religious test not required..... vacancies, how supplied.......... shall have the power of impeach- ment... shall be the judge of the election and what shall be a quorum. any number may adjourn, and com- may punish or expel a member. 4 3 4 3 not to be compelled to be a witness 5 Am'd. 1 9 4 2 8 Am'd. 1 9 1 5 1 5 2 1 2 1 1 not to be deprived of life, liberty, or private property not to be taken for in criminal prosecutions shall have 7 Amd. 8 Am'd. 9 Am'd. 1 5 10 Searches and seizures, security against.. 4 Am'd. how chosen, classed, and terms of qualifications of Senators. Vice-President to be President of the 3 1 3 1 3 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 9 ...... 3 Am'd. 1 9 2 1 2 1 9 1 Soldiers not to be quartered on citizens entering into treaty, alliance, or con- granting letters of marque.............. making anything a tender but gold passing bills of attainder, ex post facto keeping troops or ships of war in time entering into any agreement or com- may enter into compact for improve- States, new, may be admitted into the the Constitution, and the laws form of government, protected by ciary.) 1 10 1 10 9999 1 10 1 1 10 1 9999 1 10 1 10 Suits at Common Law, proceedings in... 7 Am'd. 1 4 Q Title from foreign State prohibited....... 1 two witnesses, or confession, neces- punishment of, may be prescribed by Treasury, money drawn from only by Treaties, how made............... Tacancies happening during the re- లు 88 18 1261 1 10 3 9210 THEIR CONSTITUTION AS INTERPRETED BY THE 1861, March 21, ALEX. H. STEPHENS delivered "The new Constitution has put at rest forever all the "Our new Government is founded upon exactly the op- "In the conflict thus far, success has been, on our side, "As I have stated, the truth of this principle may be slow in development, as all truths are, and ever have been, in the various branches of science. It was so with the principles announced by Galileo-it was so with Adam Smith and his principles of political economy-it was so with Harvey and his theory of the circulation of the blood. It is stated that not a single one of the medical profession, living at the time of the announcement of the truths made by him, admitted them. Now they are universally acknowledged. May we not, therefore, look with confidence to the ultimate universal acknowledgment of the truths upon which our system rests. It is the first government ever instituted upon principles of strict conformity to nature, and the ordination of Providence, in furnishing the materials of human society. Many governments have been founded upon the principle of certain classes; but the classes thus enslaved, were of the same race, and in violation of the laws of nature. Our system commits no such violation of nature's laws. The negro, by nature, or by the curso against Canaan, is fitted for that condition which he occupies in our system. The architect, in the construction of buildings, lays the foundation with the proper materials, the granite; then comes the brick or the marble. The substratum of our society is made of the material fitted by nature for it, and by experience we know that it is best, not only for the superior, but for the inferior race that it should be so. It is, indeed, in conformity with the ordinance of the Creator. It is not for us to inquire into the wisdom of His ordinances, or to question them. For His own purposes Ha has made one race to differ from another, as He has made 'one star to differ from another star in glory. "The great objects of humanity are best attained when conformed to His laws and decrees, in the formation of gov ernments, as well as in all things else. Our Confederacy is founded upon principles in strict conformity with these laws. This stone which was first rejected by the first builders is become the chief stone of the corner' in our new edifice. "The progress of disintegration in the old Union may be expected to go on with almost absolute certainty. We are now the nucleus of a growing power, which, if we are true to ourselves, our destiny, and high mission, will become the controlling power on this continent. To what extent accessions will go on in the process of time, or where it will end, the future will determine.” Apprehension seems to exist among the peoIt is scarcely questioned that this provision ple of the Southern States that by the accession of a Republican Administration their property claiming of what we call fugitive slaves; and was intended by those who made it for the reand their peace and personal security are to be the intention of the law-giver is the law. All endangered. There has never been any reasonable cause for such apprehension. Indeed, the the whole Constitution-to this provision as members of Congress swear their support to most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed and been open to their inspec- that slaves, whose cases come within the terms much as any other. To the proposition, then, tion. It is found in nearly all the published of this clause, "shall be delivered up," their speeches of him who now addresses you. I do oaths are unanimous. Now, if they would but quote from one of those speeches when I make the effort in good temper, could they not, declare that "I have no purpose, directly or with nearly equal unanimity, frame and pass a indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe law by means of which to keep good that I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Those who nominated and elected me did so with full knowledge that I had made this and many similar declarations, and had never recanted them. And more than this, they placed in the platform for my acceptance, and as a law to themselves and to me, the clear and emphatic resolution which I now read: unanimous oath? There is some difference of opinion whether this clause should be enforced by national or "Resolved, That the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the States, and especially the right of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its Again, in any law upon this subject, ought own judgment exclusively, is essential to the balance of not all the safeguards of liberty known in civipower on which the perfection and endurance of our polit-lized and humane jurisprudence to be introical fabric depend, and we denounce the lawless invasion duced, so that a free man be not, in any case, by armed force of the soil of any State or Territory, no matter under what pretext, as among the gravest of, surrendered as a slave? And might it not be crimes." I now reiterate these sentiments; and, in doing so, I only press upon the public attention the most conclusive evidence of which the case is susceptible, that the property, peace, and security of no section are to be in anywise endangered by the now incoming Administration. I add, too, that all the protection which, well at the same time to provide by law for the enforcement of that clause in the Constitution which guaranties that "the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States ?" I take the official oath to-day with no mental reservations, and with no purpose to construe the Constitution or laws by any hypercritical |