
The Chief Magistrate derives all his autlip-
rity from the people, and they have conferred
none upon him TO f. terms for the separation
of the States.
/ The people themselves can do this aIso II
! they choose, but the executive, as such, has
| nothing to do with it. His duty is to admin
| lister the present government as it came into.
1 his hands, and to transmit il nnimpaircd by
I him to his successor.
/ Why should there not be n patient conf
dence in the ultimate justice Of the people
/ Is there any better OF equal hope in the world
In our present difficulties is either party With
d
If the Almighty Ruler Of Nations, with
( His eternal truth and justice be on your side
of the North, or on yours Of the South, that
4 truth ard that justice will surely prevail by
/ the Judgment of this great tribunal-the
American people.
I By the frame Of the government under
which we live, this same people have wisely
I given their public servants but little power
1 to do mischief and have, with equal wisdom,
provided for the return Of that little to their
own hands nj very short intervals.
While the people retain their virtue and
/ vigilance, no administration, by any extreme
# wickcdncss or folly, can very seriously in
lure the government in the short space VI four
| years.
Nv countrynien, one and ALL think calmly
and well upon this whole subject. Nothing
I valuable can be lost by taking time. # there
be an object to hurry any Of you in hot haste
To a efep which y.u will never take delihc-
ra.ely. that object vii be frustrated BY taxi
4 ing time, but no good obJsct can be frustrated
by it. 49,,
Such Of you az arc now dissatisfied still
have the old constitution unimpaircd; ant.
on the sensitive point, the laws of your own
! framing under it, while the new administra-
ton will have no immediate power, If il
would, to change either. If il were admit
ted that you, who are dissatisfied, hold the
right IN the dispute, there still is no single
good reason for precipitate action.
Intelligence, patriotism, christianity and n
firm reliance on Him who has never yet for
saken this favored land, are still competent
10 adjust, in the best way, all our present diff
fcullies.
trymen and not in mine, Is the momcntous
issue Of civil war. The government will'noi