Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1861-03-20

lion Of the Federal Union hcftlor
fore only mcnaccl, Is now formally
admitted. hold that in cOntcm-
plation of universal law, and the
Constitution, the Union Of the States
is perpetual, II is implied ifnot cN-
pressed in the fundamental law of
National Government, Ii is safe To
assert that no Government proper,
ever had Il provision in an organic
law for It's own termination, Con
tinue to execute all express pro
visions, and our National Constitu'
ton and Union, will endure forever
lit being impossible to destroy IL,
except by some action not provided
for in tho instrument itself
Again, il the United States he not
II government proper, but an asso-
citation of States in the nature OF II
contract merely, can it MS II contract
be practically unmade by less than
all the parties who made it? One
party 10 the contract may violate II,
break il so to speak, but does il not
require all the lawfully rescind it ?
Descending from these general prin-
ciplcs we find the proposition that
in legal complication the Union is
Observation-Disclosures by the histo-
nv of the Union itself; the Union
is much older than the Constitution,
it was formed in fact, by articles OF
association in l77i; it was matured
and continued by the declaration of
Independence in l776; it was ma
turcd, and the faith of all the thir-
teen States expressly plighted and
engaged that il should be perpetual
by the articles of confederation in
177S, and finally in 1881
One of the declared objects for or
daining and establishing the Con-
sttution, was to form more per-
feet union; but if the destruction
of the Union by one or by part on
ly, of the States be lawfully posi-
bic, the Union is less perfect than
before the adoption Of the Constitu-
ton. Having lost its vital element
of perpetuity, it fellows from these
views that no State, upon its mere
motion, can lawfully go out of the
Union-that resolves and ordinance
to that effect is legally void-that
acts of violence within any State or
States against the authority Of the
United States, are insulrectionary
or revolutionary, according to cir
cumstanccs. | therefore consider
that, in view of the Constitution
and laws, the Union is unbrollen
and to the extent Of my ability |
shall take care, rs the Constitution
itself expressly enioins upon me,
that the laws Of the Union be faith
fully executed in all the States.-
Doing this, | deem it to be only sim
pie duty on my part, and shall per-
form it so far rs practicable, unless
my rightful masters, the American
people, shall withhold the requisite
means, or in some authoritative
manner direct the contrary.
trust this will not be regarded
as menace, only as the declared
purpose of the Union, that it will
constitutonally defend and main
tain itself. In doing this, there
need be no bloodshed or violence, and
there shall be none, unless it be for.
ced upon the national authority:
The power confded to me will be
used to hold and occupy, and pos
sess the property and places, be-
longing to the government, and to
collect duties on imports but, be-
yond what may be necessary for
these objects. there will be no inva-
sion--no using Of force against or
among people anywhere. If their
hostility TO us in any interior local.
tv shall be so great and so universal
! as to prevent competent resident
citizens from holding the federsa
Offices, there will be no attempt to
force obnoxious strangers among
the people for that object. While
the strict, legal right may exists in
the government, to use forceto main
tain these offices. the attempt to do
so wonld be so irritating and so
nearly impracticable, withal, that F.
deem it may be better to torego, for
the present, the use ofsuch officers.
The mails, unless repelled, will con-
tinuc to be furnished to all parts of
the Union. SO far as possible, the
people everywhere shall have that
sense of perfect duty, which is most
favorable to calm thought and re-
Election. The cause here indicated .
will be followed, unless current .
events and experience shall show
modification or change to be proper,
and in every case and cXigency, my
be- t d's.rction will be exercised, ac-
cording to circumstances, actually |
existing. and with the fervent hope |,
of peaceful solution Of thenational
troubles and the restoration of far
ternal sympathie5 and affection.
There are persons in one section
or another who are said to seek to
destroy the Union at all events, and
are glad for any pretext to do 1t, l
will neither affirm or deny that
there be such. / need address no
words to them to those, however,
who really love the Union, may
not speak before entering upon so
crave matter rs the destruction of
our national fabric, with all its ben
Gifts. memories and hopes? Would .
l.. 90, a..aIr
why they do it? Will you hazard .
n desperate step while there is a
possibility of any portion of the ills .
YOU fv from, having no real eXis- 4
tence, will You while certain the
ills You fly to are greater than all
A. 4,,,,,, , lNil1 ?