Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-03-08

IN all the states. Dong this, | deem TO be
only simple duty on my part. shall per-
feotly perform it so far as is practicable. unless
my rightiul masters, the American people
shall withhold the roqusition, or in some au-
thoritativc manner direct the contrary, trust
this will not be regarded as a menace. but
only as the declared purpose Of the Union
that it will consttutonally defend and main
tain itself. In doing this there need be no
blood shed or violence; and there shall be
mono unless forced upon the national author
ity.
Tho power confdcd to me will be used to
hold, occupy and possess the property and
places belonging to the government, and coll
leot the duties aud imports; but beyond what
may be necessary for these objects there will
be no invasion, no using Of force against or
amongst the people, anywhere. Where hos
Utility to the United States shall be great and
so universal as to prevent competent resident
citizens from holding the federal offices, there
will no attempt to force obnoxious strangers
among the people that object While the
strict legal right may exist Of the government
20 enforce the exercise Of these offices, tho
attempt to do so would be so irritating and
so nearly mpracticable withal that deem it
better to forcgo for the time tho use Of such
Offices. The mails, unless repealed. will con-
tinue TO be furnished in all parts Of the Union
so far as possible. The people everywhere shall
have the sense OF perfect security, which is
most favorable to calm thought and reflection.
The course here indicated will be followed
unless current event and experience shall show
a modification or change to be proper, and in
every case and exigencY, my best discretion
will DE exercised according TO the circum-
stances, actually existing and with view and
hope of peaceful solution Of the national
troubles. and the restoration Of fratornal SYM
pathios and affection.
DtsUNroN is ANARCHY.
That there are persons in one section or
another who seek to destroy the Union at all
events, and are glad of any pactense TO do it,
| will neither affirm or deny; but if there
should be such, | need address no word to
them. To those, however, who really love
the Union, may | not speak Before enter
ing upon so great matter as the destruction
of our national fabric with all its benefits.
its memories, and its hopes, would it not be
well to ascertain precisely why you do it -
! VIII you hazard so desperate a step while
there is any possibility that any portion of
the ills you fly from have no real existence
VIII you, while the certain ills you fly to are
greater than all the real ones you fly from
| VIII you risk the commission of so fearful a
mistake All profess to be content in the
Union, if all constitutional rights can be main
tanned. Is it true then that any right plainly
written in the constitution has been denied
| think not. Happily the human mind is so
constituted that no party can reach the audac-
ity Of doing this. Think if you can, Of a
single instance in which plainly written pro-
vision Of the constitution has ever been de-
MED. If by the mere force of numbers a ma
jority should deprive a minority of any clear
ly written constitutional right it might, in a
moral point of view, justify reyolution-cer-
tainly it would, if such right were a vital one.
But such is not the case. All the vital rights
Of minorities and individuals are so plainly
assured to them by afiirmations and negations
guarantees and prohibitions, in the consttu-
ton, that controversies never arise concerning
them: but no organic law can ever be framed
with provision specially applicable to every
question which may occur in practical adj
mnistration /; no foresight can anticipate,
nor can any document of reasonable length
contain express provisions for all possible
questions. Shall fugihves from labor
be surrendered by National or by State
authority The Constitution does not ex-
pressly say. Must Congress protect slavery
expressly say. From questions of this class
spring all our constitutional controversies, and
we divide upon them into maiorities and mi
norities. If the minority will not acquiesce,
the majority must, or the Government must
cease. There is no other alternative for CON
tinuing the government, but acquescence on
one side or the other. If the minority in such
a case will secede rather than acquiesce, they
,Vh in NIL
and ruin them for minority of their own
will secede from them whenever majority
refuses to be controlled by such minority
For instance, why may not any portion of a
! new confederacy, a year or two hence, arbi
trarily sccede again precisely portion o
| the present union now claims to secede from
! iii
All who cherish disunion sentiments ar,
now being educated to the exact temper o
doing this. Is there such identity of inter
ests among the States to compose new I'm
| ion, to produce harmony only and prevon
renewed secession Plainly, the central idei
| of secession is the essence of anarchy.
majority held in restraint by constitutions
checks and limitations, and always changing
easily with the deliberate changes OF popula
opinion and sentiment, is the only true soye
reignty Of free people. Whoever reject
it does of necessity fly to anarchy or to des
potism. Unanimty is impossible the rul
of a minority as permanent arrangement j
wholly nadmissibe ; so that rejecting the ma
jority principle, anarchy or despotism in som
form is all that is left.
THE SUPREME COURT.
do not forget the position assumed b.
some that Constitutional questions are to b
decided by the Supreme Court, nor do den
that such decisions must be binding in an
case upon the parties to a suit as to the Oh
jects of that suit. While they are also en-
titled to very high respect and consideration
in all parallel cases by all other department
of the Government, and while it is obviousl
possible that such decision may be erroneou
in any given case, still the evil effect follow
ing it being limited to that particular case
with the chance that it may become proceed
J ent for other cases, can better be borne tina
could the evils of different practice. A
the same time the candid citizen must comics
that if the policy Of the government upon vita
questions affecting the whole people is to b
irrovocably fixed by decisions Of the Suprem
Court, the instant they are made in ordinar
litigation between parties in personal actions