The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-03-15

IWhf--ARaInet iOTCe. ne recommends
a National Convention as the only
body that can adjust this matter
authoritatively, or divide the Union
pesceably.
In short, although those bent on
precipitation may represent that this
Inaugural means coercion, there is
not word like it that is not a
logical necessity OF Lincoln's Do
sition, and the notifications by
circumstances are quite as iull as
could be expected. His appeal to
the Convention OF the people, and
his earnest plea for peace. indicate
anything but a disposition for CO.
ercion.
Ljt the statcs at once request
Congress to call Convention. Two
thirds of them can DO it. That body
will be competent to udjust matters,
or divide peaccably, and relieve the
country from the calamiiies OF war
We believe the people of this country
will settle this matter wisely and
well.
Some may censure the general re
marks about the decisions OF the
Supreme Court, but the intelligen,
reader will see that it is but the old
Democratic duc'rine OF Jefferson and
Jackson. II ii DO heresy, it is no,
Lincoln's.
The Louisville journal Of yester.
day says nothing directly with regard
to the message. but the course Of tina,
paper may be inferred from the fol
lowing article With reference to the
calling Of a National Convention:
tfrcm the Lexington tKcntuck,) obsorver.l
The Republican President lie now
clothed with sll the Executive power
and administrative authority con
icrrcd on him by tho Constitution ol
the United States, but will havc no
other power or authority. As Pre-.
sident, he has no power to disturb
slavery in any state, nor any TO
prevent it's extension to a territory.
We have Just read his Inaugural
address. We find it temperate
peaceful, and as national as we ex
pected. 1t was not his province, in
th.t address, to propose any mode
OF adjustmen, OF our sectional diff
culties on the subject Of slavery -
But he in licatc, approval Of cal
OF National Convention whereby
the people may settle those matters
for themselves without his dictation
or interference as to the terms o.
settlement. lie also makes solemn
pledge, guaranteed by his official
oath, TO emf rec the Fugitive Slave
law, as well as all other laws oi the
United States--to delenl our pro
perty against all fnrcible invasion--
and to rbear the employment o.
force to recover that Of which We
have been robbed by treason. And
he asserts that his party have neither
power or wish to Interfere with
slavery in the states. -
Is there anything in the Inaugural
ominous OF evil or injustice to Ken
tu:ky. l. her con lition now worse
in the Union than it would be out ol
tho Unions Has anything b, en-
done or anything likely to occur that
wonld justify her in any revolution
airy movement destructive Of her
peace, her slave property, and her
luture security? Why should she
hitherto the Unions champion, now
d sire to destroy it? She docs not
Her heart s,il! throbs for the glorious
Union with its patriotic memories
its national music, aud it's charming
stars and stripes.
tFrnm thc Baltimore American -Tann.l
The tone OF the speech is pacific;
that is to say. Mr.. Lincoln avows
his determination to preserve pc ace
so Tar as it may be done, in the per
iormancc of hil duty as he under
stands it. He denies that he has
the power 10 recognize the right or
the fact Of secession, and therefore
denies that he has the liberty to
refrain from the performance Of what
would 10 plain obligations If no
such right or fact had been assumed
to exist. While, therefore. he an-
nounces his intention to collect the
revenue and to possess and dolend
the iorts, he distinctly declares that
he will do these things in such
manner MS to avoid tho ne 'ess:ty for
strife, it is possible to d. go. J..
is perfectly evident, from The whole
tenor Of his al lress, TIA t he does
not intend to be the asgressor, ii
peace may not be preserved.
In defense OF this position, ha ap
peals to the fact that his oath q
office leaves him 10 latitude. He
: wears 10 uphold government that
comes into his hands unbroken, 50,
far as the admission OF that govern
Inent itself ID concerned. lie pro
lcsscs to find in the laws that are
to gov, rn him in his official criI'!uc'
no loopholo through which he can
escape from the pressure OF enact .
memts which have been left tor his
guidance. And, il we understand
his argument upon this part OF the
discussion, he simply asserts his /"
alb lily to do anything else than
enforce laws which "rcsolves and
can neither nuliiiy nor
render imperative. lle consequent
Is excludes all questions ot p"lic,
ani NIL avowal oi his personal pre-
fcrences in This matter, and contents
himself with II statement Of what h'
believes to be his duty in the prem
ises, and an announcement vi his,
purpose to perform Il.
No one will deny that he has met