The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-03-15

provision was intended by those who made II
for the reClainng of what we call fugitive
slaves, and the intention OF the law giver IS the
law.
All members of Congress swear their support
to the whole Constitution to this provision a.
much as any other. 10 the proposition then
shat slaves whose cases come WITHIN The terms
OF this clause and shall br delivered up, thru
oathS are nnaEimouS. Now, if they would
make the effort IN good temper, could they not
with nearly equal unanImIy frame aud pass
law by means OF when to Keep good that u
DanImDa- OATH. Iherr Is some difference uf o.
plnl0u whether ,aS clause should be enforced
by National or State authority, out surely that
difference not a very material one. If the
slave IS not TO be surrendered It can be of but
little consequence TO hun or 10 others ~ which
authority II is done, and should any one 10 any
case be content that his oath shall De unke9t or
a merely unsuo5taniia! controversy as to how
It shall OF kept
Again in any law upon this subject ought 10.
all tue safeguards OF liberty known IN civilized
aud humane jurisprudence to be introduced SO
that a freeman may not De in any case surren-
dered as slave /! And might It not be we'll at
the same time, to provide by '!aw for the en-
which guarantees that the citizens ofeach Slate
shall be entitled to all the provisions aud i'm
munitirs of ciilzrnS OF the several States |
take the Official oath to-day, with no mental
reservations and with no purpose TO construe
the Constitution or laws by any hyPercrlllcal
rules, and while do not choose nov to speci-
fy particular acts OF Congress proper to be en-
forced, | do suggest that II will be much safer
for all, both ia official aud private stations, 10
conform to and a0Ide by all those acts which
staad unrepealed, than 10 violate any of them
trusting to tind Impunity in haVine them held
10 be unconstitutional.
It IS seventy-two years since the first Inau-
garatlon OF a President under our National
Constitution during that period fifteen differ
ent and greatly distinguished citizens have, in
succession administered the executive branch OF
the government. They have conducted /:
through many peris and generally with great
success, yet with all this scope for precedent [
now enter upon the same task for the brief
Constitutional term OF four years under great
and peculiar difficulty. a disruption OF the
Federal Union, heretofore only menaced, IS now
tornidably attempted,
hold that in contemplation OF universe
law aud Of the Constitution the Union of the
States is perpetual l-peFpetuity IS implied Il not
expressed in the fundamental law OF all national
governments.
lis safe to assert that no Government proper
ever had a provision its organic law fol IFS
own termination. Continue TO execute all tbp
express provisions of our national Constitution
and the Union will endure forever, it being
impossible to destroy 1t except by some action
not provided for in the instrument itself A
gain, ii the United States De not a government
proper, but an association States IN the na-
ture OF contract merely, can it, as contrac. BE-
pcaceabiy unmadr by less than all the parties
VITO made it One party to a contract may
violate it, break 1t, So to speak, bat does it not
require all to lawfully reScind ii Descen- |
ding from these general principles We find the
proposition that in legal contemplation the u |
Nor Is perpetual, and confirmed by The History |
Of the Union itself; The Union is much Older |
than the Constitution.
It was formed in fact by the articles of asso- |
cIatlon III l77+. II as maured and contIn- !
upd by lhr Declaration OF Independence in IT. |
rs. Ii was further matured and the faith OF
all the thirteen States expressly plghted and
engaged, that il should be perpetual by the ar
ticles OF Confederation IN 1878, and finally, 10 !
1889. Onp of the declared objects Cor ordain-
ing and establishing The constitution was to form |
more perfect union but If the destruction OF |
the Union by one or by part only of the
States be- lawfully possible, the Union is less
than before the Constitution, having lost the VI
al element OF perPrtuity.
It follows from these views, that no State up
on its own mere m1tion, can la aVfully get out
II thu Union that resolves and ordinances to
that eff Ct are !tg4ly void and that acts OF
violence within any State or States against the
authority OF the United States, are inSurFectlon-
ar. or revolutionary according to circumstances.
] therefore consider that ia vle@ Of the ConstI
tulon and laws, the Union Is unbgoken, and to
the best OF my ability shall take care as the
Constitution itself expressly eOjoin> on me, that
th- laws of the Uaion be faithfully executed 10
all the States. Dong this derm to be only
simple duty on my part, and | shall perform 1t
50 far a. practicable unless my rlghful masters,
the American people, shall Withhold the Iequi
site means, or, IN some authoritative manner,
direct the contrary.
trust this will not be regarded as menace,
but only as declared purpose that, as to the
Union, will constItutionaly defend, and
maintain it, In doing this there need be no
Ol0OGSfeu OF FtOIeuCF, dHu tuele slldil Oe uOHS)
unless il be forced upon the National authori-
ties The power confdsd 10 me will BIZ used
10 hold, occupy, and possess the property and
places belonging to the Government, and TO COL
lrct duties and imposts, but beyond what may
be necessary for these objects there will be no
invasion, no using OF force against or among
people anywhere.
Where hostility to the United States in any
interior localities shall be SO great and 50 uni-
versal as to prevent competent resident citizens