Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-11-17

power they had was that they were TO
agree to furnish specified number OF
men, and amount of money. IL was
called the Federal Union of the states"
In popular parlance.
They succeeded pretty well while the
pressure of common danger was upon
the states, but when pace came In 81
the states refused To do anything, and
the Confederation failed entirely.
The present Constitution has not one
feature of resemblance TO the Articles OF
Confederation. Some effort was made
in the convention OF 81 to mead up
these articles, but 1t was declared to he
utterly impracticable. Mr.. iaus and
Others who wished to tinker up the Con-
federation finally went home and never
came into the convention again. This
shows that the constitution was entire
Nv different from those articles, The Sc.
cessionists contend that You cannot
Coerce state. Even Mr.. Buchanan
said you had no right to cSerce states,
although they had no right TO secede.-
When Mr.. Patterson of N, J. wanted TO
patch up the Confederation, he wished
| to compel refractory states to do their
| uulN. DuL MT Ndli lOu Neh~
| not do this without war; and war is
the end of all friendly leagues.
Our Constitution says 1--WE the people,
&c. But they say "the people in the
states" What thenl The people had
| formed state governments which had
| power to coin money, issue bills of cred
it, make treaties, &c. Now you per-
ceive that unless the people who had given
these powers TO the state legislature,
should give them TO the general govern
ment Gas they did) those powers would
still remain with the states. This is
the reason why the Consultation was
ratified by THE PEoPLE Of the states
The Constitution was to go into eject
when the people of nine states had rati-
fed the same. 1t operated in those
states only which had ratified. Rhode
Island and South Carolina held out for
year. or two, Int thar saw they were
foreign countries, would have to make
treaties, pay duties, &c, and finally con-
cluded to come in.
Amendments adopted In the prescribed
form went into effect in all the states
Provision was made against secession
| In the clause which says that the con-
stitution shall be the supreme law of
the land, any law of the state to the
contrary Notwithstanding. Nothing
could be more explicit than this.
The speaker then proceeded to show
that the Chicago platform was not for
a restoration of the Union, but of some
thing like the old Consideration; that
| it was meant to be so understood at the
! Nrk Of 81
that there was no alluSion to an Car
mstice properly so called, in it; that
the words "other peaceable means he
had reason to believe were inserted at
the instigatiOn of Gov Pratt of Mary
land In order to abr0gate the idea of any
more war az all that the South would
| not go into convention of States ="
Even the Kentucky delegation voted
| against proposal made in the Peace
| Convention for National Convention
when there was an immediate prospect
Of war, take away the prospect of war
| aud what reason is there To believe they
would come into convention
| Concerning construction the speak
or said IL requires more than human
| foresight to tell what to- do in the future.
| He could only say that the logic of
| events will shed light upon our path
way. Put down the rebel armies, and
there will be little difficulty in recon
struction. He then spoke Of slavery
of the suppoSition at the time Of the
formation of the constitution that
slavery would soon die out; of the
measures taken for its extinction; Of
the influence of the cotton gin in making
the cultivation of cotton profitable; of
the intrigues of Shareholders for the &C
QUESTION of new slave territory after the
importation of slaves was prohibited
the purchase Of Louisiana and Florida,
acquisition Of Texas, the attempt to OBJ
tain Cuba, the war with Mexico, repeal
of the Missouri compromise, and the
Kansas struggle. ..... afs
Then was formed the Republican par
ty with this distinct idea that there
should be no more slavery extension.
"Now," said the South, they think
they will cause slavery to shade out;
we are determined to prevent it and
now is our time" Although they might
have chosen a democratic president they
refused. They had used the democratic
party as long as suited their conven-
fence, and they determined now to re-
| pudate both the party and the gov
| eminent. rF 81 ass
The war could and would be success
| fully prosecuted. The people had been
too impatient and had expected too
much of the administration. -4ss.
am exceedingly gratiAed, concluded
the Senator at che manner IN which our
| little State responds to all calls, and
more, giving their sons and paying all
their taxes, aud while sitting as your
| representative, feel that | represent
almost the largest State In the Union.