The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-06-20
: - = - = 80
Amending the Constitution.

solution to amend the CONSTITUTION Oh tne
United States so as to forever prohibit sla-
yery. 1t will be remembered that the
resolution failed to obtain the two thirds
vote which was necessary before submitting
it to the Legislatures of the several States,
owing to the fact that the Democrats all
voted against it except four. This opposl
ton to the amendment on the part of the
Democrats, the Lincolnites hope to use for
their own advantage, basing upon it the
reiteration of the old cry of pro slaveryism.
It was this agitation of the slavery question
which placed ABRAHAM LINCOLN in the
Presidential chair and brought on secession
with all its attendant evils, and now, hav"
ing found it so serviceable hobby in the
past, the Abolitionists hope to make it use
full in still another political campaign.
The charge that the Democratic party, as
a party, is in favor of slavery of any kind
is absolutely and essentially false. Its po-
sitiou and policy has always been that OF
uonlnterventon either for or against slave
Nv. Believing that it was subject belong
ing exclus lively to the people of each indi-
dual state as matter of matter of purely
domestic concern, the Democratic party has
ever deprecated the agitation of the ques-
ton in the nat;oUsl councils or the assump'
ton of any control over it by the National
Congress. The same reason still remains
in force. Slavery is as much the creature
of State law to-day as j: ever was, and the
Federal Congress has no more right to med
die with the question now than it had fifty
years ago. .......
But, besides this, the Democrats had au-
other reason for opposing the proposed
amendment We are engaged in terrible
war pro1sssedly for the preservation OF the
Union. If we really desire to have the
Southern States return to their allegiance
to the constitution and unite with us again
in a common government under its pro-
visions, we will throw.no obstacles in the
way of their return or exact no conditions
with which we know they will not comply
Assuredly they will never willingly unite
with us under q constitution which wa:
framed without their consent and which
denies them cherished right. Having re
belled because they believed that the fed
eral administration wonld interfere with
slavery, is 1t reasonable to suppose thai
they would renew their allegiance to the
constitution when their enemies, by fair
means and foul, by the votes of "rotter
boroughs" in the South and of territorle;
newly admitted for the purpose, had strlck
en- from that instrument every guarantee
of their rights which it ever contained?-
Do men usually act so in matters OF vita
Importance Would tce, were in their place
feel inclined to submit to such constltu
ton? Then, If we really want the Unior
restored, if it is for this that our sons ant
brothers are dying by tens of thousands,
it is for this that the nation is pouring GU
her treasures with lavish hand, then le
us dismiss this project for amending the
constitution and throw no obstacle in TIT
way of the returning States. IT, however
we do not desire the restoration of thu
Union, we will perfectly carry out our de-
signs by adopting such amendments as vii
exclude the Southern States forever. -
1t is fully time for this, so-called, "Union'
party which arrogates to itself all the pa
triotism and all the public virtue in thu
land, to throw off its mask and assume it,
proper garb. judging by its actions during
the past three years, (and what better cri
terion could We desire), its self.choser
name should be written with prefix. l
has proven itself disuniou party and con
tinualIy put forth all the efforts it could tt
prevent the restoration of the Union ant
preclude the possibility of the return of thu
seeded States. For this purpose tn
amendment to the constitution was favor
ite project, and now because that has beer
frustrated by the action of the Democrats
the only true Unionloying party in the land
a great outcry is raised and dreadful anath
emas are to be poured upon the heads ofth'
offenders from pulpit and rostrum ant
stump.
The position of the LINCOLN party upo'
this question of the constitutional amend,
mendment, as defined in the Baltimore
platform, presents some rather strange ant
inconsistent features. We will refer tt
them at another time. ,.
CAPTAIN MCCLELLAN Captain Arthur
Mcclellan, who served on the staff Of his
brother,the General during the Peninsula
and Maryland campaign, and who, when