Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-03-09

PERFORM III SO far as pfacucable, untcSs my
rightful masters, the American people, shall
withhold the requisite means, or ip.sonie du-
thorized nanncr direct the contrary.
I.trust this will not be, regarded MS men
sace, but as the declared purpose of the. Union
atisswill coastitutonalB defend and iiaip-
tain ITSELF in doing this there, need be.uo
bioodshed or violence, aud there shall be
none. unless it be forced upon the national au-
thofity.
The power confined to me viii be used to
hold. occupy ehd possess tho property and
places belonging to the Government, and to
collect the duties on imports; but beyond
what may DO necessary for these objects, there
will be no iurasion--ho using of force against,
or. .arming the people anywhere. Where hos
tility to the United Stptcs I'M any iiteFior To-
ca1ity shall be so great and so unusual AZ to
prevent competent resident citizens from
holding federal Offices, there will be no at
tempt to force obnoxiorS strangers among the
people foT that 9hjcSs. While :hs strict legal
right may exist in the Government to enforce
the exercise. Of these Offices, the ntlempt to
do so would be so Irrational, hnds0 heurly
mpmctcable witbaE thatI deem IL better to
fOrego, Tor the time, the uses of such Offices.
The mails, unless repelled, will continue to-
be furnished in all parts of the Union So
far as possible, the people eNerywhere shalt
have that se;,se of perfect security, which IN
most favorable to recall Thought and reflection,
The course here indicated win be followed i,
unless current events and experience shall
show II modification or change to be proper
and in every case and exigency my best dis
erection will be exercised according to circum
stances actually existing and with view and
hope OF a peaceful solution Of the national
troubles, and the restoration of fraterual sym-
pathics and affections. ~. ,,.
That there are persons in one section or
another who seek to destroy the Union at all
events, and are glad to do it, / will neither
affirm nor deny; but if there be such i will
address no wGrdto them. To those however,
who really love the Uqion, pIay not speak,
before entering Upon so grave a nlnttcr US the
destruction of our national fabric, with all its
benefits, its memories, its its,-hopes--would. it
not be wise to ascertain precisely why we do
it? viii you hazard so desperate a step,
while tbcretis any possibility TINT any portion
OF the ills you fly from have no real exis-
tencef Will you-whiIc the certain ills YOU
fly 10 are greater than all the real ones you
iy from will you risk the fearful commits
sion of so fearful a biistake.
All profess to be content in the Union if
all constitutional rights can be mnintaiued.-
Is It true, then, that any right pla;ulywrit-
ten IN the Constitutions has beeu denied? 1
thInk not Happily, tho human mind is So
constituted that no partcah reach to the au-
dacity Of doing this thing IfsSou,mr point
out, a SiqGle instance in which plainly writ
ten provision of the Constitution has. ever
been denied--if by the mere force Of mum
bers a majority should deprive uinority of
any clearly written constitutional right, it
might in moral point of view iustify reyo-
luton ! certainly would. if such. "a right
were vital one; hut such is not ourscase.-
All the vital rights OF minoritips and of in
diNldaals ,arease plninly} assured 30 them bv
athrmations and hcgatipns,' guarnnties aud
prohibitions in the Constitution. that con-
troyersies never arise concerning them, But
no organic law, can ever be framed with n
provision specifically applicable to every ouos
tion which may occur in practical admins
tration, No foresight can anticipate .iior any
document of n, reasonable length contain. ex-
press provisions fer all possible questions -
Shall fugitives from labor be surrendered by
National or State authority? The Constitu
tlon does not expressly say May Congress
prohibit shyery in tho. territories The
Copsfittutlop does, not expressly say Must Z
Congress protect, slavery in the territories p
The Constitution does mot exprrssly>say,---
From questions Of this class spring all our
constitutional controversies, and we. divide
npon them into. majortics and minoritics
IT the minority viii not.acqniesce the major
Try must, or, the government n,ust cease--
There IS 10 Other, alternative forscentinuipe
the Goyernnent, than. aeqniescenee on ono
sido or the ether. If, a minority in such
yc3Se- will seccde rather than aesoIiesoe thew
make preoedent, which in turn %ilLdiyide
and ruin them. for minority of their. owl,
twill secede from them Whenever u,maiority
refuses to be controlled by such MINORITY
For instance, why Duy not any portion Of
new contederacy, year or two hence, arbi-
! truiiy sscede agnin, precisely as PORTIONS of
the present Union now claim, to secede from,
! III All who cherish disunion sentiments
are being educated to the exact tcnpcr. of do
ing this.y, - 49,
Is there such perfect identity of, Interests
among tho Sttes to compose atnow ,Unai.to
produce har'nohY only, and prevent renewed
senessionY.. Plainly, the central idea of Sc
ocss'ah Is the cssepce Of anarchy. -r-,
| A majority; held:.in restraiht by constitu-
tionai checks MD linsitatioDs, and always
changing easily with dclibcrgte 1chanass of
p0pular opinions and sentiments, Is the only
true sovereign, OF 10 free penptc. Whoever
rejects it, docs of necessity Ay to aiinrthyor
Edespotispl. Immunity is impossible The
-rule Of minority, as. "a permanent arriSge-
ment, is wholly innddasSihlp So that, re-