The weekly Butte record., 1867-10-19

the Constitution, had rejected both alternatives
and chosen the middle way. They had uttered
what they conceived to be the truth, and they had
pursued system which only an appeal to
public opinion, because that appeal was warranted
by the constitution and by principle"
Mr. Mercer said:
The plan contained in the resolutions appeared
the most advisable. Force was not thought of by
any one The States were equally concerned. as
their rights had been eqnally invaded; and nothing
seemed more likely to produce temper in Con.
gress for repeal
1t is unfortunate perhaps that, the moment a
person or paper, in either of the political parties
assumes an ultra, false and unpopular position, the
opposing party Immediately seize the falsehood
and proclaim it the true principles of their po
litical opponents, because doing so aids them in
securing partisan triumph. Both political par
ties have suffered by such Misrepresentation. 1t
was this constant holding up of the views of ultra
men. North and South, that produced the late war
Good men everywhere should asetertain the truth
and act from honorable and conscientious motives.
Thus political parties would not be committed to
odious and unpopular doctrines and misunderstand
ings be avoided by the people. Had.such been the
course heretofore it is possible that the Republican
party of Ohio, might not have been committed to
negro suffrage. the Democratic party TO the re-
bellion:
And now one word as to another argument made
use of by the fasifying advocates of the infamous
doctrine of secession. They claim that the States
of New York and Virginia ratified the National
Constitution with reservations and limitations, and
nd har fhc ;obf 70 do
at pleasure. We deny that they did or could make
any such partial or conditional ratification of the
Constitution 1t is true that those States thought
of doing so, and did pass declarations to that ef
feet: but there mo recognition of such conditions
in the national archives, nor any provision in the
Constitution for such. After saying what they
pleased the ratification had to be without cond-
tions, complete and tinal There could be no con-
ditions. Nobody had authority to accept any.
Nobody bat a Senator Lane or Wigfall, or the
political idiot of the Butte County Press would ar.
que their validity. As applicable to this point, we
give the following letter of Mr. Madison. In July,
l7ss, when the Constitution of the United States
was before the Convention cf New York for ratif-
cation, Mr.. Madison was in the city of New York.
Mr. Hamilton, who was in the Convention, wrote
letter to Mr.. Madison to know if New York could
be admitted into the Union with certain reserva
tions or conditions. One of these reservations or
conditions was, Mr.. Hamilton says in his letter
that they should have the privilege of recedng
within five years if certain alterations and
amendments were not made to the Constitution of
the United States MI. Madison, in reply to that
letter makes use of the following emphatic Ian
guage, which still further corroboraes and carries
out the idea that the Constitution makes no pro-
vision for breaking up the Government. and that
no State has right to secede Mr.. Madison says ::
" NEw YORK, Sunday eren;ng.
My DEAR SIR: Yours ot yesterday is this in
stant come to hand and | have but few minutes
to answer it. am sorry that your sitaation oblie
Won to listen to propositions of the nature you
right to withdraw if amendments be not decided on
under the form of the Constitution within certain
time IS conditicnH ratification that it does not
make Nsw York member OF the new Union, and
consequently that she could not be received that
plan. CompactS must be reciprocal-this principle
would not in such case be preserved. The Con-
stituton requires adoption toto and forerer.'
- 1t has been so adopted by the other States. An
adoption for limited time would be defective as
an adoption Of some of the articles only In short
any condition whatever nnst vtiate the ratiica-
ton. What the new Congress, by virtue of the
power to admit new States. NAV be abs and dis
posed to do in such case do not inquire. az sup
pose that is not the material point at present.
have not moment to add more than my fervent
wishes for your success and happiness. The idea
of reserving right to withdraw was started at
Richmond. and considered a conditional ratitica-
ton. which was itself abandoned as worse than
rejection.
= Yours, JAMES MADISON, JR."
In the face of these indisputabe facts is it not
outrage upon the good sense and intelligence of the
secession, to make those patriotic statesmen, JET
ferson and Madison, 1.-The pedestal for their Coos-
sal heresy'? As the writer in the Press has sought
to do so whenever he could worm himself into
newspaper, which has been periodically for the past
fifteen years, we styled him ian ignorant and big
oted mule-periodically an insutferable nuisance
and always political IDIOT We appeal to an in
teIgent public if our estimate not correct.
Iu 1856, these resolutions were Incorporated in
the National Democratic Platform. Many southern
politicians gave them secession construction. and
before the expiration of Mr.. Buchanan's admins
tration had fred upon the National flag in defence
of that infamous heresy. War resulted, and those
who asserted the right Of secession for the purpose
of sustaining the institution of African slavery
were put down. and slavery was abolished. The
South accepted the situation. Nine years from the
time those resolutions were adopted. and four years
after their secession construction WAS forced upon
the people, it was fought out and repndiated The
Republicans made short work of secession aud
slavery. This being the case the Democratic party
OF California, in Convention assembled, resolved
that the National Government was the paramount
Government Of the country, and. secondly that it
restore amicable relations. There is ut one paper
in he State contemplate encush TO desire re
turn to where the secession party stood in 6l, and
that is the Butte County Press. They don't be-
lieve National Government amounts TO ANYTHING
don't want peace between the different sections Of
the country-and send up vivas for JEFF. Davis. We
beg 10 refer their atten to the following from the
Atlanta, Georgia. Neir Era;
"A pack of fools (of whom we were one) go; the
South into war and now pack Of like fools are
resolved to keep her in hot water till the end of
time. il the people permit them to do so. We care
nothing for General Sckles. Our only care is to
restore the South TO peace. plenty and quiet and
we pray God that every new born fool in the land
may be confined at the public epense till, by jndi
cioas treatment, they are restored to that sane
serve on jury. We have had enough of war; and
our voice is for peace.
As long as men are disposed to commit crime,
roll in the gutter, talk treason, engage in rebellion
and listen to Misrepresentation of the founders of