Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-03-08

IL 90 far A. practicable. unless my rightiul
masters. the American people, shall with.
hold the requ,sition. or 10 some authorize
tive manner direct the contrary.
I trust this will not be regarded NJ .
menace. but only a. the declared parpoes
Of the Union that u will constltntionslly
defend and maintain itself In doing this.
Their. need, 10 be- no iloodshcd ar violence,
and Their. will bs mono unless u be forced
upon the national authority. The power
con6ied 10 me will bc used TO hold, occupy
and po.-css the property and places belong
ing 20 the Government, and collect the du'
,ie. and imports. Hut beyond what may
be nec~s,ry for thee Objects. there will 10
no invasion. no usins OF force aga INST or
amorg the people anywhere where hostility
10 the United States In any interior terri.
tory shall be 81 grca, and universal rs to
prryent IN, comp.tcnt resident citizens from
holding the Federal Offices There shall he
no a,tsppt 10 force obnoxious strangers
among people that object while the strict,
legal rights nav exist Tor the Govern ment
10 enforce the exercise OF ,hcse Offices.
The mail, UNLESS rpel'ed, will continue
TO he furnished in NIL parts OF tho Union :
90 far as possible. the people everywhere
shall have that sense OF perfect security
which is most favorable 20 calm thought and
reflection. The course here indicated will
he followed, unless current events and cx.
periencc shall show q modification or change
TO be proper and in every case and Ell.
cency, nv beet discretion will b. exercised.
according 10 circum.tances actually existing,
and with view and hope 10 peaceful so
luton OF the national trouble and the res'o'
ration OF ira,ernal -ympa,h'es and alec.
tons. That there aro persons in one SECTION
or another. who seek 10 destroy tho Union.
az all events. and are glad Of any prctent 10
do IL. will neither affirm or deny; but "
there should 10 such, ! need address no
words TO them.
To thosc. however. who really love the
Union. may ! not speak Before entering
uron - grave n matter NJ the destruction
Of our national fabric. with all Us benefits,
its memories and It's hopes, would IL not IL
we'll 10 ascertain precisely Why Ne do ~
viii YOU hazard 50 desperate step. while
there :. any possibility that any portion OF
the Ill. YOU Nv FROM have no real existence :
Will YOU. while tho certain ills you Gy 10.
are greater than all the real one. you fly from
will YOU risk the commission Of - fearful
a mistake, All profess to bc content in the
Union. " all constitutional right. can be
maintained, IL 10 true. then. that any
right plainly written ia the constitution has
been dcnici think not. Happily. the
human mind /. 80 constituted. that no party
can roach the audaci,y Of dong this. Thin =,
II YOU can. Of single instance in which a
plainly written provision ~ the c5ns'ltu'
ton ha. ever been denied. II. by the mere
iurcc OF ndmbcr.. n matrity should deprive
n minority Of any clearly written consuiu.
,ional right. IL might, IN u moral poin, Of
view, justify revolution. Ii certainly would.
IL such right were vital one.
I,u, such Il. no, our case. All the vital
right. OF minori,ics and individuals are -
plainly secured ,o them Nv affirmation and
negatives. guarantees and prohibitions in
tho constitution. that controversies. never
arise concerning them but no organic Law
can ever b. framed With provision ,pscih'
cally applicable - every question which
may occur IN practical administration. No
foresight can anticipate, nor any document
OF reasonable length contain express pro
visions for all possible questions
Shall iuriiives from labor b. surrendered
by nStiOpal or by state authority. the Com
.,itution does DO, expressly cay. Must
Congress protect slavery IN the territories.
the constitution does no, expressly ay. From
questions OF hi. class spring all our Cons,i.
tuiioual controversies. AMI We DIVIDE upon
them into ma lOrlties and minoritics. u The
minority will not acqulcscc. the maJoriiy
must. OF the government cease. There -
no other alternative for continuing the
government. acquiesccncc on the one side
OF the other. iia minority IN such case will
scecdc rather than acquicsce. they make a
precedent. which IN turn will divide and
rum them. tor minority 81 their own will
.cccte IRON them, whenever q majority -
iuscs 10 10 controlled ky such minority .
Tor instance, why may no, any portion OF
nv conie,icracy, year OF two hence. arhi'
irarlly scccdc again, precisely asa portion
OF the rrosen, Union now claim TO .eceie
from ity
All Who cherish dsunion sentiments are
now being educated 10 the exact temper OF
doin. this. i there su;h perfect Identity
Of interests among the States % COMPOSE a
new Union, u. TO produce harmony only
and prevent renewed secession! Plainly
the central idea Of secession Is the essence
Of anarchy majority held Ia restriction
by constitutional check. and Limitations.
and always changing easily with the delib
crate change. Of popular opinions and sen
timents, - the only true sovereignty OF n
free people. Whoever resets 10. does Ot
necessity hy % anarchy or 10 de.po,ism.
Unanimliy - impossible the will OF INT.
nOrity ~ permanent arrangement I. Who'll
ly inadmis-Able. ~ that REJECTING the ma
pri,y principle. anarchy or de,po,i.m IN
some form Is all that Is left.
do not forge, the position assumed by
some that constitutional questions ars 10
be decided by the Suprrms Court. nor DO ]
deny that such decisions must be binding,
in any cass, upon the parties 10 q suit, rs to
the obpct Of that suit, while they are also
cnu,lei 10 very high respect and considers.
ton IN all parallel cases, by all other de-
par,ments Of the government, and while 10
IL obviously possible that such decision may
be erruneou. m any gwen case. s,i'l the evil
effect following 10 being limited 90 that par.
tlcuIur casc, WIN tnc cnabVr tHat W may W.
come precedent, for o,he: cases, can better
DO borne. than could the evils OF different
practice. At the same time. the candid cit.
iien must couiOss that IL the policy Of the
government upon vital questions affecting
the whole people Is to be irreyocably fixed
BY decisions Of the Supreme Court,
the instant they nre made in ordinary
litigation between parties m personal ac-
ton., tho people will have ceased to BE-
their own rulers, having TO Tint extent
practically resigned their government into
the hands Of tina, eminent tribunal. Nor
10 there, in this view. any assault upon the
Court or the Judges. IL is duty FROM
which they may not shrink to decide cases
properly brought before them, and 1t 10 no
iauit OF their. IL others seek to turn their
decisions to political purposes.