The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-12-08
BENZ. TURNER, PUBLISHER
NO. 10


pected, at the very time when the condition q
the country imperiously demanded such modif|
cation of the duties as should reduce them to
lust and equitabls scale But, as if app;d
hensve of the effect Of this change, in allayin|
your discontents, you were precipita,ed into III
| f'arful state in which y0u now find yourselves
have urged you to look to the means thai
were used to hurry you on TO the position yo|
have now assumed, and forward TO the consc
quences it will produce. Something more is nee
essary. Contemplate tte condition Of that com
tTy of which yuu still form an important part Il
CONSIDER its government uniting in one bond %
common interest and general protection SO many
different States-giyiRg 10 all their inhabitant
the proud title of American citizens--protectin
! thr literature and their arts-faciiitating thci
MISUNDERSTANDING their frontcrs-
and making then names respected in The remote
parts IF The earth! Consider the extent Of id
Territory, is increasing AMI happy population, it
advance in arts, which render If, agreeable. am
Ike sciences which elevate the mind SEE cdu
cation spreading The light ofrlirion, huiasuity
ard g neal information, iuto every cottage ID
This wide rNtnt Of on; Territories AMI States
Behold it as the asylum where the wretche
and the oppressed find a refuge and support
Look on this picture ofhappiness and honor, an
say, WE, TOO, ARE CITIZENS or AMERICA
Carolina is one Of these proud States; her arm1
have def.ndcd-her bsst blood has cemcnied thi
happy Union! And then mid, If you can, with
out horror and remorse, this happy Union w|
will dissolve-this picture Of peace and prosper
ty W. viii jciacc-this free intercourse we VIII
nt.rrGpt--thase fertile fields We VIII d,nge vii
blood-th" protection of that glorions flag we re
nouucc--the yfIy name Of Americans we discard
And for what, mistaken men for what do YOU
throw away these inestimablc blcssngs-f,|
what would you exchange your share in Tia
advantages and honor Of the Union For Ga
dream a separate indsp,ndence--a dream Of 1
separate iniependrnec---a dream Interrupted b!
bloody conflicts with yoHt ncigibors, and VII,
dependence IN foreign powe~. If you|
leaders ronld succrcd in ESTABLISHING sep
aIation, what would be your situation Ard
you united at home-are you free from. the appre
hension of civil discord with all Us arful consc
qurnces DO our neghbo'ing republics, every
day suffering some new revolution or contenGind
with some new revolution or con,ending will
some new insurrection-lo they excite your en-
wy But the dictates Of a high duty oblige m|
soiemnly to announce that you cannot succeed
The laws of the Unted States must be executed
have no discretionary power on the subject
fltttt- hat
s.tution. Those who told you that you migh|
pracaabiy prevent their execution deceived yO
they could not have been deceived themselves
They know that a forcibIe opposition could aon
prevent the execution Of the laws, and they know
such opposition must b. rcpelied. Their Object
is Disunion but BE- not deceived by names Dis
union by armed force il treason Are you rcady
to incur its guilt! If you are, on th|
heads OF the insigators of the act b. ;hc dreadful
conscqucnces-on their heads be- the di>hon)y
but on yours fall ;he pupishmont-on your I'M
happy STATE viii inevitably fall all the evils of tn
conflict yor fore" rpon the government Of you
country. il cannot aceedc 90 In. mad project 4
Dsunion, Of which you would BE- tn" first victim
its FIRST magistrate cannot, if he would, ayoi,
The performance OF his dujy-tlle consequence
must b. irartHl 70. yoa, distressing to yogr I'll
ow-citi2cns here, and 10 III. friends Of good GOV
eminent throughout the world. It's enemies hay
h,hrld cur prosperity with Ycxaticn the
could not concch-it was "A standing riu'atioi
Of th.if siavish doctrines, and they wiz point d
our diacord with the triumph Of malignant ioy|
it IS yet in your power 90 disaPpont tbom. Their
is yet time to show that the descendants Of Cd
P.uchnoys, th" ;1umptcrs. ;hn Eul'",'a, aud 81
,hr Thousand other names WrCu adoll the paced
Of ycur revolutionary history, wild not abandon
mat Union, To support which $50 many Of tLru|
fought and Gid. 1 adGre you, IS you EonoI
liItr r3apury--;}s YoH love til" cause 80 freedom
70 which ia J dedicated their Iycs--as you priz
the pace ut your country, the lives Of it bss|
81 LIENS, and your own iat ttH'- 10 rriroc yuu|
steps Snatch from tie archives If your Sat-
the disorgan,zirg cdict # las cCuvcntion--bi,
it, members 90 rrasscut!ir aui piOnuigate I'd
decided expressions of yoUr wiz to remain u
the path which alone can condGCt you to safety
prosperity, and EnnOr--te,l ;hcIn that, compared
to Disuuou, ail other evils ara light. bucaus
that brings with it an accumulation oi all--dc|
clare that you WI ncy", td.r Ia. .,.id unless th|
yta3-snnGlad barn - Of vour country shall fpa|
Over you--iAat You viii MT A2 sligaA;izri whe
dead, and d.honorci aul stoIrd white you lv,
~ the authors OF tie first attack on ,h Const
tuition Of your country. j. acstioyers yJi can
not be-. You may dis:ub is parc--Jou ma,
interrupt the course Of is propu.fy-you ma
cloud il, reputation for stah.ty--hu, is tranquil
ity VIII b. restored, its prosperity viii return
and the stain upon It's national charar'cr VIII bn|
transferred and remain an eternal blot on th1
m"u0ryoof those who caused the disorder.
FellOw-Citiz,ns at the United States Th|
threat cf unhallowcd Di5uu0u, tn, Ham.s 81
those (oncc rcspcctrd) by whom il is uttered, tii
array of military ioice 10 support it, denote th|
approach of a crisis in our a.tails, on wEich th
continuance Of our unrxampled prosperity, on
political existence, and perhaps thai of al FREE
governments may depend. Tn" cOujUnc.urc d
manded free, a full, and explicit cnunciaiion
not only Ofmy intentions, but Of my principles Of
acton; and as the claim was asserted OF righ|
by State to annpl the laws Of the Union am
even 30 sccede from it at pleasure, a frank expOSi
ton of my opinions, in relation 10 the origin and
form Of our government, and the construction
give 10 the instrument by which it was created
seemed to be proper. Having the iullos' conf
dence in the BUSINESS OF the legal and constitution
al pptIicr At my duties which has l,pu