The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-06

ton, to propose amendments to that
instrument. But for all practical
purposes, the Congress, us now com.
posed, is competent TO exercise sucl
functions as are ncedful to preserve
the Government-h been recoc-
nized as such by the Executive aud
Judicial Departments of the Govern
ment. The only mode now left to us
by which to propose amendments to
the Constitution, and about which no
question Of constitutionality can be
raised, is convention Of all of tue
States This can only be had by the
application of the Legislatures of two
thirds of all of the States to Congress
for the convocation of such body.
The resolutions which I lave the
honor to present for the considera-
ton of the House. embodies that ap-
plication from this State, and 1 in
woke their passage, if you would
make an effort to save the principles
OF the republic. Should you adopt
them, you have all to gain and no.
thing to lose. AS matters now stand,
we have no hearing, while all of the
great principles upon which the Go
vernment is to be projected and
worked, are being settled and cs-
tablished. If the resolutions are
adopted, and the great end and aim
contemplated by them attained. you
will have 4 hearing, where all of the
great questions that are now convuls-
ing the country and threatening the
overthrow Of the Government can be
fairly, fully, freely and thoroughly
discussed and settled, [ hope, forever.
Should such body be convoked,
and you find yourselves in hopeless
minority, you will be in no worse
condition than you are now Every
proposition to amend the Constitu-
ton will have to go back to the
States, and be adopted and ratified
by the Legislatures of three-fourths
of the States, or by conventions in
three-fourths thereof, before they can
become q part of the organic law.
The North has made its proposition,
which has come to us in the form OF
proposals to amend the Constitution.
In addition to its severity, it ema-
mates from Il source of, ut least, doubt
full constitutionality, and we cannot
accept it. Let this be our PROPOSE
ton. 1t is a fair one, and is in con
1ormlty with the Constitution, and I
trust will be kindly received. Should
you adopt the resolutions, and fail to
attain the great end and aim contem-
plated by them, yoa will have the
in future, to know that
you made the last great effort to save
the republic, and you will receive the
well done" of the good, the generous
and brave everywhere.
Should we fail, however, to attain
the great end and aim contemplated
by the resolutions, then, to me, the
future of the American people is
dark and gloomy in the extreme. 1t
has taken all OF the past to make up
the present. He who would under
stand the present and Judge of the
future must know we'll the past.
governments, dynasties
and empires have risen upon the
earth, and they have passed away
forever. Talk to me not Of the civil
lzation Of the nineteenth century.
In the midst Of civilization we are in
the midst of barbarism. a people
an age-procceds from barbarism to
civilization, from civilization to re-
finement, from refinement to corrup-
ton, then back again to barbarism,
night, tyranny, despotism and op-
preston. I stand to-day amid the
ruins of vandalism. We are not half
SO civilized as were either the an
,ient Greeks or Romans; yet Greece,
with all of her civilization and refine
ment, has almost passed from the
map of the world. The Roman En-
oire, that once covered, with the
wings of her eagle, almost the entire
continent Of Europe, convulsed and
shaken by revolutions, has been scat
,ered to the winds. In the vast and
mighty changes through which we
ire passing, L invoke you to trust not
n men, trust not to their influences,
:or men and their influences change
and perish and pass away forever.
Trust principle alone, for that alone
survives the shock of revolutions and
.ime. The human mind and human
passions are the same to-day that they
sver have been, and they will continue
'he same to the "iast syllable Of re-
corded time They are the same to-
lay that they were when the great
Carthagenian generals wrestled in
mortal and deadly combat upon the
plains of Apulia with
.he soldiers Of the Roman Republic
tor the mastery of empire; they are