The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-03-13

bly, admitted. lhold that in contempla-
ton Of universal! law and of the Consii.
trlion, the Union Of these States is per,
petual. Perpetuity is implied, il not ex-
pressed, in the fundamental law Of Ma.
tional Governments. 1t is safe TO assert
that no Government proper ever had
provision in its organic law for its own
termination. Continue TO execute all the
express provisions of our National Con-
sitution, and the Union will endure for.
ever; it being impossible TO destroy it.
except by some action not provided for in
the instrument itself. Again, If the Uni.
ted States be not Government proper,
but an association Of States in the nature
of contract merely. can it, as a contract,
be practically un made by less than all
the parties who made it One party to
a contract may violate il, break it, so TO
speak, but does it not require all TO law.
fully rescind ita Descending from these
general principles, we find the conclusion
that in legal contemplation the Union is
perpetual, 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 Association in l774 il
was matured and continued by the Dec.
ara'ion of Independence in l776: i, was
further ma:ured and the faith Of all these
thirteen States expressly pledged and en-
gagged that it should be perpetual by the
Articles Of Confederation 1918, and f..
nally, in 1887. One of the declared oh.
Jects for ordaining and establishing the
| Constitution WAS 10 perform n more per-
fec, Union. But if destruction Of the
Union 10y one or by part only Of the
States be lawfully possible, the Union is
less perfect than before the Constitution,
having lost the vital element Of perpetu.
ty. II follows from these views that no
Safe upon It's own mere motion, can law
fully 90 out Of the Union; that resolves
and ordinances TO that effect are legally
void, and that acts Of violence within aEv
State or States against the authority OF
the United States, are insurrectionary, or
revolutionary, according 10 circumstances.
|, therefore, consider that in view of the
Constitution and the laws. the Union is
unbroken, and. 20 tue ex,cn. of my abil.
ty, shai, take care, as the Constitution
itself expressly enjoins upon ne, tlat 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 il SO !tr as practcabIe, un
les, my righlful Laas,ers-,he American
people--shali Withhold the requisite means,
or IN some authorized manner direct The
contrary. trust this will not be regarded
as a menace, but as the declared purpose
of the Union. That it will constitution.
ally defend and maintain itself in doing
this there needs 10 be no b'oodshed or
violence, and there shall be none, unless
1t be forced upon tie National authority.
The power conided to me " i'll he used
to hold. occupy and possess the property
aud places belonging 10 the Government
and to collect the duties and imports
but beyond what may be necessary for
these objects there will be no INVASION
no using Of force against or among the
people anywhere. Where hostility TO The
United States in any interior locality
shall be so great aud so universal AS to
prevent competent resident citizens from
holding th, Federal offices, there will be
no attempt to force obnoxious strangers
among The people for that object. While
the slrlct legal right may exist in the
Government TO enforce the exercise Of
these offices, the attempt TO do so would
be so irrational, and so nearly impractical
bic wilhal, that deem it better 10 forego
for the time the uses OF such offices.
The mails, unless repelled, will con
tinue TO be furnished in all parts o! the
Union. SO faras possible, the people
every where shah have that sense of,per
feet security which is most favorable to
cool thought aud reflection. The course
here indicated will be followed, unless
current events anG experience shall show
modiiicbtion or change to be proper,
and in every case and exigeucy, my best
discretion viii he ercised according TO
circumstances actually existing. and with
a view and = hope OF a peaceful solution
OF the rational trouble aud the restora.
ton OF fra,erpa! Isympa,bies aud sfiec.
tions.
or another who seek to destroy the Union
at all events, and are glad Of any prelext
to DO it, will neither affirm or deny /;
but if there be such need address no
word to them. To those, however, who
really love the 'Uniou, may not speak
Before entering upon so grave mat
ter as the destruction OF our National fab,
ric, with all its benefits. its memories, and
lis hopes, would it not be wise 10 ascer
tain, precisely, why We do it. Will you
haza'd SO desperate a step, while there is
any possibility that any portion Of the ills
you lily from have no real existence T.
VIII you, while the certain Ills You fly 10
are greater than all the real 0ues you fly
from, will you risk the commission Of so
fearful mistake ! All profess to be con.
tent in the Union, if all constitutional
rights can be maintained. Is it true then
that any right, plainly written in the
Constitution, has been denieda think
not Hannly tha hnrnsn u,;rd "a - co,.