New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1860-12-14

from tins property by force; bat If IN
this | should prove to be mistaken, the
officer in the command of the forts has
received orders to act strictly on the
defensive. In such''a contingency, the
responsibility for consequences would
rightfully rest upon the heads of the as
sailants. Apart from the execution of
the laws, SO far as this may be prac tea
bic, the Executive has no authority to
decide what shall be the relations be
tween the Federal Government and
South Carolina He has been invested
with no such discretion. He possesses
no power to change the relations here
toforc existing between them, much less
to acknowledge the independence of that
State. This would be to invest mere
Executive officer with the power ofrecog
nizi,g the dissolution of the Confedracy
AMONG cur thirty three sovereign States
1t has no resemblance to the recogni-
ton Of a foreign de.facto government
involving no such responsibility: any at
tempt TO do this would on his part be a
naked act of usurpatiou. 1t is, there
fore, my duty to submit to Congress
the whole question.in all its bearings.
The course Of events is s. rapidly
fastened forward that the emergency
may arrive when YOU may be called
upon to decide the momentous question
whether you possess the power, by force
ofarms to compel q State to remain
in the Union. I should feel myself rec
reant to my duty were I not to express
my opinion or the important subject.
The question fairly stated is: Has the
Constitution delegated to Congress the
power to force State into submission
which is attempting towithdrav, or has
actually withdrawn from the Confedera
cy? If answered in the affirmative, it
must be on the principle that the power
has been conferred upon Congress to de
clare and to make war against State.
After much serious reflection Il have
arrived at the conclusion that no such
power has been delegated to Congress
or to any other department of the Fede
raj Government, 1t is manifest, upon
an inspection of the Constitution, that
this is not among the specific and emu
merated powers granted to Congress,
aud / !. is equally apparent thatlts exer-
else is not necessary and proper for car
ryinp into execution anv one OF ttLcso
powers. So far from this power hay
ing been delegated to Congress, 1t was
expressly refused by the Convention
which framed the Constitution.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
1t is with great satisfaction I commu-
nicate the fact that, since the date of
my last annual message, not single
slave has been imported into the Uni
ted States in violation of the laws pro-
hibiting the African slave trade. This
statement is founded upon a thorough
examination and investigation Of the
subject. Indeed the spirit which pre-
vailed some time since among portion
Of our fellow citizens in favor of this
trade, seems to have entirely subsidized
l also congratulate you upon the public
sentiment which now exists against the
crime of setting on foot military expedi-
tons within the limits of the United
States, to proceed from thence and
make war upon the people of an unoi1en-
ding State with whom we are at peace.
In this respect a happy change has
been effected since the commencement
of my administration. 1t surely ought
to be the prayer of every Christian and
patriot, that such expeditions may nev-
or receive countenance in our country
or depart from our shores.
1t would be useless repetition to
do more than refer with earnest COM
incubation to my former recommends
ten in favor Of the Pacific Railroad,
of the grant of power to the President
to employ the naval force, or force in
the vicinity for the protection Of the
lives and property ofour fellow citizens,
passing in transit oyer the different
Central American routes, again,.. SUI 81
den and lawless outbreaks and depreda-
tons; and also to protect American
merchant vessels, their crews and car
goes, against violent and unlawful seiz-
ure and ccnfscation in the ports of
Mexico, and the South American Re-
puJiics, vixen those may be in q dis
turbed and revolutionary condition. 1t
is my settled conviction that without
such power, we cannot afford that pro
lection to those engaged in the COM
merce of the country which they have
right to demand.
II FIB'