The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-12-22
THE CONSTITUTION AS 1T is.

THE CONSTITUTION AS 1T is.
The wisdom of the delegates that as
sembled in Philadelphia in 1887, and
adopted the Constitution, has been ex-
tolled by the citizens of the United States
in the highest and most exalted terms.
The friends Of freedom throughout the
world have witnessed with emotions of
the most intense JOY the progress of the
nation from the weakness of the confed-
Grafton to the strength of the more per
feet Union" We stand second to none
in our veneration for this instrument,
and regard for its authors. Time has
softened the asperities of the age in
which it was framed, the partizan ran
cor and opposition that were engendered
by its acceptance have been forgotten
by the people, and the present genera
ton is governed by universal spirit of
infexible respect for it's articles. The
base conspirators againsS the Govern
ment, who accepted the reasonable doc
trines and counsels of Davis, Floyd,
Breckinridge and other Catalines, as
sembled in Montgomery in 1861, to re-
model the sacred covenant of our fathers
Although they had violated the most SOL
emn oaths to maintain its provisions
and lifted their hands to strike deadly
blow against those that remained loyal
to the State, the Constitution appeared
to be so perfect, that, with the exception
of few trifling amendments, it was
adopted without objection as the basis
of the so-called Confederacy. We ex-
pect that many persons will assert that
the charter of the republic cannot bein-
proved, and denounce every attempt that
may be made to modify any parts there
of. The conservative will protest most
earnestly against every step which may
be taken to change the edifice that was
constructed in the past. "The Consti
tuition as it is" has become tho battle
cry of a large organization, and thou
sands oppose every candidate who favors
an amendment. This opinion is found
ed upon error, and should be rejected by
rejecting and intelligent members of SO
ciety. Circumstances vary, customs arr
revolutionized, and the necessity to-day
may be useless tomorrow. The eminen
| philosophers and statesmen that occu
pied the seats of legislators in the Uni
ted States during the administrations o
Washington, Adams and Jefferson, di'
: not view the Constitution as absolutel,
: wise, and never hesitated to criticise ant
, amend it. What is the political situs
!. ton of the country at the present time
: We find that the great curse of Africa
q slavery has been abolished, that a Cigar
: tic debt has been created, and that ther
: are many American citizens who are hot
e tile to the glorious principles of ibert
i and Union. That these facts, which n
y one will gainsay, require the enactmer
: of new laws, must be admitted. Tha
l. the clauses of the Constitution whic
g have been affected by the grand event
s of the last FIVE years demand modifc
It ton appears to be equally plain to th
r mind. Let us cite one example to clue
l. date the argument. The representative
A in Congress from the States in which h,
D. man bondage formerly thrived, were a
B. portioned according to the number
1f whites and three-ffths of the slave
n The excellent remarks of Governor Mo
i ton, which may be found in another &C
d umn, demonstrate the fragrant injusti
II of enforcing this rule at time when tt
N songs of freedom are heard and the sigl
a of the oppressed have ceased foreve
lie Many debates and anxious solicitation
a preceded the adoption of this section
the members of the Constitutional Co
vention of 1857, and it was the result
a compromise. No person imagined In
lie it would be perpetual, and all balanc
ne the probabilities of an amendment whe
IL ever the death of slavery had occurre
IN The hour of national happiness has con
OF and the sword has triumphed. Let t
rs, policy of our fathers be carried out. T
OF Constitution must be altered to meet t
We exigencies that the defeated rebelli
% has originated. Instead of bGndly &
Dr. herring to words which were design
Lst for other days, let the people inscri
ut those that are required for the presel
Us We proclaim our motto to be, not "
''e Constitution as it is" but "the Cons
py tuition as it should be"
les
ok NAIL ROUTES I'm MONTANA.