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

vision IN its organic law for its own teTmin- F,
alton. Continue to execute all the express /
provisions of our national Constitution, and |
the Union will endure forever, it being I'M
possible to destroy it except by some action
not provided for in the instrument Itself |
Again If the United States be not govern |
ment proper, but an association OF States, In
the nature OF contract merely, can ii as a |
contract be peaceably unmade by less than ali |
! the parties who made it? One party to con
tract may violate it, break $50 TO speak; but
does it not require all 10 lawfully rescind it ?
Descending from these general principles |
we End the proposition, that in legal contem- |
plation 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 |
IVA. 1t was matured and continued in the |
Declaration of Independence in l776. Ii was |
further matured and the faith of all the then |
Ii States expressly plighted and engaged that
it should be perpetual, by the Articles OF
Confederation in IT'S, and finally in l1o7. |
One Of the declared objects for OrdaInlng |
and establishing the Constitution, was
to frame a more perfect Union; but II the |
destruction of the Union by one or ~ part |
| only of the States be lawfully possible, the
/ OHlpu Is ltoc ltidu DtIcIc, tiC NSAS''NN -
| having lost the vital element OF perpctultS |
| 1t follows from these views that TO State'upon |
! its own mere motion, can lawfully get out OF |
the Union-that resolves and ordinances ID that |
effect are legally void, and that acts OF VIC |
| lence within any State or States against the |
authority of the United States, are lnsurrec- |
tionary. or revolutionary, according to cir
| cumstauces. | therefore consider that in |
view of the Constitu ion and laws the Union |
is unbroken and 10 the extent Of my abili-
~, shall Ike care as the Constitution Itself |
! expressly enl0ns upon me, that the |
! laws of the Union be faithfully execute
| in all the States Doing this
| deem to lie only a simple duty on my part,
and shall perform it 50 far as practicable,
unless my rightful masters, the American
People, shall withhold the acquisitions, Or in
some authoritative manner direct tn con-
trary. | trust this will not be regarded as
a menace, bat only as the declared purpose
Of the Union, that it will constltutionally
defend and maintain itself. In doing this
there needs to be no bloodshed or violence,
and there shall be none, unless it be forced
upon the national authority. The power
cOnhded to me will be used to hold, occupy
and possess the property and places
belonging to the Government and t.
collect the duties and inposts but
beyond what may be necessary for these
objects there will be no invasion, no using Of
force against or among the people any
where. Where hostility u the United
States in any interior territory shall be 50
great and SO universal as to prevent c0mpe-
tent resident citizens from holding the
federal Offices, there will DO no attempt
to force obnoxious strangers among
people that object While the strict
legal right may exist for the Government
to enforce the exercise of these offices, the
attempt 10 DO go would be so irritating,
and so nearly impracticable withal,
that | deem it better to fOrego, for
the time, the uses OF such Offices. The
mail, unless repealed, will continue TO
be furnished in all parts of the Union.
So far as practi able the people everywhere
shall have that sense of perfect security
which is most favorable to calm thought and
reflection. The course here indicated will
be followed unless current events and expe-
rience shall show a modification or change d.
to be proper and in every case and exigen-
cy my best discretion Will lie exercised ac-
cOrding to circumstances actually existing,
and with a view and hope TO u successful
tolution Of the national trouble, and the res
sJration OF frateTnal sympathies and affect
ION.
That there are persons in one section ort
another who seek to destroy the Union at
all events, and are glad Of any pretext t. DO
il. will neither affirm or deny; but II there
should be such. need address no word to
them. To those however who really
love the IInIon NAV net sI'e.y R.ior, an
terlnGUpOn SO grave matter as the destruction
Of our national future with all its ben hts,
us memories anu us "oleS' "ou'" ~ no. &c 7
Wen Wei TO ascertain precisely why we 40 Il :
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thore Is any PoSslOI4',y mat any P.l''OH o,
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