The constitutional union., 1860-12-07
uR. LLNCOLN'S PGLICT.

HpflnGheld, limos, few days since, an extract from which we find in the Cincinnati Commercial, which says the speech was in- spirod by Mr. Lincoln, and expresses his views in full. If this be so-and we sec no reason to doubt it--the speech is an import ant one, as being the first authoritative indi- cation of the policy of the new administra- tion respecting slavery and secession.
 Mr. Lincoln. although the candidate of the Republican party, as Chief Magistrate, will neither belong to that nor any other party When inaugulated, lie will be the President of the country, and the whole country; and | doubt not will be as ready to defend aud protect the State in which he has not received a solitary vote, against my encroachment upon its constitutional rights. as the one in which he has received the largest majority. While they, by whose votes he has been das- i@natcd as Chief Magistrate of this Republic, will expect him to maintain and carry for ward the principles on which he WAS elected. they know that in doing so, no encroachmeuts will De made on the reserved rights of any of the States. They know that the Federal Government is one of the delegated powers that 1t can do nothing except the authority for the act can be found iu the instrument which created 1t and that Ill powers not con- temad are reserved to the States or the people of the States. When their political oppo- nents have charged the Republicans with A5oltjouism or attributed to them q desire to interfere with slavery in the States, or some fanatic has insisted that they ought t0 do so the reply has invariably been, that the people who made the Federal Government did not think proper to confer on it such authority and 1t las therefore no more r;2ht tomcide with slavery in State than il ha- to meddie with serlIym in Russia. nor are tho people of nou-,Iayeho.jing States in any way responsible fer slavery in the States which tolerate it, because on Jhat question they are to each other d, Independent govern moats. have a5o1el in and l,r the Ec- publican organization, Wl.A entire confidence that whenever 1t should ba in power. each and al Of the States would De left in as complete control of their aUa affair. respect iycly, and at as perfect liberty t. chose and employ their own means oi protecting prop crty and preserving peace and order, within their respective limits as they have ever been under any admins ration Those who have voted iJr. Air. Lincoln have expected and still expect tAi-, Mt ,her woaIdH5t have voted for him htl they expected otherwise
 | regard 1t as extremely fortunate tyr the peace of the whole country, that this point, upm which the Republicans have Loen !, pc,-irgntiy mi-roPrc-ca.oj ia now to he brought to a practical test and placed hcyuuI che possibility {. doubt, It should De a matter of rejoic.u- to aii true Republicans, that ,AeynoT VII. have au o.r.uaAlr of demonstrating ty t."Ir l.laca, adgor,are. and tho world, that they arl na, ..r iutyt.r.- iu1 with tie d0ucsJec institutions of aug oG .Ae States and agcuottl advocates of fue-ro equality or amal -ama.on, with which pouti- cal damago4ues have so often charged thcm
 " hcu thI, is shown. t reaction will a~,ulcjiy take place iu favor of NyrubUcaai.u. Tho Southern mind even vii, bc ,ati-ael Tho rights ui Northern men wilt 1a respected aui ,4 ,a.tamal feeling cz.-lu- N the oIi.a
 lm4-, when mon from a.I ru..- of the co.a- try went forth together 0 battle Io. ! common cause. a-llu.l a common .no v will le .g- stored. HsUuonI-ts r..sa, oi w.lom Uaiog- .aa4,-lr there have been t.W in the cu,m- na" in hot haste 10 -e. oa, oi tae Union. pre- clsyIr because they perceive they cannot much longer maintain an apprehension among the Southern people that their homes and tige-.lcs and lives arc ta Ja cuJauaa.eI bv the ac.,uu Ji ,Ie Federal GvuuoGI With such now or never .5 tho maxim; hence thcv seek ,5 inaame the IutUcI Iu.uI V ui-rcwca ,Ae objects aud puTo ui Im Republican par,E with the hope y5 procipiJln- tae Southern States into position from which
 4ay cauuat without e~u0uar. afterwards --gaie. well knowing fl iLeg delay til after ,ha ne" administration is I3au-ura5eI and tc JeJ, twill furnish no cause Iat their complaints
 Sece ion i, an inpr.etleablirv or rather tn impo~s.bility The Constitution provides no way " which ~tote may withdraw from tJe Cn.au-no way for the dissolution ol the Government. It create, the General Gov-ra- mout-ntcrfl,cs but Htt'o with the iulnii- u.l ti ht- of citizens except tor protection, t i4 chiefly felt in it> benefit, aud it's bles-iu-~ and mt in iJs czacdou~. If every Federal officer in South Carolina were to resign and their office, remain vacant, oudi.s convention declare the Scte ou5 uf the Union. it would all amount b little cAcep. to inconvenience the citizens of th"t States <J-Iang as the SG.e did not inJaryey with jLo collection oG revenue ou the sea loari. the people in other portions of the Union uouI not be iu the
 least iuconvenionceI What is the South Carolina army to do wlcu Ta.sel> whom is t to fight? manae-ty if i, commences var on the United States officers puga.el in collect ing the revenue, ir bocomc, the aggrca sor. Ihi. would De revolution, and making war without cause, ior south Carolina makes mo complaint against tie present revenue laws.
 l. she prepared for tu;s1 i0 become the g-4rcszor? The only use can see Gur her "minuto men is, that they will enable the people the more readily to suppress any upri,- ing~ in their midst, which thcir misrcpe~cn- tations of the purposes of the Republicans may have been encouraged. She complain, that the fugitive slave my is not executed iu some of the States. This, if true, the whole country knows to De q sham, So fir as South Carolina is concerned. She is 50 situated that no slave can escape from her limits into free States. However much cause the border slave States may have to complain Of the escape of their negroes into the free States, 1t is clear South Carolina can have no such coll-