The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-02-19
MAJER JACK DOWNING
MIR. Summers Propossl to Amend the
Constitution.

Through this mass Of dcclamatory verbage
with which Senator Su,nn.a over laws his sci
OF abolition resolutions il is apparent that MS
only practical object is the amendment Of the
Constitution insisted ON in tho last resolution.
"lhe Constitution ITSELF" 50 this resolution
runs, must be so amended as to prohibit slav-
cry everywhere within. the limits Of the repub-
lic."
The proposal OF such an amendment is a
riltnal confession OF tls nulltyof ALISco.Ss
'proclamatios OF Freedom" If ha is valid,
there Is no slavery in fhc seceded states to be
aboliaicdb bya constitutional amendment. Why
put 4 corpse on trial for itslife? The absurl.y
IS SO glarlpg, so selt,stultitying, that Mr. SUM
NEk makesa vain attempt to cover It's nakedncss
by weaving about it cumbrous drapcry of his
peculiar rhetoric. The truth is theaboltionists
care not trust the supreme Court with the
question on rllc basis Of The proclamation. Their
disbelief of the constitationaliiy Of that docu-
ment is wel-gmundei; but what q commenta-
ry is On the honesty of lher past assevera-
tions!
IL is pretended, indeed, that ono obiact OF the
proposed aHlendmsnt is to abolish siavery in the
ioya border slave states. Bat no man OF good
" .iS HooiiitOiiSt UT -lt1llDsfl., DC
iieves that slavery can stand in the borl ar sta.s
aiter 1t is really abolished in The states further
South In fact, The border states are already
dscard:ng the institution by their own action.
Missouri has already abolished slavery Mary-
land Is taking the initial steps; Delaware was
last becoming u free state even before the war.
u IS not thsn, for the extinction Of slavery
IN Tie border states thar 4 constitutional amend-
inent IS wanted, but to accomplish legally what
Mr.. LINCOLN illegally assumed 70 do by a .nres
tended .'war power" That he has himself no
belief in the validity Of his Emancipation proc
iamation, is evident from his demanding that
Arkansas shall amend It's consultation and pro-
hioif slasory-a futlia proceeding ii the proc,a-
asatlon abolished slssvery in that state
But is there any prospect that Mr. Su,fSEn's
proposed amendment of the federal Constitution
can Be carried such an am,nlment requires.
Iirst, vote Oft two thirds of each house Of Con
cross aiid then, the ratification Of thgce-fourths
OF the states AS tho Republicans haye, at pres
cnt, nothing Ike two-thirds of the House OF
Representatives, it is obvious that such IN A.
+nendnent cannot be submitted to the consider.
alton Of the states without the concurrence of
the Democratic members. Now, however will
70 may w W Hdfc t13 QueSLtOnl |
submitted to the states, they cannot vote for
suca submission until Congress has previously
BY joinp resolution, declared lis sense of the /
political status Of the several seeding members
OF the Union. Mr. SUMNER is himself The au-
thor OF theory that these states have by a
feto de Sc, disested themselves of their statehood
ind are no longer constituent parts Of the fed
Grafton. Ii this theory be sound, tlirec.fourths
ot the remaining states can amend the Consti.
talion; so that from Mr.. SuMHER's standpoint
ais proposition is not so impracteablc as, would
otherwise seem. But there is reasont to suppose
hat majority of both houses Of Congress, as
we'll as the executive department Of the gov
,rnment repudates this theory; and tho pre-
iminaries to an amendment which rested on
his theory as basis would be needless and
lugatory agitation, serving only to exasperate
'he loyal border states. But if the secodiug
states are still in the Union, they must he coun-
ed in. amending the Constitution, and in that
;asc, any nine of the fifteen savcholding states
AN defeat the amendment. AIR. LINCOLN might
perhaps, create enough Of lis bogus states to'
'ontrol tho result; but even on that hypothesis,
/. is still nocdtul for Congress to decide, before
the amendment, whether Alr. LlN-
,oLN has power, bya skiIifnl working Of his
,uppets, to amend the Constitution Of tho UIi
litcd States. The trial Of this case cannot pre-
sEsA1 10 q zzu ~ rNesIg s