Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-28
REMEprEs AND ALTERNATIVES.

A distinguished citizen of Pennsy lvania, the Hon
j. CLANCY JONES, formerly leading member OF
Congress from that State, and subsequently Minis
ter of the United States TO the Court of Austria,
has, in the suboined article which he has favored US
with for publication submitted his views in regard
TO certain changes in the organic frame of our Gov
eminent, which he conceives may prove both civil
remedy for the present awful sectional struggle in
which the country is involved and safeguard
against the recurrence of any similar trouble in flu
ture. The deliberate suggestions of gentleman
so long connected with political affairs and of
high personal character are entitled to espectful
consideration
Messrs EDITORS: have observed that the attention
Of the country generally has been drawn to the resolutions
passed by the Democratic meeting recently held in Read
ing and that they have received much commendaton par
uay that which invites the attention of the
try the future mode the last resort Of either saving
or reconstrLcng our Union by the agency of the
reign States and that which refers to the proper
amendments to the Constitution order to guard against
future commissions of the State The resolution last refer
red to suggests that amendments be made to the Consu
ton which will in future protect the rights of uni critics
but that subject not particularly before the
iug the character of the amendment proposed not
Of the Democracy Berks discuss the amendments
the Constitution deemed necessary and propose them
the party generally Berks does not intend to be OBJ
trusive circumstances Of painful character have
her in'o the foreground she has been charg
ed with want of fidelity to the Constitution and laws,
and this charge has led to the arrest Of of her ct
In self Defence therefore, she has spoken and she
to follow 1T up until at last her true position s dis
tnctly understood The amendments to the old, if it
be nece ssary elements in Constitution form
ing Union on the basis OF the old one either by
Convention assembled by Congress by the sovereign
States if all other remedies FAIL contemplated by the e
mocracy of Berks are believe to take the present Con-
stitution as it is and amend as follows
lst That the Presidential term be for six years tie n
cunbent to be ineligible to a second term.
I'd That all Territorial Governments be abolished and
the power taken from Congress to create them and in
lieu thereof provide that oil territories belonging to
the United States which may hereafter be acquired,
shall be organized into State or States incorporate
into other States.
3d. That hereafter when any BILL lut on order
(Which may require the signature of the Executive to make
law shall first proposed in the House of Represen
tatiVes TO it from the senats for their
renee it shall be- in order takng prec dence of all other
queston for any five adjoining STATES, by M prity of
each of said ates respectively through THAR Represents
lives in Congress- to object to the passage of SAID BILL and
file their objections with The clerk; in which The said
bill shall become law without twu-thirds If the votes
cast If seven adjoining States shall in Ike object
three-fourths of The shall be required to pass
sad II; and if the Representa- from adjoining
States unanimously said bill shall not pass except by
a unanimous VOTE
The above restrictions not to apply TO appropriation
bills in accordance with the provisions of existing laws
to tie repeating power of any act of Congress- to
power declare raise and vote money carry
it VIXEN declared except that shall be de-
cared by number less than two-thds of those Totng
aud if dsapproved of by the Executive, three ourths
shall be necessary Neither shall the restrictions apply to
lis to raise TO meet the ordinary expenditures
provided for by law provided that such bills shall be solely
for the purpose of raising to meet the axpend
Of the Government prescribed by existing laws
l do not propose 10 dssuss these propositions
They are merely named ia TO numerous Inquiries
to what amendments does Beks propose to offer
the rights of mnortes and thus invite restoration
of The Union, and il from repetition of the caam
ties VIII ch have befaen it in The past 1t is believed by
many that cooperation be bad from the South that
Ia short time party could there be rmed aid in
soraton and reconstruction if they knew the pro-
posed bass of the Northern Democracy, aud Lad faith in
II these suggestions worthy of att, nion
there will be ample time for discussion; if they not
d cusson in advance would b. labor lo 1t may be sug
gesed however that to tie most observer must
be apparent that peculiar populations climate, and soil
divide us into East Middle, Northwest extreme
or Pacific West Cotton South, and Sugar South. 1t
will be equally apparent that il this restrictive power Of
Ave seven nine States the action Of Congress
it will enable any of these sections to protect
itself from aggression upon their organic sectional
rights I use the word sectional in the sense in which eli
nate soil and peculiar population make sectionasm and
in NJ other while it will leave them oil free ia their
tonaty and united in their interests in the family
OF nations. Peculiar local interests neither be
tended restricted by the agency of the Fetera
vernmen while the general interests be- with unimt
ed efficiency. A Presidential election which
vulsrs the country with alarm may be held under such
amended Constitution without m the least apprrh
sion, simply because maortes in Congress, ON; po
tent and est aimed by organic law will by This
be made impotent TO do harm. Fears may be
tertand by pessmsts that the wheels of Government
would stop Experience teaches us that too much not
to little, legislation is Observation has taught
u.s. long SINCE that where mnores have responsible ity
cos upon them, the wheels 81 government never
known /, be stopped by thin Ware for the propagation
Of dear aud schemes for the benefit af the few the
pense Of the many, msy fail perhaps the people woul
have regrets il they d d
May am ndmens to the Consttution have been pro.
posed tim past, and macy scussed now but,
far "a my observation has gone tn have neatly all
ferred t. the Executive Judicial brtncfe OF the Gov
eromynt. La my opinion such amendments will fail;
dull plural Executive land both have been ted)
rate fsc,iUus and paTal the arm which, for efficient
execution, should ulHay be controlled by single wilt
Jud ciu ia too dependent upon the moral support of
the people and devoid Of material force to command
unwilling minds. 1t may persuade it may reason it may
~ aiu but 1t must always lean upon another to
force DEGREES whenever force becomes necessary The
wills that have bealen have their root in the omnipo
trnce If unbrdlrd msjortes in Congress- aud the
uust strike the seat OF the disease fail The
tive in the Legislative branch; the power Of Con-