The Portland daily press., 1862-11-21

though to do so they were obliged to trample
under foot the primal element Of all true
democracy,-that the majority should rule.
They aaid, if we cannot give two-thirds par
ty vote for candidate, how can we hope to
secure a majority of the whole people at the
polls? There was force if not democracy in
the proposition. To the disgrace of the party
this southern rule was adopted, and it was
worked until it worked the ruin of the
party whose offspring it was. But the editor
of the Advertiser proposes to improve upon
this anti-democratic, anti-republcan doctrine,
and from party convention transfer it to the
polls and to the halls of legislation, and in all
cases make it the basis of legislation and of
popular CONSENT This change, this .funda-
mental change, he would incorporate into the
federal constitution,-and yet he is every day
emblazoning his columns Within this case at
least-"a Haunting lie'-"the constitution as IL
u.s." When the Constitution as it is,' is de-
manded in the same baeath that tells of its
unfortunate features" and its "radical defects"
and proposes to "correct and amend" it by
substitution so radical as that mentioned above,
it is safe to conclude that a fundamental cheat
or radical deception is intended-that ''lie"
Is "faunted" by somebody from no worthy
motive, and to subserve no patriotic purpose
The talk about industrial products, and ac-
quired POSSESSIONS" the "same interests" not
equally dhused;" physical impracticabli-
ties" and things forbidden by the natural
laws of climate and of production" all squints
at ''the everlasting nigger"-proposed to be
made omnipotent as well as everlasting-and
indicates a type of that disease Familiarity
known as 'nigger on the brain," and simply
means that slavery is uncomfortable under a
majority rule, simply because itself is in mi
nority; and the editor of the Advertiser pro-
poses to giveit a guarantee" or to strength
en- the Constitution" as he once styled it, so
that whereas it is now somewhat in danger, it
may forever repose in safety. This is it, and
the whole of it. 1t is not enough that the po-
litical power of the slave States should be
made disproportionally large by adding, as a
basis of representative strength, to their free
population three-filths of all their "black cat
tte," but one-third of the strength of the ma
ton, even when thus unnaturally made UP,
must be allowed TO check-mate and veto any
act of legislation, and any national election
that any number less than the other tw thirds
see fit to demand, or deem for the country's
best good
We fully agree with the Advertiser that any
"radica defect discovered in the Constitution
of our fathers, it is dictate of wisdom to
correct and amend,-but we insist that it
would be radical nonsense to make correc-
ton or an amendment that, with the slightest
forecast, we may foresee will soon need amend
ing. Now, if the safety of slavery to-day de-
mand the substitution of two-thirds for ma
jority rule, ten years hence, as light increases,
and as the human brotherhood comes to be
more respected, the safety of the same insttu-
tion may demand the adoption of a three-quar-
ters rule, and soon afterwards a seven-eighths
rule, and then a nine-tenths rule, SO that our
Constitution would become little better than
sliding Gnrter." We would suggest, there
fore, as the whole object aimed at is so far to
Strengthen the Constitution" as to place
slavery beyond the pale of all possible danger,
to take the bull by the horns," and make
square work at once. Alter the Constitution
so that the minority shall rule, and so that
the smaller the minority the greater its power;
or, in other words, but to the same intent, so
that the slave States, or those now in rebel
lion, shall rule in all time to come as they
have in all time past; SO that no proposition
shall become law, and no man shall be elect
Of the "cotton States" Then slavery will be
safe; the government will be administered af-
ter divine model the model of slavery,
which is divine institution-and that trouble
some race of beings known as Northern abo-
litionists," will be forever placed hors du com
bdt.'