Saint Mary's beacon., 1878-07-25
LETTER Yauy HON. .. q. HARRIS.

&Nr@&FHs
and written) Of many Of my feIlsw-eitiEens. fa-
voring my nomination for Congress, are highly
gratifying 10 me. The pleasure IL increased by
the fact, that these expressions are spontaaeous
and prompted by approval Of my political Prin-
elpIes and conduct. They credit me with repre-
sntinx the district faithfully In times Of peril,
and they are willing and snxious 10 coDfae iis
interests TO my care in time Of comparative
peace and quiet. Ny name Is at their service for
the object they have In view and shall feel
highly honored IL like disposition toward me
shall prevail In other portions Of our Congrcs-
sional District.
In your last Issue your correspondent N. In
his friendly anxiety 20 advance my cause, has
placed ne in a wrong position, on point which
I consider very material, and therefore AZ wish
that Ne and no other voter shall be deceived in
any matter connected with my political Opin-
ions, deem Il my duty 10 correct his statement.
lie says:
sThe lath and 18th Amendments TO the Con-
stitusion or the United States, however contrary
10 Mr., H.is opinion, have been adopted-deqEi-
esesf In by the people Of the South-nor do he
lieve there Is q man who would have them re-
pealed. feel then no hcsitancy In asserting
that our representative will now, as before, sup
port the Constitution and It's Amendments, which
Fact removes every objection 10 bis election, come
from whatever quarter u may"
PIN my view, the I4lh and 18th amendments
have NOT bees adopted, and as a citizen have
never supported them, and will not as repre-
sentative Of the people. When swear to sup
port the Constitution ] swear not to support
them for they were made In Q mode directly in
conflict with it. II Is said these amendments are
suLmited 10 and aeqEiesesd In. find no oath
simpiy 10 submit 10 and acquiesce in the Consii-
tuition, but do find an oath 10 support u. IL Is
srue The oath TO support involves submission and
acquiescence, but Il goes further, for II implies
willingness 10 do 80; whereas mere submission
and acquiescence may be the tate OF slave.
However neither the submission or acquiescence
In such q case Of any indefinite number OF the
people can make IN amendment OF the Constitu-
sioi-Congresson eaacuses, party Conventions,
Presidential and Gubcrnational bargains, decla-
rati0ns Of State Legislatures-none Of these can
maze binding amendment Of that instrument.
Thee Is sindeed no other mode given or known for
maxing an amendment OF the Constitution ofthe
United States, except IN conformity TO the pro-
visions of its 5th artiele and that requires that
the amendment proposed shall be submitted 70
she several States by vote Of two-thirds ofeach
House Of Congress, and that il shall be adopted
by the legislatures Of threefourths Of the States
of the Union. Our forefathers made an amend
lnent 10 the Constitution the most difficult ofall
things TO be done by the people politically speak
ing-and why9 Because Il Is the only mode
provided by which the Government can be
changed, and indeed changed TO its very des-
trucion " the people according 60 the forms pre-
scribed, think proper to bring It about. BY the
pcwcr Of amendment, they can, In perfect con-
krn,ity with the Constitution, make King or
Establish communism. For this reason these DIFF
iiculiies were thrown in the way OF making
change, so that a check might be given TO the
operations Of knaves, fools and tyrants who are
ALWAYS working against everything which Is
good for their own personal advancement. IL
was hoped that the oath required 10 be taasn
would find at all times honest men enough 70
prevent the success Of unscrupulous knavcs in
their schemes of mischief. The republican party
In 1851 treated all these paper dedences as 50
many cobwebs, and on the End ef March Of that
year passed bill, by the mere course OF ordina-
~ legislation, which in eesef makes an amend
ment Of the Constitution by mere Congression-
al enactment, and thus grossly violates that in
ssrament and Hndermines the very foundation Of
our Government
will here merely make a statement by which
these assertions can be better understood. Con-
grcss, hy two-thiFd vote Of each House, sub
Initted the lsth amendment 10 eachofthe States,
including the Southern States, for their vote OF
nnprovai or disapproval. The votes being ta-
ken. Il appeared thar the legislatures Of three
fonFshs Of the States THAT being the number re-
auirea In order 10 its adopsionl were not In Ia
vor Of Il, and consequently the sai0 amendment
was undoubtedly not adopted, end without rc-
suhrnissi0n hy Congress 20 the States the whole
thing was dcfnnct. Not 50, however, determ-
ined the republican Congress Of 1861. After the
states had voted as requested and rejected this
amendment (the Southern States almost unani-
mouslyl llpsy pass the bill before referred 10 eom-
pelling the Southern States 20 adopt this amead-
memt by denying 20 them the right Of Feprcscn-
sasion IN Congress until each of them did adopt
it, and providing fVyther, that although any SIM
gle Southern State should adopait, yet that State
should not have representation untii sufhcieat
number Of other States adopted il 10 make up
the reqssred three-foaFths. What whimsical ty-
rants The Southern States finding that they
could not afford 20 lose The right of representa-
ton in Government which had control Of their
lives, liberty and property, yielded To the c0er-
cion and voted ~ these tyTanfs dictated; and
this II called an anesndtsent and part Of the
smpre me law Of the hand | do NOT believe there
4 4 LAWYER uf chafacter In tire UEioa who viii
give his opinion thai an amendment % The Con-
ssitasinn lhus adopted, no matter what might be
che suhiecf-mAiler u IL Is binding 0r 0bligEafry
upon the people or The States. Suppose, for in-
stance, negroes had all political rights given 20
taetn in The mode directed by 9TH article of The