Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-12-26

hOerately come to the conclusion they could
not liye-but he apprehended that the
position of the Republicans would compel
them to take sustere ground. Although
a State seeedes. they cannot recognize her
right to 90 out of the Union until she gains
the consent of the Union. The duty Of
the Chief Magistrate is to execute the law
IN every part of the Government He
cannot be released from this obliglti1n.-
Nothing in the Constitution Of the United
States will warrant his saying that a sin
gle star has fallen. He is sworn not to
know that i State has seeded; and to pay
no respect 70 resolutions that declare that
she has done 81. In doing this it does not
follow that he must make war upon her.
but he should exercise every Federal right
over her. the most important of which is the
collection Of the revenue. There are many
rights for the benefit o. tie people of a State
that mieEt bedispeussd with. Ifthcy do not
want the mails carried the President could
abolish the Post Offices They might not
perhaps elect officers to send here. but
they could DO as they liked about that
They have a ight to be perfectly represent
cd here. but if they choose to foregs that
privilege it is not incumbent upon the
President to force them to send representa-
tives here. But the thief Magistrate must
collect the revenue precisely the sam as
in every other State. No State can be re-
leased from that Obligation, for the Consti-
tuition demands it. What follows? If
the seeding State shuts up her ports of
entry. SO that ships cannot diScsrge their
cargoeS: then ships will cease to % there;
or. if the Government blockades her ports
to collect revenue, she will not have glin-
ed her independence by secession. If she
will feel contented to live under this equivo-
cal state of thugs. all will be we'll. but she
cannot do so. What will she do? She
must takt the initiative and declare war
upon the United States. Then force must
be met by force. and she must hew out her
independence by violence and war. There
was no other way under the Constitution
that he knew of if a State seeded and de-
clared war. He did not suppose that there
was a lawyer IN the floor but what will
say that the act of leyying war is treason
against the United States. That is the
result and We may as well look the matter
in the face.
The Senator from Texas says-it is not
exactly his langpage-we will force you
10 an isnnmihiOus treaty up in Faneuil
Hall. We'll. sir. you may. We know
You are brave; We understand your prowess;
We want no fisht with you; but. nevertbc-
less, if YOU drive US to that ne ;essity. we
must use all the powers of this Govern
ment to maintain it intact in its integrity.
If we are ovcrthruwn. we but share the
fate Of Il thousasd other Governments that
have been subvcrted. If you are the
weakest. then you must go to the wall: and
that is all there is all abort it. That is
the condition in which we stand. provided
a State sets herself up in opposition to the
General g. rnment.
sly that is the way it seems to me-, as
4 lawyer. ! see no power in the COnstitu
ton to release j Senator from this posi-
ton Sir. if there was any other. if there
was an absolute right of secession IN the
Constitution of the United States when We
stepped up there to take our OatI of Office.
WHY was there not an exception IN that
oath? Why did it not run that We would
support the Constitution # the United
States unless our State shall secede before
our term was out?' Sir. there is no such
immunity. There is no way by which this
can be done that ! can conceive of. except
it is standing upon the Constitution of the
United States. demanding equal justice for
all. and indicating the old flag Of the
onion We must maintain it, unless We
are cloven. down by superior force.
Well. sir, it my happen that you can
make your way Ous Of the Union. and
that by levying war upon the Government,
you may yiudicate your right to indePen-
dence. If you should do 81. Aave a pro-
phecy IN my mind. No nan would regret
more than myself that any portion of the
people of these United States should think
themselves impelled, by grievances or any
thing else. to depart out Of this Union. and
rails. a foreign alg and Il hand against the
General Government If there was any
lust u en- Gods Garth that | could see
that was within my reach. of honorable
release from any such pretended grievence.
they should have it; but they set forth
! n | can sec none. 1t is all a matter
Of prejudice, superinduced unfortunately.
[ believe. as | intimated before. more be-
cause you have listened to the enemies Of
the Republican party and what they said
of us, while, from your intolerance, you
have shut out all light as to what our real
principles are. We have been called and
branded in the North and ia the South and
everywhere else. as john Brown men. as
men hostile to your institutions, as medita-
ting an attack uTon your institutions In
your own States thing no Republican
ever dreamed Of or ever thought of, but has
protested againsta as often as the question has
been up, but your people believe it No
doubt they BELIEVED it because of the terrible
excitement and reign Of terror that prevails
there. No doubt they think SO, but it
from false information, or the want
of information that is all. Their pre-
JUDGES have been appealed to until they
have become uncontrolled and uncontrolla-
bic
Well. sir. if it shall be so; if that "glori-
Gus Union" as we all call it. under which
the Government has so long lived and pros
pered. is now about to come to a final end,
as perhaps it may. l have been locking
around tn see what policy we should adopt;
through that gloom which has been
on the other side, if you will
have it so. 1 still Sc. a glorious future for
who stand by the old flgO of the ma
ton. There lie the fair fields Of Mexico
al befure US The people the c are pre-
iudiced against you. They fear you IN
tend to overrun and %enslsve them. You
ire 4 slave propaganda, and you are fill
That has raised a violent an