The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-03-01

! Blu: the Senate voted AZ to 3, that there
was no danger, and slavery did not need
protection. Mr. j. read the list Of votes.
"Mr. Benjamin aye" and Mr.. Lane-ah,
yes, Mr.. Lane of Oregon, swore on the
25th OF last May, that slave property did
not need protection in the Territories.
And now | want him TO get up here and
tell the Senate and the American people. il
he is for the right Of State TO break up
the Union, because she cannot get the
protection for slave property which he
then swore it did not need. (L1ughter. J
Then the Senator froD; Oregon, in his re.
ply 10 me, spoke OF the reservations and
conditions made by the Old Dominion
and by New York, in surrendering their
delegated powers. He spoke with great
familiarity Of the subject and the rights oI
the States, and he read a few lines, and
then wanted to know if the time had moi
arrived when the States should resume
their delegated powers.
Alter declaring, under the solemn
sanction Of an oath, that no further pro
lection was needed, he wants to know
now il the time has not arrived wher
these States will be justified in breaking
up the contederacy. Perhaps il might be
well TO examine book before speaking o
it. do not say this is the case with The
Senator, but l shall proceed on the idea
that be thought he understood il ALL
This is common misapprehension.-- -
Sometimes it arises from want Of exami
nation, and sometimes it arises from a
want Of capacity TO understand. On ex.
animation, we find that the committee oi
the Virginia convention reported resolu
tons previous 10 the ratification of the
Constitution, providing that certain amend.
ments ought TO be referred 10 the other
States. This was voted down. Then
the committee reported the ordinance
adopting the Constitution OF the United
States, and in that ordinance they 90 on
and make preamble and declaration OF
their understanding, but no conditions or
reservations. Mr.. j. then read the ordi.
nance.
This was adopted June 26, and South
Carolina was already in the Union. So
even if Virginia had made reservations,
South Carolina could not profit by them
for she had already adopted the consltu-
ton. Mr.. Madison received letter from
Mr.. Hamilton, who stated that he had
great doubt as 10 ihe ratification in New
York without conditions. One condition
was that they might have permission to
recede-recede was the word lhen--in Eve
or six years, il certain amendments were
not ratified. Mr.. Madison writes in rerly,
that, ifthe Constitution is adopted. it must
be adopted in toto, without reservation or
condition. Now, am inclined to think
Mr.. Madison understood this ordinance,
and here is his letter, written in July, in
which he said to Mr.. Hamilton that the
idea Of reserved right was as bad as con.
dtional rejection. think James Madison
understood this ordinance, and l had as
soou rely on his opinion as on that Of the
distinguished Senator from Oregon. as
am inclined to think he understood the
whole subject as well as the Senator from
Oregon, with all his familiarity with the
subject.
But the government was formed, tho con-
stitution ratified, and tho provisions, made,
for what: For the admission of new States.
II tho express grant to admit bo given,
say that the government can exercise all
the incidents necessary to carry the admin
istration into effect. Then We come to the
State Of Alabama, as tho Senator seems to
be SO familiar with things of that sort. An
act to enable the people of Alabama to form
a constitution and State government, and
for tho admission of such State into the
Union on an equal footing with the original
States, was approved March 2, 1916, and
tho people accepted it with this passage /:
This ordinance is hereby declared uDre-
vocablo without tho consent of the United
States"
There Is tho compact. Yet it is claimed
that Alabama has right to go out of her
own will, because she cannot get her equal
rights. When we arc candidate for tho
presidency, then suppose We are all equal
bretbren in this confedoracy. But after we
have attempted md signally failed of an
election. :hen suppose the enomies' line
commences just where our defeat COM
menced. (Laughtor) Mr.. J. then referred
to Louisiana, purchased for the purpose of
preserving tho free navigation of the Mis-
sissiPpi river, yet in her ordinance of seccs.
sion she claims negative right to control
the navigation, and, without concluding,
gave way to motion to adjourn.
Mr.. johnson resumed by saying that the
Senator ned that Sonth Carolina could
obtain her rights out of the Union. which
she could not get in it. But what did South
Carolina ever ask COR in the Union that she
did not get? He proceeded to argue that
South Carolina could got no rights by going
out of the Union on the contrary, sho lost
oil her rights, and got anarchy, taxation and
trouble. The constitution has not infringed
upon the rights of South Carolina, but the I
cause of the apparent breaking up of tho
Union is that bad men North and bad men
South, both of whom wish TO destroy the
Union to crafty their unhallowed ambition.
Bad men from either section, in both
branches Of Congress, criminate and re-
crminate until they become angry, but they
will not fight with each other, but agreo
together to fight against the Union. He
believed that there was spirit of Union
among the mass of the people. and if the
quoetion could be taken from the politicians
aud given to the people, he thought that
the country would DO safe. He said an
appeal was made to the border slave States
to join Gulf confedoracy. This is simply
a question of interest, aud not real friend.
ship, for tho border slave States. Whenever
a limo of division is drawn in this country,
Il will be line of civil war. and the work of
extinction of slavery will be that day COM