Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-07-12


re4ured It rhis -was necessary to the execu.
t'on OF the laws. The continuance Of the law
made in such extreme tenderness Of the liberty
OF the citizen, practically relieved more Of the
guilty than he innt cent. To state the Ques-
tion more directly: Are all the laws but one
to be unexecutei and the Government 60 to
pieces lest ono he violafedi But it was be-
licved that the suspension of the writ Of haJ-
eds corpus was not unconstitutional
The forbearnnce Of the Government had been
extraordinary and long continued Us to in
duce foreign nation. to shape their action or
the suPpos tion Of an early dissolution. The
Administration was concerned about this, but
is now happy to state that the sovereignty of
the Union is now everywhere practically re-
specte'l. nnd sympathy with the Government,
manifested throughout the world.
The reports of tho Secretaries will give de-
tailed information, aud the Executive and De-
PartInents are ready to supply any omissions
necessary to guide your deliberations. ! re-
commend the adoption Of measures TO make
the contest short and decisive, and that you
place at tie Governments disposal at Ienst
four hundred thousand men and four hundred
millions of money, that number of men being
about one-tcnth Of the available men within
the willing legion, and that sum one-tweniy-
third Of the wealth Of the men who seem will.
ing to devote their property to that object
The whole six hundred millions would involve
a less debt per head than tho proportion in the
revolutionary war.
Surely the motive now is as strong as then.
Might the result now be worth to the world
ten times the number Of men and ten Zines the
amount Of money. Legislative sanction is only
necessary. the material for the work being n
hu"dsnt; the greatest perplexity of the Gov
ernment is to avoid receiving men faster than
they are prepared. The people will then have
a Government, if the Government do its part
of the duty.
While percert,bly there lie little difference
between secession and revolution, the movers
knew they could never raise their treason to
resPectablity by n name implying a violation
of Inv they could only advance indirectly in
the teeth Of the noble sentiments of the peo-
pie.
They commenced will, en- insidious public
sentiment, and invented ingenious sophisnls,
which, il considered logically. followed all in
cidents to the destruction Of the Union. The
sophism is legal, peaceful withdrawal, with
coated rebellion drugged the publck mind
during thirty years. and placed good men in
arms against the Government. The sophism
derives currency from the assumption of some
important supremacy pertaining to State
The States have neither mo, nor less than re-
served power-no one of them being State
of the Union. The original ones passed into
the Union before casting off the British CO.
loral dependence, and the new ones came in
from condition of dependence. Even if it
was during temporary independence. it was
never designated State. The words Sover
eign States are not in the Constitution nor, as
it is believed, in any State Constitution:
Here follows an elaborate argument against
the right of secession. 1t is questioned wheth.
er the people of every State. except South
Carolina, are not in favor of the Union the
contrary has not been demonstrated, though
our adversaries have adopted it.
Some passages in the Declaration of Inde
pendence, in which it is said "all men are Gre
ated equal are omitted. Their Constitution,
instead of "we, the people, has, "we, the de-.
puties of the sovereign and Independent
States" Why ignore the rights of men-the
authority Of the peoplei This is ESSENTIALLY
the peoples contest Iam happy to believe
the plain common people appreciate this. It
is not worthy that while in the nations trinL
officers have resigned. no common soldier or
sailor has deserted the flag.
It remains to be demonstrated. that those
who can carry an election can also repress
rebellion-that ballots are the riphtful and
peaceful successors of Bullets-and that when
ballots have fairly and Constitutionay decided,
there can be no successful appeal back to bull
let's; no appeal except to ballots themselves,
at the succeeding election. Such will be the
lesson of peace, teaching men what they can
Lest there be any ,uneAsiness regarding the
co urse of tie Government towards the Southern
States, after suppressing the rebellion, it s prop
er to say twill be guided by the Constitution
and laws. The Executive desires to admins.
Ter the Government as administered by; the
everywhere have the right, to claim. This the
North preceived. 10 tlscre any coercion. sub.
iugation or conquering in these termsi The
Consultation guarantees TO each State a repre-.
form of Govefnmsnt4 II State
it may changes the form. To pre-.
vent its going out is indispensable to main
aiming .he guarantee. .
With the deepest regret. the Executive ;eni-
ployed the war power for tie defeaee Of the
Goysrnment, bnt It was forced upon him, He
coald Bot perform Els duty, or surrender The
Government. No eompiomi.snin in 'thB esse
cotiid cure. not that compromises are not Of.
tsn proper; tutne popular ;Goysrnment can
|one survive ..msrksd .preesdept,. that those
an aeisotion can oely save tiie eouatIy
BY gtyisg;pp the main point on which che peo.
pie gave the election. The people Themselves, |
aud atot THAR. servants can. ysverss the decis
IONS As sprivstes sestisen: tho Executive eoald