St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-03-14

~ void, and that any act Of violence
within any State or States against the
authority Of the United States, arc in
surrectionary or revolutionary, accor-
ding TO circumstances.
therefore consider that in view of
the Constitution and the laws, the In
ion is unbrokcn, and to the extent of
my ability l shall take care, as the
Constitution expressly cnjoins on me,
that the laws of the Union be faithful
ly executed in all the States. Doing
this | deem to be ouly simple duty
on my part, and | shall perform it so
far as practicable, unless my rightful
masters, the American people, shall
withhold the requisite means, or in
some authoritative manner direct the
contrary.
trust this will not be regarded as
menace but only as the declared
purpose Of the Union that it will
constitutionally defend and maintain
itself in doing this, there need be no
bloodshed or violence, and there shall
he none, unless it be forced upon the
National authority.
The power coniided TO me will be
used to hold, occupy and possess the
property and places belonging to the
Government, and to collect duties on
imports But beyond what may be
necessary for these objects, there will
be no invasion, no using OF force
against or annoying people anywhere.
Where hostility to the United States
in any locality shall be so great and
so universal as to prevent competent
resident citizens from holding Federal
office, there will be no attempt to force
obnoxious strangers among the people
to accomplish that object While the
strict legal right may exist in the
Government, to enforce the exercise
Of these Offices, the attempt to do so
would be so irritating and socially i'm
practicable withal that deem it bet
ter to forcGo for a time the uses of
such offices. The mails, unless repel-
led, will continue to be furnished in
all parts of the Union, as far as pos
sible. The people everywhere shall
have that sense of perfect security
which is most favorable for calm
thoughts and reflection. The course
herein indicated will be followed, un-
less current events and experience
shall show modification or change
to be proper and in every cXigency,
my best discretion will be exercised.
according to circumstances actually
existing, and with view and IL hope
of peaceful solution Of the National
troubles, and restoration of iratCrnal
feeling. That there are persons in
one section or another who seek to
destroy the Union at all events, and
are glad of any prctcXt to do it, | will
neither affirm nor deny. If there be
such, to them | need address no word
to those, however, who really love the
Union, may | not speak? before enter
ing upon so grave matter as a dcS-
truction of our national fabric, with
all its benefits, its memories and its
hopes, would it not be wise to asccr-
tain previously why we do it Will
YOU hazard so desperate Il step while
there is any possibility that portion
of the ills you fly from have no real
existence ? Will you, while the GER
tain evils you flee to are greater than
all the real ones you fly from? Will
you risk the commission of so fearful
a mistake? All profess to be content
in the Union, if all constitutional
rights can be maintained. Is it true
then, that any right, plainly writer
in the Constitution. has been denied
think not Happily the human mine
| is so constituted that no party can
reach to the audacity of doing this
Think, if you can, of Il single instance
in which plainly written provision OF
the Constitution has ever been denied
If by mere force of numbers, a major.
ity shall deprive minority of any
clearly written constitutional right, ii
might, in moral point of view, .justi
fly revolution it certainly would i
such right were vital onc-but sucl
is not our case. The vital rights o
minoritics and of individuals are sc
plainl Y assured to them by ailirmations
and legal guarantees ard prohibitions
Of the Constitution, that controversy
never arises concerning them. Blu
no organic law can ever be franco
with provision specially applicable
to every question which may occur il
practical administration. No foresight
can anticipate, nor any document o
reasonable length contain express pre-
vision for all possible questions
Shall fugitives from labor be surrcn
dcred by State or National authority
The Constitution does not cXpressl
say. Must Congress protect SLAYER,
in territories The Constitution does
not expressly say. From questions o
this class spring all our Constitution
al controversies, and upon them W.
divide into majoritics and minortes
If the minority will not acquicscc
the majority must, or the government
must cease. There is no altcrnativ,
for continuing the government but &C
quicsccncc on the one side or the 9th
or. II the minority in such case vii
secede rather than acquicscc, they
make a precedent that will in turn ri
in and divide them, for minority o
their own will seccdc from them when
ever majority refuses to be control
led by such minority. For instance
why may not any portion Of a new
Cuniederacy, year or two hence, az
bitrarly seccdc again, precisely Il,
certain portions of the present Union
now claim to scccdc from it? Al
who cherish disunion sentiments ar,
being educated to the exact temper fol
doing this. Is there, then, such per
feet identity of interests among the
States to compose new Union as t.
produce harmony only, and prevent ;
new secession ?-plainly, the centra
idea of secession is the essence of an
archy.
A majority, held in restraint by con
stitutional checks and limitations, anC
always changing easily with dclibe
rate changes of popular opinion anC