The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-03-06

unless current events and experience shall show
modification change TO be proper, and in ev-
cry case and exigency MY best discretion VIII De
exercised according to Circumstances actually ex-
listing. and with a view and hope of a peaceful
solution Cf the national troubles, and the resto-
ration of the fra,ernal love- sympathy and alice
ton.
That there are persons in one section or anoth-
er who seek to destroy the Union at all events
and are glad OF any pretext TO do II, VIII neil
Their affirm nor deny but il there be such, need
address word 10 them. To those, howeysr,
who really love the Union, may not speak,
Before entering upon so grave matter as the
destruction of our national fabric with all its ben
efts, it, memories and hopes, would il lot be
wise 10 ascer tain previously What YOU do: VIII
you hazard desperate a step while there Is any
| possibility that any portion OF the Ills you ny
| from have 10 real existence: VIII you, while
the certain ills YOU fly 10 are greater IMAM all the
| real ones YOU ty from - will YOU risk the com
mission OF So fearful a mistake: All profess 10
| be content in the Union il all constitutional
| rights can be maintaued. Is il true, then, that
any rights plainly written in the constitution
| have been denied. | think lot.
| Happily the human mind is so constituted
that no party can reach 10 the auiacity OF do
ing this. Think. if you can OF a single instance
| in which Il plainly written provision OF the con-
stitution has ever been denied. II, by the mere
force of Numbers, a majority shall deprive mi
nority of any clearly written constitutional
right. il might in moral point OF view, justify
revolution. 1t certainly would if such right
was a vital one: but snch i not our case. The
vital right, OF muorilieS and Of individuals,
are so plainly assured TO theIh by ailirmations
and uegations, guarantees and prohibitions in
the constitution, that controversies never arise
concerning them But 10 organic law can ey-
er be framed with provision specially applica-
bic To every question which NAV occur in prac-
teal administration. No foresight can antici-
pate, nor any document of reasonable length
contain, express provisions for all questions
Shall fugiIives from labor be surrendered by
National or State authorities ? The Con>titu-
ton does not expressly say. Must Congress
protect slavery in the Territories ? The Con
sItut1n does not expressly sag. From qucS-
tons Of this class spring all our constitutional
controversies. and we divide upon them into
maioriieS and minorlties. Ii the minority will
not acquiesce the majority must. or the Gov
ernmcnt must ceaSc. There is Ia alternative
ioi continuing the Government bnt IN acqui-
escencc on the one side or the other. IL "A mi
noritv in such "a case will Secedc rather than
acquiesce, they MAKE precedent which will in
turn ruin and divide them, for n minority Of
their own people Will sccetie from them when
ever majority refused Ia be controlled by
such minority. For instance, why may not
any portion OF a new COniederacv "A wear or
two hence, arbitrarily sccede again, precisely
as portions of the present Union now clam To
>cccde from il ? Al who cherish di>uniOn sell
iment are now being educated To the exact
temper of doing tniS. Is there such perfect
identity of interest among the State 10 compose
uew Union. "a 10 produce harmony only, aud
prevent Il new secession? Plainly the central
idea OF secession Is the essence of anarchy.
\ majority held III restraint by constitutional
checks aud limitations, and always changing ca
silly with deliberate changes Of popular opinion
and sentiments is the Only truc sovereignty of Il
free people Whoever rejects il does of
necessity fly 10 anarchy and dcSpOti>m. [ naii-
unity Is impossible. The rule of the minority
Is permanent argumen! Is wholly inadmiS>a
bic, So that rejecting he majority principle an
archy "r dc>potlSm IN some form i all that Is
left
do not forget the position assumed 10y some
that Constitutional objections are To be decided
by the supreme Court: nor do | deny that
such decisions must he binding in any case to
the parties in a suit. as to the object of that
suit. Eh!lc they are also entitled 10 very high
respect aH consideration in all parallel eases IN
al other departments of the governmcnl-and
while ii Is ohvlouSy possible that such decision
i erroneous IN any given case. still the evil fol
lowing being limited tO that particular case
with the chances that Il NAV be oyerrulcd and
never become a precedent ior other eases. can
better be boru ban could the evils OF different
practice.
" the same Tine. tire candid citizen mus:
confess that if the policy Of the goyernmen;
upon the vital questions affecting the whole
people Is I" be irrevocably fixed by the sec;s-
ions of lie supreme Conri. the instant they
are made IN ordinary litigation between parties
ia personal actions the people will have ceased
20 toe their own rulers tn the extent. practically
10 resign their government into the hands OF
that eminent tribunal. Nor is there in this
view any assault upon the Court or the Judges
1t is a duty from which they may not shrink TO
, decide cases properly brought before them. /;
Is no fault of theirs if Others seek 10 turn theft
decisions 10 political purposes. One section OF
cur country believes slavery is right and ought
; to be extended, while the other believes il is
wrong ANA ought not 10 be extended This is
the only substantial dispute. The fugitive slave
clause in the Constitution and the law for the
Suppression Of tlIc foreign slave trade, are a.
well enforced perhaps as any law can ever be
in community where the moral sense Of the
people imperieclly supports The law Itself The
!. great body Of the people abide by the dry &C.
cal obligation in both cases and !. few break
over in each. This. | think, cannot be perfect,
Is cured, and it would he worse in both cases
after the separation Of the sections than before
The foreign slave trade. now mperfectlv sup
pressed, wonli be impertectiy revived without
restriction in one section, while fugitive slaves
now only partially surrendered would not DC
, surrendered at all by the other
i. Physically speaking We cannot separate. We
cannot remove one respective section from the
other, nor build IN inpasSable wall between
them. \ husband and wife NAV be divorced
and go ont Of the presence aud reach of each
other. but the different parts Of our country
cannot DO this. They cannot but remain face
To face. and lntercour>e-eitber amicable or hos
tile muSt continue between them. Is it posi-
bic then TO. make that intercourse more advan-
ta5cou> or more satisfactory. after the separa-
ton than before? Can aliens make treaties
better than friends can make laws? Can treat
les be more faithfully enforced between aliens
than laws can among friends? Suppose YOU
go to war. yen cannot fight always aud when
after much loss on both sizes, and 10 gain on