The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-08
pOLITICAL KIND FAMILY NEWSPAPER.

Constitution. It was formed. In fact, BY TIE
articles OF association in liza. II was ma.
tured and continued by the Declaration oil
Independence in 1916.
IL was further matured and the faith OF all
the then thirteen States expressly plighted
and engaged, that IL should be perpetual oy
the articles Of confederation in l77S. and IL
nally in 1887. One of the declared objects
for ordaining and establishing the Constitu.
ion was to form more perfect Union; but
II destruction Of the Union by one, or by
part only of the States be lawfully possible
the Union il less than before. the Constiiu-
ton having lost the vital element Of perpetu-
ity. 1t follows from these views that no
State, upon its own mere motion, can lawful.
ly go out of the Union.
That resolves and ordinances to that effect are
legally void, and that acts Of violence with.
in any State or States, against the authority
Of the United States, are insurrectionary or
revolutionary, according to circumstances.
/ therefore consider that in view oil the
Constitution and the laws the Union IL
unbroken, and to the extent Of my ability
shall take care, as the Constitution itself ex-
pressely enjoins upon me. that the laws OF the
Union be faithfully executed in all the States;
and in doing this deem It to be only simple
duty on my part, and shall perform II so far
NJ practicable unless my riehtful masters, the
American people. shall withhold the requi-
sition. or In some authoritative manner direct
the contrary.
/ trust this will not be regarded as men.
ace. but only as the declared purpose of the
Union. that IL will constitu'ionally defend and
maintain itself. In doing this there needs to
be no blood shed or violence. and there shall
be none. unless it be forced upon the nation.
al authority. The power conhded to me will
be used to hold, occupy and possess the prop
erty and places belonging to the Government,
and collect the duties and imports; but be.
yond what may be necessary for these objects,
there will be no inyasion-no using Of force
against or among the people anywhere where
hostility to the United States in any interior
territory shall be so great and universal as to
prevent the competent resident citizens from
holding the federal offices. There will be no
attempt to force obnoxious strangers among
people that object. while the strict legal right
may exist for the Government TO enforce the
exercise Of these offices.
The attempt to do so would be so irritating
and so nearly impracticab!e withal, that
deem it better to iorego for the time the uses
of such offices. The mail, unless repealed,
will continue to be furnished in all parts OF
the Union. SO lar as possible, the people
everywhere shall have that sense OF perfect
security which is most favorable to calm
thought and reflection. The course here In
dicated will be followed. unless current O.
vents and experience shall show a modfica.
ton or change to be proper. and in every
case and exigency my best discretion will be
exercised according to circumstances actually
existing, and with view and hope to
peaceful solution Of the national tIoubie and
the restoration of fraternal sympathies and
affections. That there are persons In one
section or another who seek TO destroy the
Union at all events, and are glad OF any pre-
text to DO 1t, will neither Affirm nor deny.
But if there should be such, l need address
no word to them. To those, however, who
really love the Union, may not speak. be-
fore entering upon so grave matter as tie
destruction of our national fabric, with oil
its benefits, its memories and its hopes, would
II not be well to ascertain precisely why we
do iti
Will you hazard 50 desperate o step while
there is any possibility that any portion Of
the ills you fly from have no real existence
Will you while the certain ills you fly to are
ere greater than all the real snes you lily
from; viii you Iisk the commission Of SC
fearful a mistaken
All profess to be content In the Union, &
all constitutional rights can be maintained
Is il true then that any right plainly writer
In the constitution has been denied thini
not. Happily the hnman mind is so consu'
tuted, that no party can reach the audacity
of doing this. Think If you can Of single
instance in which ploinly written provision
OF the Constitution has ever been deuied.
II by the mere force OF numbers majority
should deprive a minority Of any clearly writ
ten constitutional right, 1t might, In a mora
point OF view, justify revolution, It certainly
would il such tight were a vital one, but such
| is not our case. All the vital rights Of mi
norities and individuals are so plainly secured
to them by aiiirmations and negatives, guar
aniees aud prohibitions in the constitution
that controversies never arise concerning them
but no organic law can ever be framed with Q
provision specifically applicable to every ques.
lion which may occur in practical adminlstra.
tons.
No foresight can anticipate, nor any docu.
ment OF reasonable length contain express
provisions tor all possible questions. Shall
iugitiyes from labor be surrendered by Ma.
tional or by State authority The Constitution
does not expressly say. Must Congress pro.
tect slavery in the Territories The Consti-
tuition does not expressly say. From ques-
tons of this class spring all our constitutions
al controversies. and we divide upon them in.
to msjorities and minorities. II the minority
will not acquiesco the majority must. or the
government must cease. There is no other
alternative for continuing the government
acQuiescence on one side or the other. III a
minority in such a case will secede rather than
acquiesce. they make precedent which, In
time, will divide and ruin them, for a minority
OF their own will secede from them whenever
a majority refuses TO be controlled by such
minority. For instance, why may not any
portion Of new Coniederacy q year or two
hence arbitrarily secede again, precisely as a
portion OF the present Union uow claim to Sc
cede from III AL who cherish disunion sem
timents are now being educated TO the exact
temper Of doing this.
Is there such perfect identity Of interests
among the States to compose new Union Us
to produce harmony only, and to prevent re-
newed secessioni Plainly the central idea Of
secession is the essence Of anarchy. A ma
jority held In restraint by constitutional
checks and limitations, and always changing
easily with the deliberate changes Of popular
opinion and sentiments, IL the only true SOW
ereign Of free people. Whoever rejects it,
does OF necessity tiy to anarchy or to despot.
ism. Unanimity is impossible. The will Of
q minority, rs n permanent arrangement, is
wholly unadmisssble; so that rejecting the
majority principle. anarchy or despotism, in
some form, is all that is left.
do not forget the position assumed by
some that constitutional questions are to be
decided by the Supreme Court, nor do de-
ny that such decisions mus, be binding in any
case upon the parties TO a suit as TO the OBJ
ject OF that suit, while they are also entitled
to very high respect and consideration
in all parallel cases by all other departments
Of the Government, and while it is obviously
III Ia. IL a. Il a