Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-08


is right and ought to be extended, while the
other believes it is wrong and ought not to be
extended. This is the only substantial dis
pute. The fugitive slave clause OF the Con-
stItution and the law for the suppression OF
the foreign slave trade, are each as well en-
forced, perhaps, as any law can ever be in
community where the moral sentiment OF the
people imperfectly supports the law itself.
he great body OF the people abide by the dry
legal obligation. in both cases, and lew
break over in each.
This think cannot be perfectly cured,
and it would be worse in both cases alter
the separation of the sections than before.
The foreign slave trade now imperfectly
suppressed would be ultimately revived
without restra int in one section, while fu-
gitiye slaves, now only partially surrendered,
would not be surrendered at all by the other.
Physically speaking We cannot separate.
We cannot remove our respective section
from each other, nor build an impossible
wal! between them. A husband and wife
may be divorced and 60 out of tie presence
and beyond the reach of each other, but the
different parts OF our country cannot do this;
they cannot but remain face to face, and in
tercourse either amicable or hostile must
continue between them. Is it possible then
to make that intercourse more advantageous
or more satisfactory alter separation than
before? Can aliens make treaties easier
than friends can make laws? can treaties be
more faithfully enforced between aliens than
laws among friends?
Suppose you 90 to war, you cannot fight
always, and when, after much loss on both
n a.,H No OF I'll
fighting, the identical questions as to terms
OF intercourse are again upon you. This
country with it's institutions belongs to the
people who inbabit it, Whenever they
Shall grow weary of the existing Govern
ment they can exercise their constitutional
right of amending or their revolutionary
right to dismember or overthrow it,
| cannot he ignorant of the fact that many
worthy and patriotic citizens are deSlrous Of
having the National Constitution amended.
While | make no recommendation OF amend
ment, fully recognize the authority Of
the people over the whole subject, to be ex-
ercised IN either Of the modes prescribed in
the instrument itself and | should under
existing circumstances favor rather than
oppose fair opportunity being ford
Ell the people to act upon it.
/ viii venture to add that to me the con
venti0n mode seems preferable in that it
allows amendments to originate with the
people themselves, instead of ouly permitting
them to take or rejecta proposition originated
bgothers MT especially ch sen for the purpose,
and which might not be precisely such as
they would wish to either accept OF refuse
| understand a proposed amendment to the
Constitution, which | have not seen, has
passed Congress, to the effect that the federal
Government shall never interfere with the
domestic institutions of the States, including
that Of persons held to service To avoid
dissatisfaction Of what | have said, de-
part from my purpose not to speak Of par
ticular amendments. So far as TO say that
holding such provision to now be implied
constitutional law, | have no objection to its
being made express and rrevOcable.
a Chief Magistrate derives ali his authori-
ty 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 if they cho- Sc but the Executive,
as such, has nothing to do with it. His
duty is to administer the present government
as it comes to his hands, and t. transmit it
unimpaired by him to his successor.
dence inthe ultimate justice of the people
Is there any better or equal hope in the
world ? In our present 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 eide Of |
the North or yours Of the South that |
truth aud that Justice Will surely prevail by |
the Judgment OF this great tribunal, the |
American People.
By the frame Of the government Uader |
" hich we iiYe, this same people have wisely |
gwen their public servants bat little power |
mischief and have with equal wisdom |
provided FIR the return OF that lutte to their |
own hands at very short intervals. While /
the people retains virtue and yi5ilIuc, 10 |
by any extreme wickelness Or |
folly can very seriously impair the govern |
ment In The short space Of tour years
My couau5men, one and all, think calmly /
and well upon It's whole subject Nothing /
valuable can be LOST ny taking time. II there I
be an object 90 hurry any Of You 40 hot |
haste to "a step winch You would never take I
deli5 glg-ly, that object viii be frustrated by /
taxing time bat Id good object cin DE lsus- |
trAtld by it.
Such OF Yen as ale noN dissatisfied, still /
nave l.st D44 y-cLttL-4pA lLlm i4lltu. anu I
Oh the sensitive point, the Laws are Of /
YOUR owa framing under it, while the /
new administration has no immediate power, f.
il it would, to change either.
Ii It were admitted That y0u who are dis /
satisfied are on the right SIDE in the dis /
pute, there still is 10 single reason for
ircciuiJatc action. Intelligence, patriotism, /
christianity and firm reliance on Him who /
has never vet iorsakel this favored land. are |
,till competent to adjust. in the best way,
MI our present difficulties.
Ia your hands, my dissatisfied fellow coun- /
trymen, and not il mine is the momeut0us |
issue Of civil war. The government will not |
lssail you. You can have no conflict without |
being yourselves the aggressors. You have no |
oath registered in Heaven toidestloy the Gov
ernment, while / shall have the most solemn |
one to preserve protect, and defend it.
am 10th to close. We are not enemies |
but friends. " e must not be enemies tho |
passion may have strained, it must |
bot break our bond Of affection. The |
nystic chords Of memory stretching from
very battle field and patriots grave to every |
wing heart and hearthstons all over this
broad land, viii vet swell tie chorus Of the
Union, when again touched, ~ surely they |
xiii be, by the better angels Of our natures.
Signed ABRAHAM LINCOLN.