The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-03-08
THE JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRAT.

sicelly speaking, wo cannot separate (;
we cannot remove our respective sections
from each other, nor build an impossible
wall between them. A husband and wife
may be divorced and go out Of the presence
Of aud beyond the reach Of each othor, but
the different parts of our country cannot do
this They cannot but remain face TO face.
aud intercourse, either amicabo or hostile,
must continue between them. Is IL possible
then, to- make that intercourse moro advan-
taeeous or moro satisfactory uftor separa-
ton than bofore1 Can aliens mako treaties
bettor than friends can mako laws: Can
treatcs bo moro faithfully enforced between
alions than laws can among friends Sup.
poso you go to war, you cannot fight always,
! and when after much loss on both sides and
no gain on either, you cease fighting, the
| identica questions us to terms of intercourse
are ngnin upon you. This country with its
! institutions belongs to tho people who in.
habit it. Whenever thoy shall grow weary
of tho existing Government, thoy can cxer.
cise their constitutional right in amending,
or their revolutionary right to dismember or
overthrow it. | cannot be ignorant Of the
fact that many worthy and patriotic citizens
nro dosirous of having the national COnsti-
tuition amended. While | make no recon.
mendation of amendment, fully recognize
tho full uuthoiAy of tho people over tho
whole subject, to DO exercised in either of
tho modes prescribed in tho instrument
itself. and should under existing circum,
stances favor rather than oppose fair OPP
portunIty being afforded tho pooplo to act
upon IT, I will venture to add, that to mo
! tho Convention mude sooms preferable, in
that il deems amendments to originate with
i,I. L.. ina 1f,f nnIy
mitiing them to tako or reject propositions
originated by others not especially chosen
for tho purpose, and which might not pro.
cisoly suit as they would wish others to ac-
1 cert or refuse
/ understand proposed amendment
10 the Constitution which amendment,
however. | have not seen) has passed
Congress, to the effect that the Federal
Government: shall never interfere with the
domestic institutions of States, including
that of persons held in service. To avoid
misconslruction OF what l have said,
depart from my purpose not to speak OF
particular amendments, so far as TO say
that holding such provision TO now be
implied constitutional law, have no oh
lection to its being made express and ir.
revocabe. The Chief Magistrate derives
all his authority from the people; and
they have conferred Lone upon him TO
fx the terms for the separation Of the
States. The people themselves also can
90 this if they choose, but the Executive
as such has nothing to Go with it. His
duty is TO administer the present Govern.
ment as it came to his hands, and 10
transmit it unimpaired by him TO his sue.
cessor. Why should there not he a
patient confidence in the ultimate justice
Of the people? Is there any better oi
equal hope in the world? In our presen
/, difficulties, is either party without faith o.
being in the right? 1.-THE Almighty Ruler
of nations, with His eternal truth and jus
tice, be on the side Of the North, or or
} yours Of the South, that truth and
J Justice will surely prevail by the judgmen
! Of this great ibunal, the great Ameri
can people. BY the frame OF The govern
ment under which we live, this same peo
pie have wisely given their public servants
= but little power for mischief, ard hav'
= with equal wisdom provided for the re
= turn OF that little to their hands at yer,
i short intervals. While the people retail
y their virtue and vigilance, no Administra
Z ton by any extreme wirkedness or foil,
J, : can very seriously injure the Governmen
in the short space of four years. M.
y countrymen, one and all, think calml,
@ and well upon this whole subject
J. Nothing valuable can be lost by taking
time. II there be an object TO hurry an,
}. of you in hot haste TO step which yoI
9 would never take deliberately. that obiec
o will be frustrated by taking time. But n
u u good object can be frustrated by it,
, Such of you as are now dissatisfied. sii
n have the old Constitution unimpsired, AM
Y on the sensitive point OF laws OF your ow
!. framing under it, by the new Adminstra
a ton, will have no immediate cause (
!. change either. lit were admitted tina
y you who are dissatisfied hold the righ
= side. Of dispute, there is no single reaso
!, for precipi,aie action. Intelligence, pat
+. rioiism, christianity and firm reliance o
,s Him who has never yet forsaken this IA
e vored land, are still competent to adjus
!: in the bes: way all our present difficulties
% In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow
, countrymen, and not in mine, is the mo
mentous issue OF civil war The Govern
i mant will not assail you. You can hav
a no conflict without being yourselves tn
II aggressors. You have no oath reg:stere
= in Heaven 10 destroy the Government
9 while shall have The most solemn one
IS TO preserve, protect and defend il. I at
% 10th to close. We are not enemies. bu
B" friends. We must not be enemies
" Though passion may have strained,
% must not break our bonds Of action
l The mystic chords Of memory ssretche
'g from every battlefield and patriot grave
10 every loving heart and hearth. stone a
n over this broad land, will yet swell III
q chorus Of the Union, when again touchtl
is as they surely will be. by the better al
~ gels Of our nature. ......
at Report of the Committee of Five.
Ay The House select committee of fvo G