Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-04

II
repealed, than to violate any Of them, trusting
md imPunity In having them held 70 be uncor
stitutional.
It lis seventy two ears since the first inaugur,
| tlon OF President under our national Constit
ton. During that period fifteen different an
greatly distinguished citizens have, In succession
administered the executive branch Of the govern
ment They have conducted IL through man
| periis; and, generally, with great success, YET
with all this scope for precedent. now enter upo
| the same task for the brief constitutional term O
| four years, under great and peculiar difficulty
disruption Of the Federal Onion heretofore Onl
menaced, is now formidably attempted
/ hold. that In contemplation Of universal law
ana OF the Constitution, the Union Of these State
perpetual PerPetuity is implied, II not ex
pressed, In the fundamental law Of all nationa
| governments. IL Ia safe to assert that no govern
ment proper ever had a provision in lis organi,
| law Tor iu own termination. Continue to execute
an the express provisions Of our national Consti
/ tuition, and the Union will endure forever-it be
Ing impossible to destroy IT, except by some actor
not provided for in the instrument Itself.
Again, IL the United States be not goyernmen
proper but an association Of States In the natur,
OF contract merely, can II, as contract, be peace
| ably unmade, by less than all the parties whs
| made ie One party to a contract may vioIat,
lt-oreak IL, 90 to speak; but does II not REQ uir,
| all 70 lawfully rescind TT
| Descending from these general principles, we
ma the proposition that In legal contemplation
the Union Is perpetual, confirmed by the history
| OF the Union it.ef The Union is much oldel
the Articles Of Association In IVA IL was ma.
tured and continued by the Declaration of Inde-
pendence In 1776. Ii was further matured and
tne iath OF all the then thirteen States expressly
plghted and engaged that IL should be perpetual,
6y the Articles Of Confederation in ITS And
finally, In l7s7, one of the declared objects for
ordaining and establishing the Constitution, was
ITO form more perfect Kni0n."
But IL destruction of the Union nv one n, nv I,
part only Of the States, be lawfully possible the
Union is less perfect than before, the Consultation
having lost the vital element Of perpetuity
IL follows from these views that no State upon
its own mere motion, can lawfully get out Of the
Union,-that reSoIres and ordinantss TO that effect
are legally void and that acts Of violence, within
any State or States, against the authority of the
United States, are insurrectionary or revolution
airy, according to circumstances
i therefore consider that, in view of the Copsti-
tuition and the laws, the Union is unbroken and
to the extent Of my ability I shall take care, as
the Constitution Itself expressly enjoins upon me-
that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed
In all the states. Doing this deem TO be only
simple duty on my part and shall perform it, so
far as practicable, unless my rightful masters The
American people, shall withhold the requisite
means, or in some authoritative manner rect the
contrary, | trust this will not be regarded as a
menace, but only as the declared purpose of the
Union that Il riH constitutionally defend and
maintain itself.
In doing this there needs to be no bloodsbed or
violence and there shall be none, unless II be
forced upon the national authority The power
conhded TO me will be used to hold, occupy and
possess the property and places belonging to the
Government, and to collect the duties and i'm
posts but beyond what may be necessary for
these objects, there will be no invasion,-nousing
OF force against or among the people anywhere
where hostility to the United States in any inte-
rior locality, shall be so great and universal
20 prevent com petent resident citizens from hold
ing the Federal offices, there will be no attempt
to force obnoxious strangers among the people for
that object. While tie strict legal right NAV
exist in the government TO enforce the OF
these offices. IN do he g.,
ritating. and so nearly impfacticable with all, I
deem 1t better to forego for the time, the uses Of
such offices.
The mails, unless repealed, will continue 20 be
furnished In all parts Of the Union. So far as pos
sible, the people everywhere shall have tat sense
OF perfect security which Is most favorable to
calm thought and reflection. The course here In
dica.ed will be followed, unless current events
and experience shall show a modification. or
change to be proper, and in every case and exl-
gency, my best discretion will be exercised, &C
with view and hope of a peaceful solution of
the national troubles, and the restoration of fra
ternal sympathes aud affections.
That there are persons in one section or another
who seek to destroy the Union at all events and
are glad Of any prstext 10 do IL, will neither az
firm or deny; but If there be such, I need address
no word to them To those, however, who really
love the Union, may not speak?
Before entering upon so grave a matter as the
destruction OF our national fabric, with all its
benefits, Its memories, and Its hopes, would IL
not De wise 10 ascertain precisely why we do it,
WIN You hazard so desperate a step, while there
Is any possibility that any portion Of the ills you
fy from have no real existence? VIII you, while
the certain ills you fly to- greater than all the
mission Of so fearful mistakef
All profess TO be content in the Union, IL
all constitutional rights can be maintained
Is 1t true then that any right plainly written in
the Constitution, has been denied! 1 think not
Happily the human mind Is so constituted that no
party can reach to the audacity Of doing this.
Think, II you can, Of a single instance in
which plainly written provision of the Consti-
tuition has ever been denied H. by the mere force
Of numbers, majority should deprive minority
OF any cleaTly-written constitutional right, Il
might, In a moral point Of view, justify revolu-
tion-ceriainly would, If such right Were vital
one But such is not our ALI the vital rights
Of minorities and Of individuals plainly as
sured to them, by affirmation and negotiation,
guarantees and provisions, in the Constitution,
that controversies never arise concerning them.
But no organic law can ever be framed with a
provision specifically applicable to every question
which may occur In practical administration.
No foresight can anticipate, nor any document
OF length contain express provisions for
all possible questions. Shall fugiuves from labor
be surrendered by national or by State authority !,
The Constitution does not expressly say. Nov
Congress, prohibit slavery in the territories' The
Constitution does not expressly say. Must Con-
gress protect slavery In the territories! The Con-
stitution does not expressly say
From questions Of this class spring all our con-
trovefses, az we divide upon them into matorities
and nfnorities. IL the minority will not ACC III
esce, the majority must, or the Government must
cease. There is no other aftermath ve for contnu-
ing the Government, is acquiescence on one side
or the other. IL minority, In such case,
will secede rather than acquiesce, they make a
precedent which, In turn, will divide and ruin
them; for a minority of their own will secede
from them whenever a majority refuses 10 be con-
trolled by such minority. For instance, why may
not any portion Of a new confederacy, a wear or
two hence, arbitrarily secsde again, precisely as
portions Of the present Union now claim to secede
from IL. All who cherish disunion sentiments
are now being educated to ne exact temper Of
doing this
is there such a perfect identity Of interests
among the States to compose a new Union, an to
produce harmony only, and prevent renewed
secession Plainly, the central idea Of sece,-
sion is the essence of anarchy. majority
held in restraint by constitutional checks and
Limitations, and always changing easily with
deliberate changes of popular opinions and
sentiments is the only true sovereign Of a free
people. Whoever rejects IL, does of necessity, fiy
to anarchy Or to despotism. Unanimity is i'm
possible; the rule Of minority as permanent
arrangement, is wholly inadmissable; SO that re-
jectng the majority principle, anarchy or despot-
ism in some form is all that is left.
] do not forget the position assumed by some,
that constitutional questions are 10 be decided by
the Supreme Court; nor do deny that such de-
cisions must be binding in any case, upon the
parties to suit to the object of that suit while
they are also entitled to very high respect and