The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-03-09

ting them to take or reject propositions
originated by others not especially chosen
for the purpose, and which might not be
precisely such as they would wish either
to accept or refuse 1 understand pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution,
which amendment however / have not
seen, has passed Congress, to the effect
that the Federal Government shall never
interfere with the domestic institutions of
states, including that of persons held to
TO avoid demonstration of what have
saio' depart from my purpose not to
speak of particular amendments so far "a
to say that holding s1ch a provision IN
now be implied constitutional law, I have
no objection to its being made express
and irrevocable The Chief Magistrate
derives all his authority from the people
and they have conferred none upon him
to fix the terms for the separation of the
States. The people themselves alone can
do tas if they choose, but the Executive
rs such has nothing to do with it. His
duty is to administer the present govern
ment as it came to his hands, and to trans
NIT it unimpaired by him to his successor.
Why should there not be patient conf
dence in the ultimate justice Of the peo-
pie. Is there any better or equal hope in
the world In our present differences is
either party without faith in the right :?
If the Almighty Ruler Of nations, with
this eternal truth and justice, be on your
side of the North or on yours of the South
that truth and justice will prevail by the
judgment Of this great tribunal, the great
American people. By the frame Of the
Government under which we live this
same people have wisely given their pub
: I,,x ,t,la
and have, with equal wisdom, provided for
the return of that little to their hands at
very short intervals. While the people
retain their virtue and vigilance. no adj
ministration or any extreme wickedness or
folly can very seriously injure the govern
ment in the short space of four years
My countrymen, one and all, think CALM
| " and well upon this whole subject No
| thing valuable can be lost by taking time
If there be an object TO hurry any of you
in hot haste to a step which you would
never take deliberately, that object will
| be frustrated by taking time but no good
! object can be frustrated by it such OF you
as are dissatisfied, still have the old Con
sttution unimpaired; and on the sensi-
tive point the laws of your own from franz
ing under it by the new administration
they will have no immediate effect to
J CU.HE" II IL were admitted tU3t YOU VINO
are dissatisfied hold the right side Of dis
pu.e; there still is no single reason for
precip;ate action. Intelligence, patyot-
ISM christianity, and a firm reliance on
him who has never yet forsaken this "a
yored land are still competent to adjust
in the best way all our difficulties In
your hands my dissatisfied fellow-cOuntry-
men ana not in mine Is the momentous
issue of civil war. The government will
not assail you. You can have no conflict
without being yourselves the agcrcssor.
You have no oath registered in heaven to
destroy the government while shall have
the most solemn one 10 preserve, protect
and defend. | am 10th to close We are
not enemies, but friends We must not
be enemies. Thoagh passion NAV be hair
strained il mus, not break our bonds Of
action. The mystic chords OF memory
stretch from every battle field and patriot
grave to every living heart and hearth
stone all over this broad land will again
swell the chorus Of Union when again
touched, as surely they viii be by the bet
/ ter angels OF our nature