New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-03-15

anywise endangered by tie now incoming
Administration. | add, too, that all the pro-
lection which consistently with the constitu-
ton and the laws can be given, will be cheer
fully given to all the States when lawfully
demanded, for whatever cause, as cheerfully
to one section as the other.
There is much controversy about the deli
very of fugitives from service Or labor. The
clause which | will now read is as plainly
written in tho constitution as any other of
its provisions.
mo person heh to service or labor in one
State under the laws thereof, escaping into
another, shall in consequence of no law or
regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, but shall be delivered up on
claim of the party to whom such service or
labor may be due" .
1t was intended BY those who made it, for
the reclamation of what we cali fugitive
slaves, and the intention of the lawgivers is
the law. All members of Congress swear
their support to the whole constitution, to
this provision as much as any other PROPOSE
ton, and their oaths are unanimous. Now,
if they would make their effort in good tenn
per, could they not with nearly equal unani-
ty frame and pass law by means Of which
to keep good that unanimous oath? There
is some difference Of opinion whether this
clause should be enforced by National or
State authority, but surely that difference is
not q material one. If the slave is to be sur.
rendered, it can be of but little consequence
to him or to others, by which authority it is
| done and should any one in any case be
content that his oath shall be unkept on a
mere unsubstantial controversy As to whom
it shall be kepts
Again, in any law upon this subject, ought
not all the safeguards of liberty known in ci-
| vilized and humane Jurisprudence to be in
troduced, so that freeman may not in any
case surrendered as = slave.
And might it not be well, at the same time,
to provide by law for the enforcement of that
| clause of the constitution which guarantees
| that the citizens of each State shall be enti-
tied to all the privileges and immunities of ci-
tizens in the several States.
| take the official oath to day with no men.
| tai reservations, and with no purpose to con-
strue the Constitution or Laws by any hypo-
critical rule. Aud while do not choose now
to specify PARTICULAR acts of Congress rs
proper to be enforced, do suggest that it
will be much safer for all, in official or private
stations, to conform aud abide by all those
acts which stands unrepealed, than to violate
any of them. trusting to find impunity in
having them held to be unconstitutional.
1t is seventy two years since the first in
auguration of a President under our National
Constitution. During that period, fifteen
different and greatly distinguished citizens
have in succession administered the Execu-
tive branch of the Government They have
conducted it through many perils, and gen.
orally with great success. Yet, with all this
scope for precedent l now enter upon the
same task for the brief Constitutional term
of four years, under great and pecuia diff
culties. %,t
Disruption of the federal Union, hereto.
fore only menaced, is now formidably at
tempted. hold that IN contemplation of
universal law and of the Constitution, the
Union Of these States is perpetual. Perpe-
tuity is implied if not expressed in the funda-
mental law of all national governmets. 1t is
safe to assert that government proper ever
had provision in it's organic law for it's own
termination. Continue to execute all the ex
press provisions Of onr National Constitution,
and the Union will endure forever. it being
impossible to destroy it except by some action
not provided for iu the instrument itself.
The Union is much older than the Con-
stitution. 1t was formed in fact by the ar
ticles Of association in l774; it was matured
and continued by the Declaration of Inde-
pendence in 1776. 1t was further matured,
and the faith of the old thirteen States ex-
pressly plighted and engaged that it should
be perpetuated by the articles of Confedera-
ton in ITS; and finally, in 1871, one of the
declared objects for ordaining and establish
ing the Costitution was to form more per-
feet Union. Ifby one or by part only of
the States, disunion be lawfully possible, the
Union is less than it was before the Con-
stitution was adopted having lost the vital
element of perpetuity. 1t follows from these
views that no State, upon its own mere no.
ton, can lawfully 60 out Of the Union, that
resolves and ordinances to that effect are
legally void, and that acts of violence within
an State or States against the authority of the
United States are insurrectlonary or revJ
lutionary according to circumstances.
l therefore consider that in view of the
Constitution and Laws, the Union is unbro-
ken, and to the extent Of my ability I shall
take care, as the Constitution itself expressly
enioins ON me, that the laws Of the Union be
faithfully executed in all the States. Doing
this / deem it to be only q simple duty on my
part, and shall perform it, SO far as practic-
able, unless my rightful masters, the Amsri-
can people shall withhold the requisite means
or in some authoritative manner direct the
contrary. trust this will not be regarded
as menace but only Is = declared purpose
of enforcing the laws Of Union that will
constitutionaly defend and maintained itself.
In doing this there need be no bloodshed or
violence, and there shall be none unless it
be forced upon the National authority. The
power confined to me will be used 10 hold,
occupy and possess the property and
places belonging to tho Government and to
collect duties on imports. But beyond what
may be necessary for these objects, there will
be no invasion, no using Of force against or
among people anywhere. Where hostility