Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-04-06

SfcSS DIS pCOpCi W w 0"tO'"' -,
suggest that it will be much safer, both
in official and private stations, to con-
form and to abide by all those acts
which stand unrepealed, than to violate
any of them, trusting to find security
in having them held to be unconstitu-
tional.
1t is scventy-two years since the
first Inauguration of a President
under our National Constitution. Dur
ing that period, fifteen different and
greatly distin guished citizens have in
succession administered the Executive.
That branch of the Government they
conducted through many perils, gencr-
ally with great success. now enter
mon the same task for the brief Con-
stitutional term of four years, under
great and peculiar difficulties. Disrup-
tion of the Federal Union, heretofore
only mcnaccd, is now formally at
tempted. hold, then, in contcmpla-
ton of universal law and the Constitu-
ton. the Union of these States is per-
pctual. Pcrpetuity is implied, if not
expressed, in the fundamental law of all
national governments. 1t Is safe to AS
sert that the Governments proper had a
provision in its organic law for its own
preservation. Continue to execute all
the express provisions of our National
Constitution and the Union will endure
forever, it being impossible to destroy
it except by action not provided for in
the instrument itself Again, if the
States be not Government proper,
but an association of States, in the ma
turc of Il contract merely, can it rs 4
contract be pcaccably unmadc, unless
by all the parties who made it! One
party to Il contract may violate it
break it so to spcaI-but does it not
require all to rcscind it!
Descending from these general prin-
ciples, we find the proposition that in
legal contemplation the Union is per-
petual confirmed in the history ofitsclf.
The Union is much older than the Com
stitution. 1t was framed, III fact, by
the articles of association, in IVA. 1t
was maturcd and continued by the Dee
laration of Independence, in 1916. 1t
was further maturcd on the faith of all
the then thirteen States, who expressly
plightcd and engaged that it should be
perpetual. BY the articles of Conird-
Grafton, in 1776, and finally in 1889,
one of the declared objects for orelain-
ing and establishing Constitution was
to form more perfect Union 10y all or
part only of the States. Possibly the
union is less than before the G'onstitu-
ton, having lost the vital element OF
pcrpctuity.
It follows from these views that no
State upon its own mere motion. can
lawfully 90 out of the Union; that re-
solves 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
surrcctionary or revolutionary, accord
ing to circumstances. l therefore con-
slider that, in view of the Constitution
and laws, the Union is unbroken,
and to the extent of my ability shall
take care, as the Constitution itsclfcX-
pressly cnjoins, that the laws Of tho
Union be faithfully executed in all the
States. Doing this, deem it only a
simple duty on my part. and shall
perform it, so far as practicable, unless
my rightful master, the American peo-
pie, shall withhold the requisite means,
or in some authoritative manner direct
the contrary. / trust this will not be
regarded as menace, but only as Il de-
clarcd purpose of the Union that it viii!
only defend and maintain the Consti-
tuition 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 con-
tided to me will be used to hold, occupy
and possess the property and places be-
longing to the Government, and collect
duties on imports; but beyond what
may be necessary for these objects,
there will be no using Of force against
or among the epeople anywhere. Where
hostility to the United States in any
interior locality shall be SO great and
80 universal as to prevent competent
resident citizens from holding Federal
offices, there will be no attempt to force
obnoxious strangers among the people
for that object.
While the strict legal right may ex-
ist in the Government to enforce the
exercise of those offices, the attempt to
do so would be irritating, and so nearly
impracticable withal, / deem it better
to forego for the time tho use of such
officers. The mails, unless repclled,
will continueto to be furnished in all parts
of the Union-so far as possible the