The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1865-11-22

Off cial Information to the States of amend
ments to the Csnstitution submittsd by
Congress. Notice Of the amendments BY
Con ress aboIshing slavery was. neverthc-
less, sent by the Secretary Of State at the
time, 10 the States which we're then in
communication with this Government. For
nal notice will Immediately be given to
those 5 ates which were then IN insurrec-
ton.
The objection which you mention to the
last clause Of the constitutional amendment
is regarded as querrulous and unreasona-
BILE, because that clause is really restrain.
ing in its effects, instead of charging the
power OF Congress.
The President considers the acceptance
Of :he ame ndment by South Carolina as in
dispensable to restoration Of her rela-
tions with the other States OF the Udion.
(signed) wM. III. SEWARD. !.
The formal notice Of the proposed a.
mendment 10 the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States has not yet been received. When
il is / will communicate the same 60 you.
The amendment may be seen in the acts
Of the las; Congress. and is in these words:
:. Neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude, except as a punishment for crime.
whereof the party shall have been duly con.
.victed, shall exist within the United States
or any place subject 10 their jurisdiction.
"SEcrlos .. Congress shall have power
10 enforce this Article BY appropriate leg
islation." (Approved. February !, 1885,
few days since | addressed c.mmu-
nica.ion to Mr.. Seward, Secretary Of State.
BY mail, 10 which repeated and enlarged
on the views previously expressed 10 The
President in reference 10 the abjecuons
which we're entertained in South Caralina
to the proposed constitutional s,nendment.
am happy To find that the Secretary Of
State does net regard these objections as
elI-founded. but considered them "guer-
rulous and unreasonable" II is true that
plain, honest construction of the language
OF the amendment would be that slavery
was abolished in the Uaitsd States, and
that Congress should simply enforce il.
When this was done their legislation would
be ended. They could not alteapt under
the authority given by this amendment: to
pass laws for the government oi the freed
men 10 their free slate. The Attorn.,
General Of the United States and the Pre-
sidsn; have both been understood as eun-
curing in this opinion. Ii would. there
fore, be well. in adopting the proposed >.
mendment, to place on record the csn,truc
tion which had been given il BY The Exec.
uiise Department OF ihe Federal Govern.
ment.
Il is manifest from the earnest. eloquent
and patriotic terms in which the President
has urged the adoption Of this amendment.
that he regards, as he SAYS. +" all that South
Carolina has dane, and so we'll doue, as
thrown away, unless the smendme Is ac-
cep,ed by the legislature.
Tie Secretary Of State is still more eI-
plicit in his language. lie SAYS: The
President considers the acceptance 0f the
amendment by South Carolina >, indlspen-
sable to a restoration OF her relations Nth
the oiher States OF the Union" The rea-
son why this e1action is made Of the south
ern States. after they have abolished slave
~, is that they might otherwise, at some
failure Jay, change their Constitution aud
restore slavery il defiance OF the Federal
Government. You. gentlemen, have al
this time. the destiny d he State 10 your
hands, aud feel sssared that you will act
calmly and disIassionatrly with view TO
the peace, happiness and wellbeins OF
South Carolina.
addressed Communication 10 the Sc
cretary Of the Treasury. al Washington, q
few days since, urslng that 10 case II. Ls
ge.lature should assume the payment Of
that portion Of the Direct Tax Tor which
South Carolina is liable. that tie Federal
G0yeranent should receive her bonds for
the same, or suspend the collection Of the
tar iOr the present rear. would advise
the Immediate assumption, BY the State, Of
her portion of the Direct Tax. which is
about three hundred aud sixty siI thousand
dollars. This will relieve the people iron
the Immediate payment Of il 10 ID. FEEDER
Il lax Collectors, and enable the State 10