Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-05

LINCOLNS MAIGIRAI.

before you 10 address you briefly and to take In YOU,
presence the oath scribed BY the Consultation Of the
United States TO be taken by the President before he en-
ters on the exercise of bis Office
do not consider necessary at present for to dis
those matters Of administration about which there
Is no special anxiety excitement Apprehension
seems to exist among the people Of the Southern States
that By the ace son OF Republican administration their
property and their peace and personal security to be
endangered. There never has been any reasonable
for such apprehensions Indeed the most ample
evidence TO the contrary has all the while existed and
been open 70 their inspection. II Is found in nearly all
the public speeches Of him who now addresses you.
do but quote from of those speeches when declare
that Il have purpose directly or indirectly to erfere
with the institution of slavery in the States where ex
lists. believe | have no lawful right to do So and
have inclination do So" Those who nominated and
elected me did so with full knowledge that had made
this and many similar declarations and had never re-
eanted them. And, more than this they placed in the
platform" for my acceptance, and law to them.
selves and TO me- the clear and emphatic resolution
which / now read;
"Rssolued, That the maintenance invioate Of the
right of the States and especially the right of each State
to order aud control its domestic institutions
cOring TO its Own judgment exclusively is essential to
that balance OF power on which the perfection and endu
rance OF our political fabric depends and we denounce
the aviess invasion by armed force of the soil Of any
State or Territory, matter under what pretext
among the gravest Of crimes"
IuOw reerate these sentiments and in doing So only
press upon the public attention the conclusive evil
deGce of which the case susceptible that the property
peace and security Of section are 10 be in any way
dangered by the now incoming administration. add too
that all the protection which, consistently with the Con
stitutOn and laws can be given will be cheerfuly wen
to all the States when lawfully demanded for whatever
cause, as cheerfuly to one section as to another
There is much controversy about delivering up fugi-
tives from service labor. The clause read is as
plainly written in the Constitution any other OF its
provisions
mo person held to service or labor in State,
der the laws thereof escaping into another shall In con-
sequence of any law regulation therein be discharged
from such service labor but shall be delivered up on
claim OF the party to whom such service or labor may
be due
Il is scarcely questioned that the provision was intend
ed by those who made for the retaining of what
call fugitive slaves and the intention the awgiver is
the law. AL members Of Congress swear their support
to the whole Constitution this provision much
any other To the proposition, then, that slaves whose
cases come within the Of this clause shall be dev-
er,d up their oaths unanimous Now if they would
make the effort in good temper could they with neary
equal unRnimy, frame and pass law by means OF
which 10 keep good that unanimous OATH There some
difference Of opinion whether this clause should be
forced by National by State authority but surely that
difference Is very material one. Ii the slave IS 70
be surrendered il can be of but little consequence TO
him or to others by which authority it il done. And
should any one 10 any case, be content that his oath
shall 60 unkept merely unsubstantal controversy
as TO how it shall be kept:
Again In any law upon this suhec ought not all the
safeguards OF liberty known in civilized and humane u-
rip-udeuce to be introduced, that tree be not
in any case surrendered slave? And might il not
be we'll the time, provide by law for the en-
forcemeut Of that clause in the Constitution which guar
aatees that "he citizens Of each State shall be entitled
to all the pyis ges aud immules Of citizens the
al States" take the oil ia oath to-day with mental
reservation and with no purpose construe the Const-
tuition and laws by any bypercrtica rules and while do
choose 10 specify particular acts Of Congress
proper to be enforced 90 suggest that il will be much
fer for all, both in official and private stations to
form TO aud abide by all those which stand unre-
peaed than 20 sOte any Of them, trusting 10 final inn
puui,y, in having them held 10 be unconstitutional.
10 ,utytsO years since the first Inauguration OF
Il President uuder our National Constitution During
that period fifteen different and greatly distinguished
citizens have 10 succession administered the Executive
branch Of the Government They have conducted il
through many pes', ami generally with great success
Yet, with oil this scope for precedent, | now
eater upon the same ask for the brief constitutional
Of fouI years under great and peculiar difficulties.
disruption Of the Federal Uuion, heretofore only
aced Is now iorm'Sbly attempted hold that, in con-
temptation Of universal Law and Of the Constitution the
Uiou Of these States Is perpetual Perpetuity is i'm
Piled Il not eXpr, ssed IN the fundamental law OF all Ma
tiona Governments l s safe 10 assert that no Govern
ment prop had provision its organic laws for its
termination Continue 70 execute all the express pro-
visions Of National Constitution and the Union vi
endure forever it being impossible destroy it, except
by action not provided for in the Instrument itself
Again; If the Uaited States be no! government pro-
per but an association of States in the nature of
tract merely can t. as contract. b. p,aceably unmade
by less than OIL tbs parties who made tl One party 10
contract NAV violate IT, break IL TO speak, but does 1t
not require an 20 lawfully rescird il.
D,sceudug from these general principles we find the
proposition that in legal contem lson the Union ia per
pctaa cof-med BY the history OF the Union itself The
Union l. much Older than the Constitution. II vas
formed IN fact by the articles Of association IN l1I4-
l. was mltUred and continued by the declaration Of de
pe1deuce in 1876 It farther matured and the fa'h
Of al the then thirteen States expressly plight and en-
gagged that il should be perpetual by the articles OF
federation in MS and finally in 1857. One of the de-
clred objects for ordaung aud establishing the COnsii-
tuition Was TO form "a mere periec. Union" But #
destruction Of the Uuion by one by part only, OF
the States be lawfully possible the Uron is less perfect
than before the Constitution, having lost the vital ee-
ment Of perpetuty.
It follows from these views that State upon its
mere motion, lawfully get out Of tie Union; that
Resell, and Ordinances 20 that effect are legally void
and that acts OF yioclce within any Stat or States
against ile authority Of the Uui-,d States usurrcc-
tiouary o. revolutionary, according 10 circumstances.
therefore consider that in view OF tue Constitution and
the laws tn Union Is uubrokeu; AID, 20 the extent OF
nv ability shall take care, the Constitution itself
expressly eroius upon me- that the laws of the Union be
faithfully executed iu all the States Doing this deem
iL TO be only simple duty on my part, ard shall per
form il so far as practicable unless my riglul masters
the American people shall withhold the requisite means
or in some authoritative direct the contrary
trust this will not De regarded menace, bu only as
the declared purpose Of the Union that it will consttu-
Uouay defend and maintain itself In doing this there
needs 70 be no bloodshcd violence aud there shall be
none unless t be forced upon the National Government
The power Cou6dcd TO will be used 10 hold, occupy
aud possess the property aud places belonging to the
Government and 10 collect the duties aud mposts, but
beyoud what NAV BE- necessary for these objects there
will be no INVASION no using Of force against or among
the people anywhere. Where hostility TO the United
States M any interior locality shall be great and
universal as 10 prevent competent resident citizens from
holding the Fed raj Offices there will be attempt
force obnoxious strangers among the people for that OBJ
i,ct while the strict legal right may exist in the
Government 20 enforce the exercise of these
offices the attempt to 10 would be so irritating and
80 neatly mpfacticabe with ALL that deem better TO
lorego for the time the OF such offices.
The mails unless repealed, will contnne to be furnish
ed in an parts OF the Union so far possible The peO-
pie eyerg where shall have that of perfect security
which Is most favorable TO calm thought and retec-
ton The course here indicated will be followed ulesS
current events and experience shall show modh-
cation or change 10 be proper, and in every case
and exieencv nv bes. discretion will be exer-
ced according TO circumstances actually existing, and
with a view aud hope of peaceful solution OF the na-
tonal troubles and the restoration OF traernal sympA
tbies and affections.
That there are persons in one section or another
who seek to destroy the zion at all events, and
are Glad of any prctext to DO it. | will neither
anirm nor denv, but if there be such l need al
dress no word to them To those however, who really