Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-07-11

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consider 10 reference to what principle it is
/ that ne does IT. What better be Is likely to
get 10 i's stead. whether the substitute viii
/ give, or be Intended, to give, so much good
to the people. There are some forshadow.
ngs on this subject. Our adversaries have
adopted some declarations of independence
in which, unlike the good old one, penned
by jefferson. the omit they words "all men
are created equal.' Why? They have
adopted temporary National Constitution,
IN the preamble of which. unlike our good
old one signed by Washington, they omit,
we, the people," and substitute, 1--WE the
equities of the sovereign and independent
! States"
Whyf Why this deliberate pressing out
of view the rights of men and the authority
Of the people
This is essentially peoples contest. Ou
the side of the Union it is a Struggle for
maintaining, IN the world that form and
substance of government, whose leading OBJ
! jeot is to elevate the condition of men to
lift the artificial weights from their should
ers to clear the paths of laudable pursuit
for all to afford men an uufettered start,
ana fair chance in the race of life.
Yielding to partial and temporary depar-
ures from necessity, this is the leading OBJ
ject of the Government tor whose existence
| we cOsteud.
am most happy to believe that the plain
people understand and appreciate this 1t is
worthy of note that while in this, the govern
ment's hour OF trial, large numbers of those
in the army and navy who have been hon.
ored with Offices have resigned and proved
false to the hand that had pampered them.-
Not one common soldier or common sailor
is known to have deserted bis flag. Great
honor is due to those officers who remained
true, despite the example Of their traitorous
associates But the greatest honor and the
most important fact of all, is the unanimous
firmness of the common soldiers aud common
sailors. To the last man SO far as known,
they have successfully resisted the traitor.
Gus Efforts of those whose commands but an
hour before they obeyed as absolute law
/ This is the patriotic instinct OF a plain peo-
pie. They understand without an argument
that the Destroying Of the Government which
was made by Washington, means no good to
them. Our popular ,vernment has often
been called an experiment. Two points in
il our people have already settled. The sue
cessful establishing and the successful ad-
minlstering of it One still remains. Irs
success, f4l maintainance against formida-
bic internal attempt 10 overthrow it. 1t ls
for them to demonstrate to the world, that
those VINO can fairly carry an election can
| also suppress a rebellion; that ballots are the
rightful and peaseful successors Of bullets
and that when ballots have fairly sni Con-
stiiutioually decided, there can be 10 sue
cessful appeal back to bullets, that there can
be,no successful appeal except to ballots
themselves ut succeeding elections. Such
L. L., &c
what they cannot take by an election neith-
er can they take il by war teaching all the
folly of being the beginners Of the war.
Lest there be some aneasness in the
minds of candid men as to what is TO be the
| course of the Government towards the South
ern States after the rebelIien shall have been
suppressed. the Ex cunve deems it proper to
| say il will be his purpose then, as ever, to be-
| guided by the Constitution and the laws,
and that he probably will have no dffert nc
understanding of the powers and duties of
the Federal GolernB ent, relatively to the
rights of the States and the people under the
| Constitution then expressed in the Inau urai
| Address. He desires to preserve the Gov.
| ernment that 1t may be ad administered to Ill as
IL was administered by the men who made IT,
! Loyal ci'izens everywhere have the right to-
claim Ia S of their Government, and the Cow
ernment has no rig TO withhold OF neglect
il. 1t is not perceived that in giving it there
is any coercion, and conquest or sshiugatiou,
| in aIy just senss of those terRss
| The Constitution provides, and ell the
| States have accepted the provision that the
| United States shall guarantee 70 every State,
ia this Union Republican form of Govern
mens. But if State may lawfully 20 out cf
the Union. having dune so it may also dis
card the Republican form OF Government, SO,
that to prevent its going on it is all indis-
pensabie to use every means to the end Of
maintaining the guaranty. When an end IS
lawful and obligatory the ind;sT ensable
means to obtain /. are also lawful and obli-
gatory.
/; WAS with the deepest regret that the,
Execu tive found the dutv of employing the
war power in defence of the Government for
ced upon him. lie could but perform this
| duty or surrender the existence of the Gov
ernment. No compromise by public SER
wants could in this ease be a cure. Not that
compromise are not often proper, but that
no popular movement can long survive a.
marked precedent That those who carry
an election can only save the Government
from immediate disruption, by giving up the
main pefnt, upon which the people gave the
election, The people themselves, ard nok
their servants can safely reverse their own
deliberate decisions.
AS private citizen, the Executive could
not have consented that these institutions
shall perish much less would be in betrayal
of so vast ard so sacred trust rs these free
people had eonfded to him.
lie felt that he had no moral right to shrink
nor even to court the chances. of bis own life
| in wh.t might follow. In full view of his
great responsibility, he has so far done what
he bad deemed his duty. You will now,
according to your own judgement. perforn
yours. He sincerely hopes that your views
and your actions may so accord with his as
to assure all faithful citizens who have dis
turbed ir their rights of certain and speedy
restoration to them under the Constitution
and the laws
And having thus chosen our course with
QUO guile and pure purpose, lot us renew our
trust in God, and go forward without fear.
and with manly hearts.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
july, 5tb, 1861.