The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-03-21

~ r.
pie over the whole subject, to be e~xercis-
ed in either of the modes prescribed in
the instrument itself, and | should, under
existing circumstances, favor rather than
oppose a fair opportunity being afforded
tie people to act upon it. will venture
TO add that to me the Convention mode
seems preferable, in that it allows amend
ments to originate with the people them
selves, instead Of only permitting them to
take or reject propositions originated by
others not especially chosen for the pur-
rose, and which might not be precisely
such as they would wish either to accept
or refuse. ! understand that a proposed
amendment to the Constitution, which
amendment however, | have not seen, has
passed Congress, to the effect that the
Federal Government shall never interfere
with the domestic institutions of St:tes,
including that of persons held to service.
To avoid misconstruction of what | have
said, | depart from nay purpose, not to
speak of particular amendments, so far
as to say that, holding such a provision
to now be Implied constitutional law, |
have 10 objection to its being made ex-
press and irrevocable.
The Chief Magistrate derives all his
authority from the people, and they have
conferred none upon him to fix the terms
for the separation Of the States. The
people themselves can do this if they
choose, but the Executive, as such, has
nothing to do with it. His duty is to ad
minister the present Government as it
came to his hands ard to transmit it un-
impaired by him to his successor. Why
should there not be a patient confidence
in the ultimate justice of the people =
Is there any better or equal hope in the
world? In our present differences, is
either party without faith of being in tie
right? If the Almighty Ruler of Ma,
tons, with his eternal truth and Justice,
be on your side Of the North. or ON yours
Of the South, that truth aId that justice,
will surely prevail by the Judgment of
this great tribunal. the American people
, BY the frame of the Government under
which we live, THIS same people would
wisely give their public servants but lit
tie power for mischief. and have with
equal wisdom provided for the retur OF
that little to their own hands at very
short intervals. While the people retain
their virtue and vigilance, no Admins,
%tration, by any extreme wlckcdneSs or
folly, can very seriously %injure the Gov
ernment in ;hc short space of four years.
Ny cnrn'rymcn, one aud all. think
calmly aud well upon this whole subject
hing valuable can BE- lost by taking
iinle If there be an object to hurry any
Of you, in hot haste, to a step which you
would never take deliberately, that ob
iect will be frustrated by it. Such OF
you as are how dissatisfied still have the
old Constitution snimpalrcd, and IN the
sensitive point, the law> of your own t'a'm-
ing under it, while the new Ad'nini,ira
ton will have no Immediate power, if it
would, to change either. If it were ad-
mitted that YOU who are dissatisfied hold
the right side in the dispute, there is still
no single reason for pcecipltcte action.
Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity
and a fran reliance OF Him who has rev
err vet forsaken this favored land, are still
competent to adjust, in the best way, all
our present difficulty. In your hands,
my dissatisfied fellow coumtrymen, and
not in mine, is the momentous issue Of
civil war. The Government will not AS
sail YOU. You can have no conflict with
out being Yourselves the aggreSsors. You
have ne oath registered III Heaven to de
stroy tic Government, while | have the
most solemn one to preserve, protect
and defend it. | an lo,h 70 close. We
are not enemies but friends. We must
not be enemies. Though passion may
have strained, it must not break our bonds
of affection. The mystic chords of mem-
cry stretching from every battlefield and
patriotic grave to every living heart and
hearthstone all over this broad land, will
vet swell the chorus of the Union. when
:, agaiu to lched, as surely they will be, by
the better angels of our nature.
During the delivery of the Inaugural.
which commenced at 122 O'Clock, he
President elect was much cheercd, espec-
iaily at any a~llusion to the Union.
President Buchanan aud ChiefJustice
Tanev listened with the almost attention
to every word of the address.
At the conclusion Of the address Chief
Justice fancy administered the oath Of
office, as follows:
IL ABRAHAM LINCOLN, do solemnly
swear that | will faithfully execute the Office
of President of the United States, and will to
/ the best Of my ability reserve, protect, and
/ defend the Constitution Of the United States
! The President. in taking the cath. was
most vociferously cheered by the vast as
semblage.