Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-30
MONDAY MORNING, 80 JAN. 80.


On the outside of this mornings STATES
NAN will be found the speech OF Hon
GroRoE II. PENpLEToN that he delivered in
the lower House Of Congress, on the pro-
,,osed Constitutional amendment, on the
18th Of january. 1t is a speech of much
ability, as is every speech that he gives ut
tefance to-; but it is not so conclusive as
we should like to have 1t. On the subject
as to whether three-fourths of the States
can, under the sanction of the letter OF the
Constitution, amend the Constitution so far
as. to take from the respective States their
hitherto conceded sovereignty, we have not
particularly concerned ourself, and we
think IL point comparatively so inmate
rial that by no means should 1t be allowed
to cause strife in the party. 1t don't pos
sess the properties of principle, and
therefore, can never become an article in
the creed Of the Democratic party.
The preamble to the Constitution OF the
United States declares that the motive that
led to the formation of that instrument was
to found "a more perfect Union" than that
which was formed by the articles OF con-
federation, Ito establish Justice" and to
s.i,sure Domestic Tranquility" &c. TheCon-
stitution provides for its amendment. To
what end? To the end that the Union may
be made more perfect; to the end that JUS
tice may be fully and impartially admins.
tered; to the end that Domestic TranQufltty
NAV be secured. In addition to this, amend
ments may be made that will more efficient
ly mprnyide for the common defense, pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
posterity." How? By three-fourths OF the
States, whenever two-thirds of both Houses
of Congress, or two-thirds of the
Legislatures of the several States, shall
call convention and propose such amend
ments. The power of amendment is grant
ed for the objects enumerated; hence
we hold that any amendment that either
contempIates making this Union more per-
feet or to create, strengthen and solidify
state of domestic Tranquility" has for 1t
the sanction OF the amending power of the
Constitution. And when Mr.. PLNDLEToN
comedies, as he does, that "three-fourths OF
the States may abolish this Republican
form of Government" and establish in its
stead a consolidated unity" the power of
amendment is conceded by him in its full
est extent. The trainers OF the Constitu-
ton did not contemplate that any such con-
dition of things should arise. Neither the
spirit nor the intent nor the design of the
instrument itself contemplates anything Of
the sort. What would become of ''those
: powers which were reserved" to ''the con-
stituent States If our "Republican form OF
Government were abolished, and ''con-
solidated unity" were established in its
stead9 Clearly. they would perish with
the overthrow of ..this Republican form OF
Government" srAas
&The reservation to the people and to the
States Of undelegated powers were esteemed
by the trainers OF the Constitution as essen
tial to the Union, sand to insure Domestic
Tranquility.r The amendment before Con-
gress proposes to take from the States and
the people these undelegated powers. The
question that is proper for consideration,
therefore, is whether the subversion of this
theory of our Government is calculated to
make the Union more perfect or to insure
more completely our "Domestic Tranquil
ity.n II it will do neither OF these things,
it is a trespass upon the domain of the Con-
stitution. We know it will not "insure
Domestic Tranquility" Our domestic
Tranquility has been disturbed to such an
extent that the country is drenched in blood
and filed with lamentation and woe, be-
cause the people of certain States were
made to believe that it was the purpose Of
the party that is now dominant in the
Federal Administration, to wrest from
them the sovereignty that had been re-
served unto them. WIN the confirmation
Of this belief, by an amendment to the Con-
stitution, hasten the restoration Of "Do-
mestic Tranquility?" Are the people Of
the insurgentStates only waiting to hear
of the adoption of this amendment, when
they win voluntarily restore ''Domestic
Tranquilitya' VIII its adoption usher in
sDomestic Tranquility" one hour sooner
than II 1t shall not be adopted? And after
it shall have been rishered in, win it prove
more enduring than If it had not been
adopted? II it will do none Of these
things, it should be secuted as most un-
worthy. s-j.,,s i, .,.,,..f- .s-
yswby, at any rate, the indecent haste Of
crowding the amendment through Con-
gress, and calling on Legislatures to pro-
nounce on 1t, In the absence Of duly elected
representatives from the States that are to
be specially affected by it? Can not the
amendment be made as well, If at all proper,
when we shall have brought those States
back 10 their duty? This haste in regard
to the matter argues an apprehension that
fhere Is q possibility that the insurgent
States may soon be brought TO perform their
duty, II the amendment shall not be adopt
cd; and 1t Is, therefore, a potential reason
why,all lovers of the Union and domestic
Tranquility' should oppose its adoption.
Speech or Hon. WIN. Il. Fincl<.
~. W>< IL Vtr<.xr fho Iahla s,,et,,far In