The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-02-15
The Amendment of the Constitu-
finn


ton.
The New York News, says, it cannot
be denied that the Abolitionists are very
earnest and preserving in the pursuit of
their object, bat they are also over san
guins, and are apt to count the spoils be-
fore the field is won. The action of the
Federal Congress in regard to the amend
ment of the Constitution prohibitory of
slavery, has been accepted by our Black
Republican cotemporaries as a ful6llment
Of their purpose of emancipation, and their
cry of tandem tr' unlphGms 'resounds with
all the emphasis that is due to. congratula-
ton over a work that is mplished.-
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 initatory if they had
chosen, and could have compelled Con-
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
fundamental Of the Republic, during con
dition of civil strife.
The Times forces a conclusion favora.
Bile to the adoption of the amendment by
the convention of States, and anticipates,
like an oracle, the verdict of the 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-
aied will have DO voice except such as may
be uttered by minority under the con-
troll of the military agents of the Admiuis-
tr alton. What does our cotemporary
mean by citing Virginia as with Every lit
I'll fou Of oh ,bor hor
soil is guarded to 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, Tor she has no constitutional exis-
tance as a State. Tennessee, Arkansas
and Louisan would. if left to their own
volitlon, emph aticaIly reject the proposed
amendment, aud it is only an extreme
recklessness of justice and an utter disre-
gard for the virtue of our system Of Gov
erDment that would count those State as
among the supporters of movement that
is directly in lntagonism with the present
action of the great majority of their peo-
pie.
We fear, however, that there is Every
little Doubt that the Administration pro.
poses to give phantom existence to Just
60 many of the seeded States as may be
considered necessary to complete the tale
OF twenty-seven requisite to adopt the
amendment. The whole proceeding at
the best is fraud upon the slaveholding
States, suPposing probability of their
return to the Union and the circumstance
that the counterfeit presentments of one
or two of the slaveholding States should
be made to play part in the mockery,
serves but to cap the climax of wrong and
absurditv.
The members of the House who profess
to be Democrats, and who voted for the
amendment, have betrayed their constitu-
ences. Their action has been undemo-
cratic. They have violated the creed oil
tBeir party, ADD have assisted the progress
OF Capitalization. They have recorded
themselves as the enemies Of the principle
of State Rights, and as snch they will be
remembered.
Consolation for Dem ocrats.