Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-22
rboro = ,hs Kovstone S,ote

There is the keystone State. my
God" says Davis, ''it will never do to ad-
NIT Pennsylvania into the section of the
South, for there stands Independence Hall
with the very bell whose tongue summoned
the fathers of the Republic first to declare
that all men are created equal, and upon
which is engraven with fire the sign by
which they conquered, Proclaim liberty
throughout all the land to all the inhabi-
tants thereof
There is no dissent among the copspira-
tors the section Of the South say they
must embrace the fifteen slave States, an
overwhelming majority of whom had al
ready ,couspired for the destruction Of the
Republic and the overthrow of the Con-
stitution. Their wish would be realized by
adopting this amendment, which declares
and provides that among themselves they
may secede at pleasure Yet the gentle
men who sat in silence when proposition
OF this sort was introduced, get up and tell
us to day that they are for the Constitu-
ton as it is and the Union as it was Why,
sir, suppose you adopt this proposition of
my colleague, of which have been speak
ing and incorporate it into law, South
Carolina, which is unwilling to live in asso
citation with any other commonwealth upon
Gods footstool, as I believe-and that is
one thing that gives me hope amid the dark
ness and storm OF this rebollion--just SO
soon as this measure Of peace was adopted
and the Constitution so amended, would 90
to war with her new associates as she did
with her old ones and would send in her
petition to Virginia that she wished to
secede.
The several Legislatures Of the Southern
section that we are told of by those who
now talk about sectional parties would give
permission, for they are pledged to the doe
trine in advance, and they would not take
back their words The petition of South
Carolina, | assume, would not be refused,
for 1t would be said was it not to secure the
right to secede that the amendment to the
Constitution was ingrafted upon it by this
Southern section, and was it not for that ex-
press purpose, among othor things, that
Northern Democrats aided them in ingraft-
ing that amendment upon the Constitution?
Yes, they would say, let South Carolina 20,
and go in peace.
:, But no sooner has she gone than up comes
her sister Georgia, with her petition also to
secede, and presents it to the Legislatures OF
this Southern section and there stands
poor old Virginia, that never tires, ready
to receive and grant the petition; there she
stands playing the pitiful part of the par.
asites of royalty, who bow at every nod and
simper at every word of their august mas
ter. Virginia says to Georgia, go" II
like manner Alabama goes Mississippi
goes; Louisiana goes and so with every
; one of the States constituting this Southerr
: section--all go until the section of the Soutl
is but poor old Virginia. And there stand
your brilliant, bright, and beautiful amend
ment to the Constitution. 1t only require
the consent Of the Legislatures of the State
constituting the section of the South t,
legalize secession therein, and Virginia hav
ing consented to the secession of every on
! Of those associated with her in the South
ern section, under.your amendment, stand
alone consenting to her own secession, ant
t petitioning her own Legislature. That per
t formance would be very much like tn
= sublime spectacle Of fellow attempting t
y lift himself over the fence by his own boots
e Laughter.
t And so we arc to be treated to this sol
Of amendment to the Constitution, and (
be told by those gentlemen upon the othe
Q side OF the House, who have allowed sue
an amendment to 60 unchallenged upon tn
It national records, that they are for the Con
stitution As it as and the Union as it was.
:. have discovered that these genteme
J; have lately asccrtaned that there is fit
article in the Constitution which provide
Y for amendments for I'M resolution not lou
Q since offered in this House, they assert ths
I, they are for the Constitution as it is, tn
Q fifth article included The Constitution,
' freely admit, provides for its own amenC
y ment, but not for its destruction. As it il
g it has been our shield and defense in til
n past. Maintain it as it is, and it will shelte
It and protect the coming millions Of th
= future.