Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-09
THE NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY.


congratulating our readers on the return of this
National IIolyday, we are again called to do 50
amid the sights and sounds of war. From
the heights Of that peace and prosperity in
which the country once rejoiced, it has been
plunged into the depths Of an adversely almost un-
paralleed in the hsto ry of civil strife and convu-
sion.
Eghty-seven years have passed away since our
Revolutionary fathers assembled n Continental
Congress, and, appealing to the Supreme Judge
of the world for the rectiude of their intentions,
solemnly published and declared, in the name and
by the authority of the people, that !" the United
Colonies - united formerly under the rule of
the British Grown, and then "unted" in COM
mon struggle against British power" were and
of right ought to be free and independent States"
If we were insensiblc to the political blessings be-
queathed to us by the founders Of the Republic,
while az yet those blessings were in our peaceful
possession and enjoyment, it is certain that the
of our pre- cut loss serve only to heighten
the feeling of our obligation to the great men who
have gone before in the history of our land.
At the same time we cannot but lament the phrensy
of such among our countrymen as are this day en-
gagged in upturning the foundations ON which the
fathers buided the fabric of our political system.
The armed men who now seek to compass the
overthrow of this Government can find no justif-
cation for their dreadful arbitramcnt in the terms
of the Declaration Of Independence.
American liberty, it rs true, was born Of revo-
luton and baptized in the blood of seven years
struggle; yet the Liberty which fathers found
ed on the basis of the Constitution of the United
States was so guarded with muniments and but
tresses of Law that they supposed themselves to
have released their postcrty for all time to come
from the grevous necessity of claiming civil rights
at the point of the sword; for, hardly bad they
achieved their independence, when they proceeded
to exercise the high prerogative right of the peo-
pie to alter and abolish ancient forms of Gov
ernment and to institute new polity instead, lay
ing It's foundation such principles and organizing
its powers in such form as to them seemed most
likely to effect their safety and happiness" With
wisdom in counsel equal TO the valor which had
been shown in the field, the trainers of our present
Constitution were not only themselves the first to
set the example of peacefully re-adjustDg the
organic law Of the Republic, but they sought to
open up highway by which their descendants
might reach all needed reforms, without, in
less-favored lands, being laid under the cruel ne
cessty Of wading through seas of blood to attain
them.
While the Convention which formed the Consti-
tuition of the United States in session at Phi
,delpha, Mr.. Jefferson, then representing our
ountry at the Court of France, wrote as follows,
letter addressed to NJ. Dumas, under date of
eptember 10, 1857
"Our Federal Convention is likely to sit till October.
here is general disposition throughout tie States to
opt what they shall propose, and may be assured
heir propositions will be wise noble assembly
yer sat in America Happily for us, phen zee find
Constntion deeetiue and insufficient the happi-
Of PEOPLE, assemble NTH all the GOODNESS Of
philosophers and set rights, no erery other nation
earth hapc amend or 10 restore
their Constitutions
1t cannot be doubted that the trainers of the
Constitution supposed themselves to have sufi-
centy guarded against the necessity Of any revolu-
tionsry violence for the purpose of changing the
form or relations of the National Government 1t
is true they did not proceed on the suppositon
that their work was infallble that in the years
to come it might not need revision and modi6ca-
ton /; but, by providing peaceful and constitu-
tional method for the attainment of amendments to
the Constitution, they lid undoubtedly mean to
exclude those forms of violence which in despotic
Governments are the natural and inevitable outlets
Of the popular discomfort, soon as it has reached
certain intensity in its opposition to the powers
that be-
The Fifth Article Of the Constitution, so far
from assuming that the instrument was to be held
and considered as unalterable, expressly names and
designates the manner in which amendments NAV
be proposed and ratified, and, in order that the
interests and wishes both of the States and Of the
National Government might be equally and seve-
rally consulted in the power to originate amend
ments, it is ordered by that article not only that
the Congress, whenever t,oo-thirds Of both Houses
shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments
to this Constitution" but also that, con spplica-
on of the Legislatures Of t,co-irds Of the States,
Congress shall call Convention for proposing
amendments, Which IN either case shall be palid,
to aHintcnh and purposes, as parts of this Consti-
tuition, when ratified by the Legislatures of three
fourtbs of the several States or by Conventions in