Year: 1861

Amos Kendall, who has been writing aseries
of able papers against Sectionalism, Northern
and Southern, and who stands by the record
and faith of General jackson, asks in his last
letter, "what reasonable objection can there be
to an amendment of the Constitution" some
what in the following form:


I" It shall be lawful for all citizens and resi-
dents of the United States, migrating into any
of the Territories thereof, to carry with them
all property and all persons held to service or
labor under the laws of the States from which
they emigrate, and said laws shall govern their
rights of property or claims to service or labor
aforesaid in said Territories until the same shall
be admitted into the Union, anything in the
legislature of Congress or the Territorial Legis-
Iatures to the contrary not withstanding."


Such provision would harmonic with the
general plan of the Constitution, and would
leave the people of each territory free to settle
the question permanently for themselves in the
framing their State constitution.


These three points seena to me all that is
necessary to settle for the purpose of satisfying
the conservative men of the South, and remove
every plausible pretext for disruption of the
Union.


1st The repeal of the liberty laws, so-called,
Of some of the northern States.


I'd. Such modification of the fugitive slave
law as may be required to give more efficiency,
and at the same time render it if possible, less
obnoxious to northern sentiment.


Sd. A final settlement of the territorial slave
question by an amendment of the Constitu-
ton.
But by what means shall these ends be
brought about? There are three men whose
enviable position enables them to give turn
to public opinion aad political action which
| will rescue their country from the perils which
surround it. Let Messrs. Bell, Breckenridge,
and Douglas, throwing behind them all antipa-
thies and all personal ambition, meet together
on the platform Of the Union, and by an united
effort save their country. It is useless to quar-
rel about the future command of sinking ship.
Let their only emulation be which shall do
most to save it, and the crew will herafter
know how to reward him who may have been
most active and devoted. It requires but an
effort of these men to org gshize a Democratic
Union Party which shall sweep over the coun-
try like an avalanche, burying abolitonism and
disunionism beyond the hope of resurrection.
TIE PRESIDENTS DUTY


OF the duty Of the Executive in the present
| state Of affairs, Mr.. Kendall writes:
| The course which any President of the United
States who regarded his oath must pursue in


two important particulars, is pointed out by
| Mr.. Buchanan in his last annual message.
| He must collect the Federal revenues.
! He must defend the forts and other property
! of tho United States.


These duties he must perform any ordina1a-
ces Of secession to the contrary notwithstanding.
But it is not necessary for him to be the ag-
gressor in any acts of violence.


Ifa State chooses to withdraw her represen-
tation in Congress, let them go.


| If the Federal judicial officers within State
resign, and none can be found to Fill their
places, it cannot be helped.


| If the pastmasters within State resign, and
mono can be found to supply their places, or il
| they refuse to pay over their quarterly revenue,
let the post offices be discontinued.


| But let not ship enter her ports without


paying the lawful duties to the United States


nor leave them without clearance from the
! Federal authorities.


Let the white population Of South Carolina


about equal to one-third Of that of the city Of
| New York, enjoy for while the luxury of a


direct tax to support an independent govern


ment with all its paraphernalia of an army and


navy. 1t may be that short experience


would satisfy her people that the Union is not


such an ''accursed" thing as has been repre-


sented, and they may deem it best for them


selves to resume their relations with the fed


eral government. But should she become res


tive under this State of things and attempt by


violence to 'coerce' the United States into


surrender Of their forts or their ships, the issue


must be met and ''God protect the right"
"The Federal Union must be preserAed"
AMOS KENDALL.