The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1860-12-28


if tho result Of the contest had been
the other way the Republicans would
have thre atened disunioni lie claim
ed that If Mr.. Lincoln was an honest
mar, he would administer the Con-
stitution faithfully. The. efore. say
to you. as far rs | am concerned,
will yield 10 no compromise. de-
not come here begging one. 1t would
be an indignity to the people re-
present il | was to stand here recre
ant to the rights of my party. We
have won our right to the Chief Ma
gistry, and if You were as willing tr
do justice to Others as to exact IRON
them, you would never iise to ask
f,r cn,n p-o",;o~- M".y ef ye~ step.
in an attitude hostile to this govern
ment when you threaten, unless VIC
to so and so, you will 60 out OF this
Union and destroy the government
| say in my private capacity | never
yield to anything by way Of threats
10 my public capacity, | have M
right to yield. Therefore, | would
not entertain proposition Tor com
promise. This long, chronic con
trovcrsy must be met upon the prin
ciplcs OF the Constitution. hope i
may be adjusted, but know Of nj
way except that laid down by tn,
Constitution Of the United States. -
When we go astray from that, W,
plunge ourselves into difficulties -
There are different ways OF constru
ing it, but, in my Judgment, 1t is tn,
wisest Constitution ever yet organ
lied, and am willing to stand by it
| ask for nothing more.
There ia another -sulject.. .ehnp
is claimed that you have q right t,
secede at your pleasure. cannot
find any warrant for doctrine like
that in the Constitution. In m,
judgment, it would be subversive o
constitutional obligations. Ifthat |,
80, we have no government. Il
would reduce this Union to a mere
conglomeration of states, to be h,lc
together at the will OF any caption,
member Of it. The state of Souti
Carolina is small state, and, pro
baby, il she wds sunk by an earth
quake, we should hardly find it ont
except by the unwontoJ harmony
which would prevail in this cha u,
bcr. say this from no i'll will.
think she is unwise. | aln willing
for her t. 90 out il she could do 20
without an example fatal to all gov.
ernment. But, standing here, my
wishes must be controlled by consti
iutional duty. | don't see how any
man can contend that q state can "a
out Ol the Uuion at pleasure. The
question was reviewed some thirty
years ago, and received a verdict
which it was supposed had set it a,
rest forever. By Gen. Jackson and
the men who surrounded him, il was
pronounced u dulusion, and utterly
disrup,ive Of all governments. Yet
here it is to day, blooming and fresh
Mr.. Calhoun, even, held to the doc.
trine that we have power to make
war on state. You will find this
doctrine in his long letter to Govern.
or Hamilton. acknowledge to the
fullest extent the right OF revolution
il you so call it a right to destroy
the government and erect another OF
its ruins, more in accordance will
your wishes. Bnt when you under
take it, you undertake it with this
provision: II you arc successful, al
is right. You are heroes. But, i
you are defeated, you are rebels.
That 10 the character OF revolution
il successful all well, if .unsnccessiu in
the government treats them as trait
tors. lIe did not see cause to ap
prehend that any party intended t
make war on the seeding states; h,
only asserted the right to do 30
they saw fit. lie would not, how
ever, counsel or advise any party Il
do il. lie would be very tender will
the rights of the people who wer'
about to break PIP the governmen
under which they had dellberatel,
come to the conclusion they coulc
not liye--but he apprehended tha
the position Of Republicans woult
compel them to take austere grOun1
Although a state secedes, they can
not recognize her right to go out o
the Union until shc gains the con
cent of the Union. Tho duty OF tn
Chief Magistrate is to execute tn
law in every part Of the government
lie cannot be released from this OF
legation. Nothing In the Constitu
ton of the United States will wal
rant his saying that a single star he
fallen. He is sworn not to kno'
that a state has seeded. and pay n
respect to resolutions that declal
she has done 80. In doing this,
does not follow that he must max
war upon her, but he should exc
else every federal right over her, I'll
most important Of which is the CO
lection ct the revenue. There al
many rights Tor the benefit ot Il
people Of state that might be di
pensed with. II they do not wal
the mails carried the President cou
, abolish the postoffices. They mig
/ not perhaps elect otiicers to SCI
I here, but they could do Ne they lik'
, about that. They have rightto.l
, perfectly represented here, but il tn,
choose to torego that privilege, it
| not incumbent upon the President
Ilforce them to send Representativ
. here. But the Chief M sgis,rste mu
/. collect the revenue precisely I
i came 90 IN every other state. !
i state can he released from that OBJ
tok.o,~,s IN. Sha Gno tttuttrn Nanun