Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-02-11
The Amendment ofthe Constitn-

ton.
The New YORK News, says, it cannot
be denied that the Abolitionists are very
earnest and preserving in the pursuit Of
thoir object, but they are also over san.
guiho, and are apt to count the spols be.
fore the field is won. The action of the
Federal Congress in regard to the amend
mcnt Of the Constitution prohibitory Of
slavery, has been accepted by our Black
Republican cotemporarios as a ful6llment
Of their purpose Of emancipation, and their
cry of tandem fr'"nlph0ns'r 'resOunds with
all the emphasis thatis due to congratula-
ton over a work that is accomplished
We do not wonder that they are thus pre-
mature in their jubilation, for they have
long since ceased to attach any Importance
to the attributes of the States in their in
dividual capacities, and it is therefore ma
tural that they should regard the will of
the central Government as conclusive
Nevertheless, the Federal Congress hsa
done no more than to express its desire in
reference to slavery and to invite the States
to take action on the subject. The States
could have taken the initiatory if they had
chosen, and could have compelled Goa.
gress, even in opposition to Congressional
sentiment,to call convention for proposing
amendments to the Constitution. 1t re-
mains With the States to decide whether
proposed amendment shall be adopted and
it is question whether, Of their number,
the requisite three-fourths will consent to
be recorded as having tampered with a
fundamental Of the Republic, during q con.
dision of civil strife.
The Times forces q conclusion fayora-
bic to the adoption Of the amendment by
the onvention of States, and anticipates,
like an oracle, the verdict of tho sover-
eighties one all that are to prnounce upon
the question. Thus it sets down New
Jersey, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Virginia and West Virginia as sure to vote
for the amendment, when it is probable
that New Jersey will vote against it, and
it is certain that the other States enumer.
aed will have no voice except such as may
be uttered by minority under the con-
troll Of the military agents of the Admins.
tr alton. What does our cotemporary
mean by citing Virginia as with every lit.
Gle doubt in favor Of abolition, when her
soil is guarded 10 day by powerful army
that holds at bay the utmost power Of the
+ Federal armies The voice of Western
Virginia would have no constitutional
force, lor she has no constitutional exls
tance as State. Tennessee, Arkansas
and Louisiana would, if left 10 their own
volition, emphatically reject the proposed
amendment, and it is only an extreme
recklessness of justice and an utter disre.
gard for the virtue Of our system Of Gov,
ernment that would count those State as
among the supporters Of a movement thai
is directly in antagonism with the present
action of the great majority Of their peo.
pie.
f We fear, however, that there is every
little Doubt that the Administration pro
poses to give phantom existence to jus
t 80 many of the seeded States as may be
e considered necessary to complete the tale
OF twenty-sevsu requisite to adopt tht
amendment. The whole proceeding q
!, the best is fraud upon the slaveholdin!
States, suPposing a probability of thei
: return to the Union and the Circumstance
that the counterfeit presentments of on
: or two of the slaveholding States shoulc
be made to play part in the mockery
serves bat to cap the climax of wrong an,
Q absurdity.
+ The members of the House who profes
# to be Democrats, and who voted iar lh
y amendment, have betrayed their constlu
encie.. Their action has been uudcmo
:, cratic. They have violated the creed &
!. their party, and have assisted the progres
= Of Capitalization. They have recorde
o themselves as the enemies OF the principl
:, : of State Rights, and as such they will /
:. remembered.
le -------
s. Consolation for Dem ccrats.