The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-08

Wnhe IuRtuve siave>p now Oniy Potbey
rendered. would not be surrendered at oil oJ
the other.
Physically speaking we cannot separate
We cannot remove our respective sections
from each other. nor build up an impossible
wall between them. A husband and vile
may be divorced and go out Of the presence
and beyond the reach Of each other; but the
different parts of our country cannot do this.
They cannot but remain face to lace. snd In
tercourse, either amicably or with hostile
relations, must continue between them.
l. is possible then to make that intercourse
more advantageous or more satisfactory alter
separation than before Can aliens make
treaties easier than friends can make iswsf
Can treaties be more faithfully enforced De.
tween aliens, than laws can among friends
Suppose you 20 to war you cannot hght a..
ways, and when after much loss ON DOM
sides and no gain on either you cease hghtins'
the identical questions rs to terms oil inter-
course are again upon you.
This country, with its institutions, belongs
to the people who inhabit Il whenever they
shall grow weary Of the existing government
They can exercise their constitutional Iight
Of amending, or their revolutionary right 70
dismember or overthrow II.
cannot be ignorant Of the fact that many
worthy and patriotic citizens are DESTROYS OF
having the national Constitution amended.
While make no recommendation OF amend-
uent, fully recognize the authority OF the
people over the whole subject, to be exercised
In either of the modes prescribed In the In.
s,rument itself, and should, under existing
circumstances, favor, rather than oppose, a
fair opportunity being afforded the people to
act upon 1t.
I will venture to add that to me the conven-
ton mode seems preferable. in that II allows
amendments to originate with the people them.
selves, instead OF only permitting them 10
take a proposition originated by others not es-
peeially chosen for the purpose. and which
might not be precisely such rs they would
wish to either accept or refuse.
| l understand a proposed amendment to the
Constitution. which amendment have not seen
has passed Congress, to the effect that the Fed
eral Government shall never interfere with the
domestic institutions OF the States, including
| that of persons held to service.
To avoid misconstruction Of what have said,
depart from my purpose, not to speak OF par
ticular amendments so far as to say that hold
ing such provision TO now be implied consti.
tutional law. have no objection to its being
made express and ineyocable.
The chief magistrate derives all his authority
from the people, and they have conferred none
upon him to fix terms for the separation OF the
States. The people themselves can do this alone
| IL they choose; but the Executive, as such, has
| nothing 10 do with il. Ills duty Is to admins
ter the present government, AS II came 10 MS
hands. aud to transmit IL unmpaired by him to
his successor.
Why should there not be a patient confidence
| In the ultimate Justice Of the people Is there
| La. AL hmm In he n
sent differences Is either party without faith
Of being in the right, II the Almighty. Ruler OF
nations will with His eternal truth and justice,
| be on your side Of the North, or ON yours Of the
Southi That truth and that justice will surely
prevail by the judgment Of this great tribunal,
the American people.
by the frame OF the Government under when
we live the same people have wisely given their
public servants but little power for mischief, and
have with equal wisdom provided for the return
Of that little to their own hands at very short
| intervals.
While the people retain virtue and vigilance
| no administration Of any extreme OF wickedness
or folly can very seriously inJure the govern
ment in the short space OF four years.
Nv countrymen one and all think calmly and
well upon this whole subject, nothing valuable
can be lost by time IL there be an object TO hur-
nv any Of you In hot haste to step which you
would never take deliberately. That object will
be frustrated by taking time, but no good OBJECT
can be frustrated by il. Such Of YOU rs are now
dissatisfied still have the old constitution unim.
parted and on the sensitive point, the laws OF
your own framing under il while the new admin
is,ration have no immediate power II 1t would,
to change either.
lit were admitted that you, who are dissatis-
fed. hold the right side in the dispute, there
still is no single good reason for precptate &C.
ton. Allegiance, patriotism, Christianity, and
a firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsak.
en- this favored land. are still competent to adj
ust in the best way all our present difficulties.
In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow -coun-
trymen, not in mine, is the momentous issue OF
civil war. The government will not assail you.
You can have no conflict without being your
selves the aggressors. You have no oath regis
tered in Heaven to destroy the government.
while shall have the most solemn one TO pre-
serve, protect aud defend IL. l am 10th to close.
We are not enemies but friends. We must not
be enemies though passion may have strained
IL, IL must not break our bonds OF affection.
The mystic call oGmemory stretching from
every battle field and patriot grave to every
heart aud hearthstone all over this broad land,
will yet swell the chords Of the Union when
again touched-as surely they will be-by the
better angels Of our nature.