M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1863-09-24
Mr.. VaIIRndighnm's Proposition
10 Amend the Constitution.

~ fAAO
In the memorable session of Con-
gress which preceded the inaugura.
ton of President Lincoln aud the
breaking outlof civil war, every patri
otic member of that body was engag.
ed, either in proposing or advocating
amendments to our National Conati.
tuition, in ordel to- avoid war, if pos
sible, and preserve the uhion and our
free institutions unimpaired. Mr.
Vallandigham was among the mum.
Der Of those patriotic members, and
proposed amendments with a view IL
neutralize political power in the diff
ierent sections of the Uniou, and thus
enable the country to escape such
frightful collisions as the one theu
Imminent between the North and the
South. This was not a proposition
to divide the Union into four nation,
alities as his Abolition defamers pOr
sistently charge, but to knit the Un
ion mole firmly together by so curb
lug and directing the political power
OF the four sections which his amend.
ment contemplated, as to prevent, as
far as human foresight could dc, the
possible occurrence Of a resort tt
arms by any State or section. What
ever may be any mans opinion Of the
wisdom Of the measure, it must be
conceded that the motive that pronlp
ted Mr.. Vallsndigham to offer It for
the consideration OF the House was a
noble and patriotic one, and showed,
as lis whole political career before
and since has done, his unswerving
devotion to the cause OF the Union
and to tie maintenance Of the rights
of the States unimpaired.
IN this connection we present., the
following short extract Iiom Mr.. Val,
landigham's speech made in Congress
on the amendments offered by him:
sir, the natural and inevitable result Of
these amendments will be 10 preclude the
possibility of sectional parties and combina-
lions 10 obtain possession Of either the leg
islativs or the executive. power and patron.
age Of the Federal Government: and, if not
10 suppress totally at least very greatly to
diminish the evil results Of national caucus
es, conventions, and other similar party ap.
pliances. 1t will no longer 5e possible TO
elsct PIesidentby the votes of a mere dom
inant and minority section. Sectional is-
ssnes must cease, as the basis, at least, , (
large party organizations Abolition, or
lust for power orplace must look no longer
to is own section, but to the whole coun.
tr.; and he who would be President, or in
any way the foremost among his country.
men, must consult, hencefsrth, the combi-
ned good, and the good will. too, Of all .he
sectiohs. and in this way consistently with
the Constitution, can the general welfare
be best attained. Thus, indeed, will the
result be, instead of narrow, illiberal AMI
sectional policy, an enlarged patriotism
and extended public spirit.
If the reader will refer to the
amendments themselves and to the
entire speech from which the forego.
ing extract is taken, he will find that
Mr.. VaIlandigham's proposition was
intended to perpetuate the Union,
and not to dismember it, as is falsely
and basely charged by those Abolition
journals that at that very time, like
the Brough central organ in this city
and Lieutenant Governor Stanton,
were pronouncing the dissolution 0!
the Union as a matter only fit for
fools and dotards to whine over, and
proposing to let the Southern States,
il their deople wished it, depart out
Of the Union in peace.-O. States.
man. ~,