Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1861-03-08

/ law IDT itS Wv II tti iitlIidtioHs tpii
time 20 execute all the express pro
visions of our National Constitution
and the Union will endure for ever
it being impossible to destroy it, ex
cept by some action not provided fol
in the instrument itself.
/ Again, if the United States be moi
a Government proper, but an associa
ton of States in the nature OF con
tract merely, can it, as contract, bc
peaceably unmade by less than all the
parties who made ii? One party tc
contrac. may violate it, or break it
so to speak; but does it not require
all to lawfully rcscind it?
/ Descending from these general
principles, We find the proposition
that, in legal contemplation, the
Union is perpetual, confirmed 10y the
history of the Union itself. The
Union is much older than the Cons:i.
tuition. 1t was formed in fact by the
Articles of Association, in lI,4. Ii
was matured and continued by the
Declaration of Independence, in lII6.
/ 1t was further matured, and the faith
Of all the then thirteen States express
ly plightcd and engaged that it
should be perpetual, 10y the Articles
of Confederation in 1IlS. And,
finally, in 1877, one Of the declared
objects for ordaining and establish
ing the Constitution was ito form a
more perfect union"
But if destruction of the Union, by
one, or by a part only, Of the States,
he lawfully possible, the Union is less
perfect than e.oic, the Constitution
having lost the vital element Of per-
peluity.
1t follows, from these views, that
no State, upon its own mere motion,
can lawfully get out of the Union !;
that resolves and ordinances to that
effect are legally void and that acts
of violence, within any State or
States. against the authority of the
United States, are in>urrcctiOnary or
revolutionary, according to circum-
stances.
|, therefore, consider that. in view
OF the Constitution and the laws, the
Union is mbroken. and, 10 the extent
of my ability, | shall take care, as the
Constitution itself expressly cnjons
upon me. that the laws Of the L Mon
he faithfully executed in all the States.
Doing this, | deem it to be only a
simple duty on my part; and | shall
perform 1t, so far as practicable. un-
less my rightiul masters, the American
people, shall withhold the requisite
means, or, in some authoritative man
ner, direct the contrary. | trust this
will not be regarded as a menace. but
only as the declared purpose of the
Union that it will cons.itutionaily
defend and maintain itself.
In doing this. there need be no
blood>hcd or violence: and there
shall he none, unless it he forced up
on the National authority. The
power con.ided TO me, will lie used to
hold, occupy, and possess the proper
~ and places belonging TO the Gov
ernmcnt, and TO collect the duties and
imposts; 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 to the Uni
ted States, in any interior locality,
shall be so great and universal as to
prevent competent resident citizens
from holding the Federal Offices, there
will he no attempt TO force obnoxious
strangers among the people for that
object. While the strict legal right
may exist in the Government to en-
force the exercise Of these Offices, the
attempt TO DO SO would he so irrita
ting, and so nearly impracticahlc
withal, | deem it better TO forcgo,
for the time, the uses Of such Offices.
The mails, unless repcllcd, will
contnuc to lie furnished in all parts
of the Union.
So far as possible, the people every
where shall have that sense of per-
feet security which is most favorable
to calm thought and reflection. The
course here indicated will he followed,
unless current events and experience
shall show 4 modification or change
to be proper, and in every case and
eXigcncy my best discretion will be
exercised, according to circumstances
actually existing, and with view
and hope Of peaceful solution of
the national troubles, and the reSto-
ration Of iratcrnal sympathieS and af
iectionS.
That there are persons in one sec
tion or another who seek to destroy
the Union at all events, and are glad
Of any prctcXt to do it, | will neither
affirm nor deny; but if there be such
| need ad lreSs no word to them. To
those, however, who really love the
Union, may | not speak?
Bc.orc entering upon so grave
matter as the destruction of our ma
iional fabric, with all its benefits, lis
memories, and its hopes. would it not
bc wise TO ascertain precisely why
we do it? VIII you hazard so des-
peralc a step while there is any pos
sibllily that any portion of the ills