The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-22

- Fer the Mountain Democrat.
Selected and Original Articles, sug-
Esste% HPSn4 the nS RE T1s dsPlOr"DAe
~YSP s n 4 s'''"''''' 81, -.
The above interrOgatory ] copy ron
that delectable Abolition Sheet the Sacra-
meDto Union of January IA, 1862. In
answer thereto need resort to no other
source for true response than is furnish
ed by the writings and speeches of the
leading spirits of the present AdminiStra-
ton and its servile supporters, alike out
side and inside the present Congress
both of foreign and native born citizens,
in this unholy and unconstitutional war,
waged by the so called free States Of the
North, with the sole and avowed purpose
to-" wipe out" and utterly ABOLISH an
institution clearly guaranteed by the Con-
stitution to the fifteen States of the South
which now tolerate the same
will first call upon President Lincoln
to respond. On the 10th of June, 1858,
at Springfield, Illinois, speaking on the
slavery question, he said:
II we could first know where We are
and whittier we are tending, we could bet.
ter Judge what to do and how to do it
We are now far into the fifth year since n
policy was initiated with the avowed OBJ.
ject and confident promise of putting an
end to slavery agitation. Under the oper
alton Of that policy, that agitation has not
only not ceased, but has constantly aug
mented. In my opinion it will not cease
until crisis shall have been reached and
passed. "a house divided against itself
cannot stand" believe this Government
cannot endure permanently, hdJ stare
and haEf free. i do not expect the Union
to be dissolved; do not expect the house
to fall; but | do expect it will cease to be
divided. IT WILL BECOME ALL THE
ONE THING OR ALL THE OTHER
Either the opponents of slavery will ar
rest the further spread Of it, and place i
where the public mind shall rest in thu
belief that il is i'll the course Of ULTIMATE
EXTINCTION, or its advocates will push i
forward till it shall become alike lawful il
all the States, old as well as new Nortt
as well as South"
Let us now make the inquiry why Mr.
Lincoln should announce doctrine di
rectly in contravention Of the Constitution
Of the United States, which he now has
~ by his oath of Office, sworn to support
At the tirse Of the adoption Of the Consli
tuition, twelve Of the original thirtce
States tolerated the institution Of slavery
Massachusetts, had, for ought OF any pro
hibition in the Constitution, u right to re
establish slavery within her borders-th
sameas any Of the States now have, eithe
Of abolishing it where it now exists, or {
re-establishing the institution where the
have already abolished it. The States a,
their Oaen SOrereigns 0rer that question:
Slavery was made National by the adoE
- ton Of the Federal Constitution, for, i
the frst paragraph Of the 9th section {
the LIST Article, it is thus written
The migration or importation of sue
persons as any of the States now eXiStin
shall think proper to admit, shall not /
prohibited by the Congress prior to til
wear one thousand eight hundred an
eight. but tax or duty may be impose
on such importation, not exceeding te
dollars for each person.
Again, in Article 9th, providing for
Constitutional mode of amendments, ther
is imposed a restriction upon this yer
question of negro slavery. That articI
reads thus:
Provided, that no amendment whic
may be made prior TO the year one thou
and eight hundred and eight, shall in an
manner affect the first and fourth CLAUSE
in the ninth section of the first article
and that no State, without its cOnsen
shall be deprived of its equal suffrage
- the Senate. ------
The fourth clause above referred t.
reads thus: -
No capitation or other direct tax sha
be laid, unless in proportion to the censu
or enumeration as hcreinbefore directed
be taken.
Direct taxes shall be apportiOned anon
the several States which may be include
within this Union, according TO their r,
spective numbers, which shall be dete
mined by adding to the whole number
free persons, including those bound
service for term of years, and excludin
Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all otht
persons.
- President Washington, in his Inaugur
Address, delivered on the 30th of Apri
1889, referring to the subject of amend
ments of the Constitution, speaks thr
cautiously Of exercising this power:
Besides the ordinary objects submitte
to your care, it will remain with you
Judgment to decide how far an exercise
the occasional power delegated by the tiff
article Of the Constitution is rendered e,
pedient at the present juncture by the nj
iure Of the objections which have bee
urged dgainst the system, +laveryl or b
the degree of inquietude which has give
birth 10 them. Instead Of undertaken
pareieuIar recommendations on this sui
: isCt. n which I could be guided by n
lights derived from official opportunities
l shall again give way to my entire conf