Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1861-03-15

Of this clause s'shall be delivered up," their
oaths are unanimous.
Now, if they would make the effort in
good temper, could they not with nearly
equal unanimity, frame and pass law by
meaps OF which to keep good that unani-
nous oath
There is some difference of opinion
whether this clause should be enforced by
national or by State authority. But sure
ly that difference is not very material
one.
If the slave is to be surrendered, it can
be of but little consequence TO him or to
others by which authority it is done. And
should any one, in any case, be content
that his oath shall go unkept on a merely
unsnbstantial controversy as to h0ao it
shall be kept!
Again, in any law upon this subject
ought not all the safeguards of liberty
known in the civilized and humane iuris-
prudence to be introduced, so that free
man be not in any case surrendered as
slaves
And might it not be well, at the same
time, to provide by law for the enforce
ment of that clause in the constitution
which guarantees that the citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all privileges and
imm unities Of citizens in the several
States?
| take the official oath to-day with no
mental reservations, and with no purpose
to construe the constitution or laws by anv
hypercritical rnles. And while [ do not
choose now to specify any particular acts
of Congress as proper to be enforced, [ do
suggest that will be much safer for all,
both in official and private stations, to
conform to and abide by all those acts
which stand unrepealed, than to violate
any of them, trusting 20 find impunity in
having them he'd to be unconstitutional.
1t is seventy-two years since the first in
auguration of President under our ma
tional constitution. During that period
fifteen different and greatly distinguished
citizens have, in succession, administered
the executive branch of the government
They have conducted it through many
perils, and generally y with great success.-
Yet with all the scope for precedent, |
now enter upon the same task for the brief
constitutional term Of four years under
great aud peculiar difficulty. A disruption
OF the Federal Union heretofore only me-
naced, is now formidably attempted.
[ hold that in contemplation Of the uni
versal law and OF the constitution, the
Union of these States is perpetual. Per-
petuity is implied, if not expressed, in the
Fundamental law of all national govern
ments. 1t is safe to assert that no govern
ment proper ever had provision in its
organic law to IFS own termination.
Continue TO execute all the express pro-
visions OF our national constitution, and
the Union will endure forever, it being
impossible to destroy it except by some
action not provided for in the instrument
itself.
Again if the United States be not gov
| ernment proper, but an association of
| States. in the nature Of contract merely,
| can it, as a contract, be peaceably nn-
made by less than all the parties who
made it! One party to a contract may
| violate or break it, SO to speak, but does
| it not require all to lawfully rescind it2
Descending from these general princi-
| Piles, we find the proposition that in legal
contemplation the Union is perpetual
confirmed by the history Of the Union it
| self.
The Union is much older than the con.
stitntion. 1t was formed IN fact by the
articles OF association in I776. It was fur
ther matured and the faith of all the then
thirteen States expressly plighted and en-
gagged that it should be perpetual by the
articles of confederation in 1778.
| Aud finally, in 1877, one of the declared
objects for erdaining aud establishing the
| constitution was to torn more perfec'
/ Union. But If the destruction of the Tn
ion by one or by part only Of the States
| be lawfully possible, the Union is less
/ perfect than before the constitution, hav-
ing lost tile vital element of perpetuity.
1 1t follows, from these views, that nc
State, upon It's own mere motion, can law
fully get ont of the Union-that resolves
and ordinances to that effect are legally
void; and that acts of violence within any
State or States against the authority Of the
| United States are einsurrectionary or revo
lutionary, according to circumstances ~
/ / therefore consider, that in view OF the
constitution and the laws,the Union is IN
broken, an to the extent of my ability,
shall take care, as the Constitution ex
/ pressly enjoins Upon me, that the law
of the Union be faithfully executed in al
the States. .s-ses...z
Doing this ] deem to be only a simpl,
duty on my part, and / shall perform i
SO far as practicable, unless my rigEtfn
masters, the American people, shall with
hold the requisite means, orsin some an
tfhoritative manner direct the contrary.
trustthat this will not be regarded Al
a menace, but only as the declared pnr
pose of the lsnion, thatit will lconstidnt ion
4 ally defend and maintain itself. In dofnt
this there need to be no hloodshed or VIC
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