Nebraska advertiser., 1861-03-14

Disruption OF the / ederal Union, here
tofure ouly-menacod s-now- fornidabIy
attempted fh0ld that an contemplation
Of umsersal law and the Constitution, the
union Of the States is perpetual. Perpe-
taIiy Is IMPLIED If not expressed IN the
Fundamental law Of all nations, all gov
erBmenls. Il is safe 10 assert that no
Qovernnent proper has a provision in It's.
organic law for It's termination
Continue 70 execute all the express pro-
visions Of our national Constitution and
the Union- viii endure forever, il being
Impossible 10 destroy II except by some
action not provided for in the instrument
itself Again, if the United States be
not a government proper, but an a%ssocia-
ton OF States in the nature Of a contract
merely. CAN'T as a contract be peaceably
unmade unless by oil The parties who
made itl Oae party 10 a contract may
violate it-brealt II, so 10 speak, but does
It not require all to lawfully resciDd liz
Descending from these general princi-
pies. we fad The proposition that in legal
contemplation the Onion is perpetual,
confirmed by the history itself. The IN
In is much older than the Constitution, it
was formed in fact, by the articles of as
.sociarion in I774. 1t was maured and
. Continued by the Declaration Of Indepen.
detce ia 1875. Il was further matured
on the faith of al the then thirteen States,
expressly plighted and engaged, that It
should be. perpetual by the Articles Of
Confederation in l77S, and faqllyin II
"a. One Of the declared objects for or
'dajniug ami establishing a Constitution,
was 10 form a more perfect Union. If
separation by one or a part only Of the
states, be lawfully possible, the Union is
less than before The Constitution, having
lost the vital clement Of perpetuity.
Is follows, from these views, that no
State, upon It's own mere motion, canlaw-
fully Gel. ontoflhe Union. That resolves
and ordinances to that effect are legally
vIid; and that acts Of violence within any
States or State, against the authority of
the Gnited States. are insGrrectionary or
revolutionary, according 10 circumstances.
/ therefore consider that, in view of the
Constitution and laws, the Union Is I'M
broken, and to the extent of my ability,
shall take care, as the Constitution itself
expressly e%nioins, that the laws OF the
Union be faithfully executed in all the
States. Doing this I deem only 10 be q
simple duty-on my part; and | shall per-
form il, so far as practicable, unless my
sightfsl masterS-the american People
shall withhold the requisite means, or in
solne authoritative manner direct 10 the
contrary. Itrast that this will not be re-
garded as a menace, but only as declared
purpose Of Union, that il illconstituiion-
ally defend and maintain itself. In doing
'tlis, there need be no bloodshed or vio-
lence, and there shall be none unlessit be
forced upon the national authority. The
power confded to me will be used to hold
occupy and possess the property and pla-
ces belonging 60 the Government, to col
iecl duties on imports, but beyond what
may be necessary for these objects, there
will be no using Of force against or among
people anywhere. Where hostility to the
United States in any interior locality shall
be so great and universal as TO prevent
competent resident citizens from holding
Federal offices, there will be no attempt
10 force obnoxious strangers among the
people who object. While the strict le-
gal right may exist in the Government to
enforce the exercise Of these officers, the
attempt 10 do so would be so irritating,
aNd So nearly impracticable withal, that
deem il better to forego for the time, The
use Of such officers. The mails, unless
repealed, will continue TO be furnished in
all points Of the Union. So far as posi-
ll3 the people everywhere shallhaye that
sense Of personal security which is most
favorable TO calm thought and reflection.
The course here indicated will be fol-
lowed, unless current events and expert.
ences shall show a modification or change !
TO be proper, and 10 every case and exi-
gency my best discretion will be exercised,
according 20 circumstances actually exist
ing, and with a view and a hope of the
peaceful solution Of the national troubles
and the restoration Of fraternal sympathies
aud affections. That there are persons
IN one section or another who seek to de-
stfoy the Union at all events, and are glad
of any pretext TO do it, l will neither af-
firm nOrldeny. / need address no word
tothose who really love the Union. Nav
fspeak before enteriag upon so grave a
matter a the destruction Of our national
fabric, with ali its benefits, its memories
and hopes? Would it not be wise TO as
certain previously why we do hazard SO
desperate a step while there is any possi-
billy that any portion of the ills you fly
from have no real existence. Will you,
while the certain ills you ly to are great
er than all the real ones You Hy from,
will you risk the commission of so fearful
a mistakel All profess to be content in
the Union if ali constitutional rights can
be maintained.
Is il true then, hat any right plainly
written in the Constitution has been deni-
ed! I think not. Happily the human
mind is so constituted that no party can
Teach4o the audaeity Of doing this. Think
if you can, Of a single instance in which a
plainly written provision Of the Constitu-
lion has ever been denied.
If by the mere force Of numbers a ma
jovity shall deprive a minority of any
clearly written constitutional right, 1t may
IN a moral point Of view, Justify a fevola-
aeh. II certainly would if such a Alright
were d vital one, but such is not our case.
All the. vital rights of minOrities and ~