The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-03-09

tConf.anti fr,m Frs, Pace. \


rtN' "!rcrl G uitv. it follows from these views
THAT n" State, upon Its own mere motion can
lawfully get Out of the Uniun. and that lie.
A,'yvs ~ ,r,,inahces to TINT effect arc legally
void, s;,i that act, Of violence within any
SAFE or States against the authority Of The
'mttd States n,c inSurrtctlnnsry or rcyolu.
tl"nnrv according to circumstances
thrrri,';e consider that, in view of the
Cpn:.i:u:!n and laws. the Un'on is mn bro,
k,n. a"d, to The extent Of MY ability, shall
iakr care as the Constitution expressly en-
joins ca me. that the laws II: the Cnian he
ia'!hFuly executed iaasli tho States.
Doing his ! deem 10 be only simple deity
In n'l Ya"t, aa2 Shall perform it SO far as
.fact,cahle, unless my rig!ful masters, the
Am,rican Ieoi.lc, shall Withhold the rcqui.
site means. or in some oth,r nnlhoriive nan.
nrr, dlrrc. the contrary. trust this will
MOI DC regarded us menace. hut only rs tho
DECLARED purpose Of the Union. that | will
conStlinllonally defend and ma intain il. In
doing tiis there need he no Lloolshed or VIC.
sence, and !hvre shall lie none. unless il DC
forco" upon The national authority.
The POWER confid-d TO me viii be nsed to
hold, ocrnpy, and possess the property and
places vonEing to the Government, and to
collect 'he duties on imports; but beyond
"a"T may I've necessary fur these objects,
ttl're VII! tc no invasion. TO using of force
against "f among the people nnyw here.
Nh''e hostility in any interior locality
shn! lie $" great and SO universal as to pre-
sent conttt,nt resident citizens from holding
E,d?ra! Offices, there will be no attempt to
fr'ce obnoxious strangers among the people
Tor that oi.i,c,.. While The strict legal right
u.ay cHist il the Government to. enforce the
exercise Of these offices, the attempt to do so
would he so iriin,ing and so nearly unfeasa-
II, wI;hri that deem it better 10 torcgo for
time III. uses of such .ffices.
The mails, unless repealed. will continue to
he furnished in all parts Of the Union, so far
as possible. The people everywhere shall
have that sense of perfect security which the
innS. favorable aud calm thought and rc.ec-
,,on Oh liz part Of the Government can siye
thc'n.
The course here iu:licstd will be followed.
':'l"ss cr!isnt cTvnts and experience shall
sho" u.ndlIicAtlon or change to he proper !;
a.d IN very case and cxigcncy my best dis
&c ion Shall be exercised according to cir.
Ss",sIanc.s actually cMs,ing, and with a
view AND Il hnre ola peaceful solution Of
Ii,c la.ioiial troubles. and tho restoration
Of t'rattrnal sympathics and affections.
That u ere are persons, in one section or
IN rer, who seek to destroy the Union at all
',.ns ard are glad Of any pretext to do it.,
+ " i'll neither affirm nor deny but if there
be surh need address no word to them.
To tlosc, however. who really love the
tnion, may not speak before entering upon
50 grupc matter as the destruction Of our
sat'oEnl fabric, with all its benefits, its mcu.
cries an@ bnpcs! Would it not be wise to
ascertain previously why We do 500" WILL
"a h"Znid sn desperate step, while there is
ahr POSSIBILITY that any portion OF the Ills
.on ly from have no r"nl existence? Will
YOU, willie the certain lis you fly to arc
greater than all the unreal unes you fly from?
VIII y"u risk the commission Of so fearful
ni>i.~c! All profess to lie content in the
lr'.n, if al constitutional rights can BE-
majHtantd.
Is i. tree, then, that any right plainly
~r:,trn in Tie Consultation has been denied
'hlnG not. Happily the human mind is so
constituted that no party can reach 10 the
andat''y of dong tits Think, if you can,
oG a single instance IN which plainly witt
ten provision Of the Constitution has ever
been denied. If, by the mere force of num-
bus, majority should deprive minority of
any !saiIy written Constitutional right 1t
might in a moral point of view, justify q
revelation. Ii certainly would, ii such 4
right we n vital one. But such is moi,
cur case. All the vital rights Of ninor.
,'cs and cf individuals are SO plainly ASSURED
- t!tiu by affirmation and ncgat ions, guar.
an'ccs ard prohibitions in the Constitution,
tia. cont.U.e!sils never arise concerning
tEtm.
Bu. no organic law can be framed with a
provision specifically applicable to every
question which may occur IN the practical
administration. No President can anticipate,
r''l any ducumen. of REASONABLE length con-
Kahn. txyr,ss provisions for all possible CUES.
Sons,
Shall t"ei,ives from labor be surrendered
II national or State authority? The Consti.
'u'i"n does not expressly say. May Congress
prohibit slavery in the Territories? The
Constitution docs not expressly say. Must
tnsrr@s protect slavery in the Territories
The Constitution does not expressly say B.
!'on questions of ths class spring all our
constitutional controversies, and we divide
MON them INTO major,ics and minori,ies.
j! the minority will net ac9uiesce, the
niaic!iiy mast or the government must cease
Thee is no other alternative for continuing
rhc Government but acqaiesccnce on the one
SIDE Or the other.
II a minority in such case will eccede
r"'hrr than a,quisce, they make precedent
"hich, in turn, will divide and ruin them
fora n!na;liy CT their own will secede from
them "hencver majority refuses 10 be con-
trp,,l by such minority.
Scr instance, why may not any portion Of
Il new Cont, dtracy, year or two hence,
Arbitrarily stc.de again, precisely as por-
liens ei the present Union now claim to
sec'"c i!am it /? All who cherish disunion
scnt,me.s'are now being educated to the
exact Temper ofdoing this.
Is there such perfect identity Of interests
en'nrg the States to compose new Union
MS to produce harmony only and prevent re.
ncwcd secession?
Plainly, the central idea OF secession is the
essence Of anarchy. a majority. held in re-
s'ra,nl BY constitutional checks and lmi'a.
uous, and always changing easily with the
d s,ge1a'c changes Of popular opinions and
sentiments. IS the only true sovereign Of q
free people
Whoever. rejects il does. Of necessity. fv
t" anarchy or to dcspo,isn-u Immunity is
inrossi' &c. The rule Of minority as a per-
ma"ert arrangement. is wholly inadnissaGlc,
~ that, rejecting the majority principle,
s't!icIy ard despolis,n, in Some form, is all
that is laft
! do not forget the position assumed by
some, last constitutional questions are to be
4, cl!ed b ,he Sa.prctae Court. Nor do ]
,igIlc that ~. h,,