Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-03-20
WHOLE NO. l,l2l.

snould De necessary 10 peaceful solution OF the
national troubles, and if in any case or exigency
change of policy should be necessary. il will be
made with a view and hope of peaceful solu-
ton" In other words, if the collection of the
revenue leads to a peaceful solution, ii is to be
collected; if the abandonment Of that policy is
necessary to peaceful solution, the revenue is
not to be collected; if the recapture Of Fort
Moultre would tend to n peaceful solution, he
stands pledged TO recapture u; if the recapture
would tend to violence and war, he is pledged not
to recapture it, if the enforcement Of the laws in
the seeding States would tend to facilitate
peaceful solution, he is pledged to their enforce
ment; if the omission to enforce those laws would
best facilitate peace, he is pledged to omit to
force them; if maintaining possession of Fort
Sumter would facilitate peace, he stands pledged
to retain its possession; if, the contrary, the
abandonment of Fort Sumter and the withdrawal
OF. the troops would facilitate peaceful solution,
he is pledged to abandon the fort and withdraw
the troops.
Sir, this is the only construction that can put
upon this clause. If this be not the true inter
pretation. for what purpose it insertedi The
line of policy that he had indicated was stated
vaguely; but there is not pledge to use coercion;
there is not pledge to retain fort; there is not
pledge to recapture an arsenal there is not a
pledge to collect revenue; there is not pledge to
enforce the laws unless there is attached to each
tie condition. and the econdItion is that he will do
1t only when that course tends to peaceful solu-
ton of the national troubles, and that he will not
do it in any where il does not tend to peace
full solution.
l eub-ait, then, to the Senate whether the
friends of peace have not much to rejoice at in
the inaugural address of the President. Ii is a
much more conservative document than had
anticipated. 1t is much more pacific and con-
clitory paper than had expected. would not
he ,Ofa ,srasr
hearing it delivered, until had carefully exam
ined and analyzed it. After examination, am
clearly of the opinion that the Administration
stands pledged BY the inaugural to a peaceful So
luton of all our difficulties to do no act that
leads to war, and to change its policy just so
often and whenever change is necessary to pre-
serve the peace.
So much. sir, for the policy of the Admins
tration. Now few words upon the Presidents
views of the causes of the present difficulties and
the remedies for those difficulties. In a manner
peculiar himself and to his usual course of ar
gument, he proceeds to show, first, what did not
produce the trouble. Let us see what did not
do it
All profess to be in the Unicn all constitu-
tonal rights be maintained Is IL true then that any
MED, think not. Happily the human mind is
suted that no party reach to the audacy OF doing
this. Think you can, Of single instance in which
plainly provision
denied. II, by the force of numbers, a majority
should deprive minority OF any clearly written constitu
0nal right IL might, in moral point OF view Justify
revolution, certainly would IL such right vital
/ But such is not
Here we are told that these difficulties have not
grown OFT of the violation of any express pro-
vision of the Constitution; they have not arisen
from the dsnial of any right guaranteed by an
express provision. He then proceeds to slow
what is the cause of the trouble. Here il Is:
|
specifically applicable to every question which may
in practical administration No foresight anticipate
provisions for all poss bic questions. Shall ugves from
labor be surrendered by National by State authority
The Constitution does expressly May Congress
prohibit slavery in the Tertores The Constitution does
expressly say Must Congress protect slavery the
Terrories The Constitution does expressly say.
From questions Of this class spring all
controversies and we divide upon them into msjortes
and minores.
/ ''From questions of this class SPRING all our
troubles. What classi The attempt of Con-
gress to exercise power on the slavery question
where there is no "expIess" provision of the Con-
stituton comforting the power; the attempt on the
one side to PROHIBIT slavery. and the attempt on
the other side TO protect il, where there is no
express" provision authorizing either-these are
the causes of our present troubles. according to
the statement Of the President. The canses are
to be traced to the absence of any constitutional
provision defining the extent of the power OF
Congress over this subject. IL the President has
stated the causes of difficulties fairly and truly;
if they all arise from the absence of a constitu
tional provision ON the subject of slavery in the
territories, what is the remedyl The remedy
must be to adopt amendment that will make
an express constitutional provision on the sub
ject. The absence of such provision being the
Gauge, the supplying of such provision mus: be
the remedy. Hence the President has demons:ra-
ted with great clearness and force the absolute
necessity of such amendments to to the Constitu-
ton of the United States as will define and settle
the question whether or not Congress has the
power to prohibit slavery; whether or not il has
the power to protect slavery; whether or not il
has the power TO legislate on the subject at ALL
He gives US TO understand that there will never
be peace until that question is settled; it not
be settled except by amendments to the Consti-
tuition; and hence he proceeds to tell us how such
amendments can be obtained. He tells us that
! these amendments to the Constitution may be
obtained in either of the modes prescribed in the
instrument: the one is where Congress takes the
initiative, as we did the other day. and submits
the proposed amendments to the States; the other
is where the States take the initiative, and de-
mand a national convention to amend the Con
stitution.
The President says that he prefers National
f Convention as the most appropriate mode. but he
, has insuperable objection to the other mode
he will favor the ratification by the States of the
amendment. already proposed prohibiting any
future amendment whereby Congress may be
authorized to interfere with slavery in the States
He assigns for his preference for National Con
vention very plausible, in fact a very satisfac-
tory reason. Ii is that if Congress originated
the amendments it might not devise such as the
people would like, whereas il you allow the pe0-
! pie to take the initiative, they will make such
amendments as they want. The President stands
pledged by his inaugural to allow the people 70
devise their own amendments to the Constitution
and not 10 interfere WITH but rather TO favor their
i adoption, whatever they may be-
What is the inference from all this Inas-
much as all our troubles arise from the attemp,
on the part of Congress to prohibit slavery with
out the sanction of an express provision OF tbs
I Constitution, and the counter attempt on the part
| Of Congress to protect slavery without an expires.
/ provision of the Constitution authorizing il
therefore such an amendment must be made a.
will settle the slavery question by an express pro
{ vision and he will not oppose the amendment
Hence we are authorized to infer that If the peo
pie do originate such amendments TO the Consti
, tuition will settle the slavery question-even
I the settlement be repugnant to the principles o
the Republican party, in violation of the Chicag,
I platform, and against the right of Congress Z
prohibit slavery i'm the Territories, Mr. Lincoli
and his administration will not oppose, but favo
o it.
What more can be asked? If the people
, when they come to amend the Constitution, shall
determine that Congress shall have no powe
7 upon the subject of slavery anywhere, except h
surrender fugitive slaves and to prohibit the Afri
:. can slave trade, Mr. Lincoln will not oppose II
. If the people shall say that it shall be the duty
Congress to protect slavery everywhere in the terri
tories, Mr.. Lincoln is pledged not to oppose that
= the people shall say in their amendment that Con
: gress shall have the power to prohibit slavery il
the Territories Mr.. Lincoln is pledged not to op
pose that. If, on the contrary, the people shal
say that they are in favor of the Crttenden prop
e osition dividing the territory by geographic
}; line ON the principle of an equitable partition
II Mr. Lincoln says he will not oppose that. He
+ in favor of such amendments as will settle th
d question forever, by an express provision of tn
II Constitution, and he leaves the people and thei
e representatives to devise what those amendment
= shall be, and he will accept them cheerfuly, an
e not throw any distractions in the way of thei
e adoption.
Taking these two propositions together, fin
much cauaa for hopo for ancoura rotna In, tb,