The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-03-07
ADoREss or paEsr.

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scibed by the Constitution of the United States
to be taken by the President before he enters
upon the execution of the duties of his office
DO not consider it necessary, at present. for
ME to discuss those matters of administration
about which there is no especial anxiety or ex-
element. Apprehension seems TO exist anonn
the people of the Southern States that nv the
accession OF republican Admins tration their
property aud their peace and their Dersonal go
curity are to be endangered, while there has
never been any unreasonable cause for such appre-
henslon.
Indeed, the most ample evidence 60 the con-
trary has ali the while existed, and been omen
to their inspection 1t is found IN nearly all
the published speeches OF him who now address
ses you. l do but quote from one of those
speeches, when declare that | have no pur.
pose, directly or indirectly to interfere with the
institution OF Slavery in the States where it ex-
lists.
believe have no right to do So ard have
40 Incllnstion to do SO. Those who nominated
and elected me, did so with the full knowledge
that had made this and many similar declara
tions, and had never recalled them, and more
than this, they placed in the Platform for my
acceptance as a law TO themselves and to me
clear and emphatic resolution which [ now
fead
ReSoicea, That the maintenance iuviolate ot
the rights Of each State and especially the right
Ut each State to order and control lis own do
aiestlc institutions according to its own judy
leEt exclusively, is essential to that balance OF
power on which the perfection aud endurance
Of our political fabric depends, and we denounce
The lawlesS invasion, by an armed force, Of the
government OF any State or Territory, no mat
ter under what pretext, as among the gravest
Of crimes.
l now reIterate those sentiments and in do
ing SO only press on the public attention, the
most conclusive evidence of which the case is
susceptible, that the prosperity, peace and Sc
cuTliy OF no section are to be in anywise endan-
gered by the how incoming Administration. L
add too that all the protection which consistent
entity with the Constitution and the laws can
oe gwen, will be cheerfully given TO all the
States when lawfully demanded--for whatever
cause-as cheerfully to one section as toanoth-
or. There Is much controversy about Ihe deliv-
cry OF fugitives from service or labor The
clause now read is as plainly written in the
Constitution as any other OF its provisions
mo person held to service or labor in one
State, under the laws thereof, and escaping into
another, shall IN consequence of any law or r @
| uiation therein, be discharged from such SER
vice or labor but shall be delivered upon claim
OF the party to whom such labor or service may
Ue due"
Ii was intended, by those who made it, for
the reclaimiDg of what we call fugitive slaves
aud the Intention OF the aw-givel IL the law.
All members OF Congress swear their Support
10 the whole Constitution to this provision as
much as to any other. To the proposition then.
that slaves, whose cases come within this
clause, "aud shall be delivered up, their oaths
are unanimous. Now, if they would make the
effurt in good temper, could they not, with near
| ly equal unanimlty, frame and pass a law by
means of which to keep good that unanimous
| oath There is some difference of opinion
whether this clause should be enforced by Ma
tional or State authority; but surely that diff
| fereHse is not very material one.
-fthe'slave is to be surrendered, it canbe OF
but little consequence to hun or to OF efs, by
which, authority 1T is done; and should any one
IN any case be content that his oath shall be
uilkept on a merely unsubstantidl controversy
as to how IL shall DC ept! Again, in any law
upon this subject, ought not all the safeguards
Of Liberty known in civilized and human iulis-
prudence TO be introduced, so that q freeman
may not in any way BE- surrendered as slave?
And might it not be well at the same time to
provide by law tor the enforcement of that
clause i'll the Constitution viii ch guarantees
that the citizens Of each State shall be emit led
to all the provisions and immunities OF citizens
in the several States. | take the official oath
|
purpose to construe the constitution or laws by
any hypocriticsl rules, and, while | do not
choose now to specify the particular acts Of Jon.
gress as proper to be enforced, do suggest that
1t will be much saer for all, both III official and
private stations, to conform to and abdu by all
those acts which stand unrepealed. than TO vi
olate any of them, trusting TO find impunity in
having them he1 to be unconstitutional
1t is seventy two years since the first inaugu-
ration of President, under our National Con.
4 st,tuton During that PERIOD fifteen differen,
and greatly distinguished citizens have in sue
cession administered the Elective. branch OF
the Government. They have conducted il
through man, perils, and generally with great
success. Yet with all this scope for precedent.
| now enter upon the same task, for the brief
constitutional term four years, under great
ard pecul ar difficulties Disruption of the Fed
eral Union, heretofore only meuaced, is now
formidably attempted | hold that in contem-
pltaion OF the universal law and ofthe eonsttu-
zion, the Union of these States is perpetual
Perpetuity is implied, fnot expressed, in the
fundamental law of all National Governments.
1t is safe to assert that ne Government proper.
ever had provision i'll it. organic law for It's own
termination. Continue to execute all the ex
press provisions of our National Constitution.
and the Union will endure forever, it beino inn
possible to destroy It, except by some action
not provided for III the instrument itself Again.
if the United States be not government prop
er, but an association of States in the nature OF
ii contract merely can it as a contract, be peace
ably unmade by less than all the parties who
made it? One party 10 a contract may violate
Iil-break it, so to speak bus does it not re.
quire all to lawfully rescind Descending from
these general principles, we find that in LEGAL
contemplation the union is perpetual, confirm
the history of the Union itself
The Union is much older than the Constitution.
1t was formed in fact, by the articles of associ-
alton in 1774. 1t was matured and continued
in the Declaration Of Independence of 1875. 1t
was further matured, and the faith of all the old
thirteen States expressly plighted and cnga ged
| that it should be perpetual, by the articles of
confederation in 1878, and finally III 1899 One
of the declared objects for ordaining and estab-
fishing the Constitution, was to form more
perfect Union If secession by one or by parr
only of the States Withdrawing be lawfully pos
sible, the Union is less binding than before the
Constitution ,ha7ing lost the element OF perpetui-
ty. Itfollows from this view, that no Stale, upon
its own mere motion, can lawfully go out Of the
| Union that resolves and ordinances to that eff
feet are legally void, and that acts of violence.
within any State or States against the aulhori-
| ty of the United States, are insurrectionary, or
revolutionary, according to circumstances
therefore consider that in view of the Con-
stitution and the laws, the Union is unbroken,
and to the extent of my ability l shall take care
as the Constitution expressly enjoins on me,
that the laws OF the Union be faithfully execu
ted IN all the States. Doing this 1 deem TO be
only a simple duty on my part, and l shall per-
form it so far as practicable, unless my rightul
masters, the Anne lean people, shall withhold
The requisite means, or in some authoritative
manner direcf tho contrary. l trust this viii
not be regarded as a menace but only as the
declared purpose Of the Union; thatit will CON
stitutionally defend and maintain itself; in do
ing his, there need be no bloodshed or violenc :;
and there shall be none, unless it be forced up
on the National authority.
The power confded to me, will be used to
held, occupy and possess the property aud pla--
ces belonging to the Government to collect
duties and imports. But beyond what may be
necessary for these objects, there will be 10 IN
vasion, no using Of force against, or annoying
people anywhere. Where hostil ty to the Uni