The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-08-08

fidelity, unmoyed by policy, TO the Constitu-
ton they bequeathed to US. / hold that f.
deity to the Constitution of the United
States, in all its parts and in all its obliga-
tons, is the condition of the American
Union, and of its perpetuation. That Con-
stitution was framed and transmitted by the
wisest generation of men that ever lived
1t may be called an inspired instrument. 1t
answered them in an early day; it has an
swered our purpose; it is good enough for
our posterity to keep it pure.
Fellow-citizens, every human being in the
United States, whatever may be his position,
has resting upon him as a citizen personal
obligation to see that the true character OF
the Confederacy is preserved. Each in his
place is responsible, and no man can cast off
the obligation. We must abide by that
Constitution. We must not cast away its
obligations and duties on the one hand, nor
claim for it powers not contained therein
The moment we do that, we change the char
acter of the Government. The moment we
violate one principle of the Constitution for
policy, that moment it ceases TO be the Gov
eminent our fathers gave us; and when once
we have drifed away from the landmarks of
the fathers of the Government we may find
that the system of Government has been
changed. What are two or three of the
fundamental principles of the Constitution !
assert, without fear of successful contradic-
ton anywhere, that the great fundamental
principle underlying it is the equality of the
States of the Union. They were equal and
Independent sovereigns before that instru-
ment was framed. 1t was framed to preserve
and certainly not to violate this equality
The Government is a confederation of equals,
and the very moment that applied to States,
or the citizens of the States, or TO property
of citizens of the States, YOU discriminate
between one citizen and another, you dscrim-
mate between one description of property Ie-
cognised in one State and that in another,
and that very moment you change the char
acter of the Governm that moment YOU
destroy the equality of the States and their
citizens and that moment you degrade one
portion of the confederacy, and it becomes
a union of some States and some provinces.
Now, fellow-citizens, growing out of this
doctrine of the equality of States, which, in
the abstract, no man will deny, rose the du-
ty of the Federal Government to protect the
rights of citizens and their properly, every
where within its jurisdiction, whenever it
shall be proper and necessary to do so. I'm
der the flag of the Union the citizens of Mas
sachusctts, Michigan, and Vermont had the
same rights, no more, no less, as the citizens
of Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas. That
proposition is indisputable. forbear to APP
ply it; but | lay it down as a fundamental
idea. Another fundamental idea is the dis
ISOLATION Of Government from every system
of religious faith. This is given us by the
Constitution. Happily for us, no serious at
tack is made upon it now in any quarter
The Government is also charged with the
preservation of order. Then if we associate
and maintain these fundamental principles,
freedom from religious tests, the duty Of
Government to protect the citizen and his
property, recognised as such, and the equal-
ty of the States of the Union, and the equal
ty of the rights Of the citizens in their per-
sons and property, We never can 90 wrong
And we have a chart by which we may ey-
or steer in smooth water and over pleasant
seas. hold these principles as a portion of
those of which stand to-day as the repre-
sentative. believe these principles are es-
sential to the continued existence of this
Union upon the principles upon which it was
originally framed. | believe that Upon al
herring to them the freedom of our Confcder-
acy will long continue, and the Union of
prosperous and happy States be Preserved
Then let us do 1t. Let us look each for HIM
self upon this question. Fellow-citzens, why
not adhere to the principles which every man
in the Commonwealth, by their voices and
votes, declared year ago were principles of
the Constitution!
Fcllow-citizens, find, however, that, be-
trayed by your kindness, | am wandering in
to saving more than | intended. Ny lips
from this time forth are Of course scaled
| have laid before YOU principles which be-
licve to be essential to our peace and our
Union. pass that question over to Ken
tucky. ! pass it over and place it in charge
Nf her gallant and patriotic sons. 1t is now
for Kentucky herself to determine and asccr-
tain her own sense of her own rights in this
Confederacy. | feel, fellow-citizens, that per
sonal considerations are entirely ont of the
question. Men upon this occasion are moth
ing more than the light dust in the balance.
The great cause of the Constitution and the
Union is everything; and if another were in
my place, and had a voice to speak, and
was free TO canvass this Commonwealth for
him, l would say men are nothing, principles
arc everything. Come, Kcntuckians prove
that you are not degenerate sons of the men
of '9s! Assert the equality of your Com
monwpaIth In this GALAXY Of CopfaJarsted Pc