Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-01-18

angry excitement Of the hour shall have
subsidized and calmnc.s once more shall have
resumed its accustomed sway over the pub-
lic mind. then. and not until thsL-one,
two, or three years hence-i should cheer.
fully advise . convention OF the people 10
b assembled in::pursaancs OF tho Con.titu.
ton. TO consider and decide whether any
sad what amendments Of the organic ma
tional Law ought 10 DO made.
A Republican now-as | have heretofore
boon . member OF otbar parties EXISTING in
my day. nevertheless hold and cherish.
~ have always done. tho principle tha,
this Government exists IN its present form
only by the consent OF She governed. and
that IL 10 as necessary ~ IL is wise. 10 re.
sort TO the people for the re,isions Of the
organic Law when the troubles and danger,
Of the State certainly transcend the powers
delegated by IL 10 the public authorities.
Nor ought the suggestion n excite sur.
prize. Government IN any form IL ma
chine; this 10 the most compiler one ,ha,
the mind oi maj has ever inventsd, or the
hand Of msnd has ever framed. Perfect as
II 70, IL ought TO be expected that u will.
at least - often ne once in . century, re-
quire soms modification TO adapt 10 20 tho
changes Of society and al.ernations Of em.
pre-.
Fourthly. hold myself ready now. n
always heretofore u vote for any properly.
guarded laws which shall bs dcsmsi nscc,-
sary to prevent mutual IuyasiOns Of state.
by citizens Of other States. and punish ihOs,
who shalt AID and abet them.
Filthy. Notwithstanding tho Arguments
Of the gallant Senator from Oregon (GeO.
Lane.) I remain Of the same opinion that
physical bonds. such as highways, railroads,
rivers, and canals. are vastly moro power-
ful for holding civil communities together
than any mere covenants, though written
on parchment or engraved upon iron. re-
main therefore. constant % my purpose 10
secure IL possible. the construction of two
Pacific railways. one Of which shall connect
the ports around the mouths OF the Mi'-ls-
sippi. and the other the towns on the Ms.
souri and the Lakes, with the harbors on
our western coast.
n, in the expression OF ,hess views, have
not proposed what 10 desired or expected ~
many Others. they will DO ms the justice %
believe that | am as lar from having su:-
gesiei what in many respects would have
been in harmony with cherished cnntic-
tions Of my own. learned early from JEFF
isrson, that IN political Affairs We cannot
always do what seems TO u, absolutely best.
Those with whom We must necessarily aei'
entertaining diGerent views, have the power
and the right Of carrying them into prae-
tics. We must DO content 20 lead when
We can. and % follow when we cannot lead I.
and IL No cannot NJ any time do Tor our
country ell the good that We would Wish.
We must be satisfied with doing tor her all
the good we eau.
Having submitted my own opinions on
this great crisis. 10 remains only % say that
| shall eheerfully lend TO the Government
my b-.t support in whatever prudent yet
energetic efforts 10 shall make 10 preserve
the public peace. and 10 maintain and pre-.
serve the Union advising, only, that 10
practice ne lar as possible the u,mo', mod.
Grafton. forbearane.. and concIlia,iou.
And now. Mr.. President. what are tho
auspices Of the country know that 10
are IN the midst OF alarms, and somewhai
exposed % accidents unavoidable in SEASONS
o, tempcstuous passions. We already haVo
disorder and violence has begun. ] know
not " what extent it may 50. Still my
faith ia tho Constitution and the Union
abide.. because my faith in the wisdom and
virtue OF the American people remains un'
shaken. Coolne-s. ealmne-s, and rcsola.
ton. arc elements OF their character.
They have been temporarily displaced !;
but they are reappcarins. soon enough, l
I trust, for safety, IL will % seen that 'edl.
ton and violence are only local and tempo
rary. and that loyalty aud affection 10 the
Union arc tho natural sentiments OF tho
whole country. Whatever dangers thers
shall be, there will b. the determination n
meet them Whatever sacrifices. private or
public. shall lis nccdfull for the Union.
they will bs made. ieel suro that tho
hour has not come Tor this great nation 10
fall
This people. which Ia, been studying to
become wiser and better a. 1t has grown
older, is no, perycrsc or wicked enough 10
deserve 90 dreadful and severe punishment
as dissolution. This Union Ia. not yet
accomplished what good for mankind wa,
maniie.tly designed by Him who .ppolnn
tho seasons and prescrioe- tue duties OF
State. and Empires. No. sir: Il !, vers
Gas, down by faction to-day, Il would RIO
again and reappear in all its MAJESTIC pro-
portions Tomorrow.
IL 10 the only Government that can stand
here. Woe Woe - the man tha, madly
lift. his hand against il. IL shall e5ntinao
AMI endure: and men, in after times, shall
declare that this generation, which saved
the Union from such sudden and unlocked
for dangers. surpassed in mngnanimlty even
that one which LAID It's foundations ia the
eternal principles Of liberty. justice, aud
humanity.