Litchfield enquirer., 1861-05-09

forms and safeguards of constitutional law. 4 small minority, however, openly proclaimed thei determination not to submit to the popular choice. They affected to regard the election o Republican President, as virtual denial o the constitutional rights of the South. They made it the occasion for obstructing the opera tions of the Government, crippling it's energies and robbing it of the means of self-protectioI and protection of it's loyal citizens. They uset it 10 infame the Southern mind, and precipitatt communities and States into an attitude of de termined and active hostility to the authority and very existence of the Government.
 Public officers who occupied the highest posi- tions of trust and responsibility in the Govern ment, who yielded it's enginery and gave tont and direction to it's measures, conspired witl traitors, and permitted the seizure and occupan cy of forts, arsenals and other public property Seven States have cast off their allegiance to tho General Government, assumed unrestricted soy. ereignty, and entered into an armed confederacy to resist its authority. They have refused te allow the Government to supply it's troops with necessary provisions while in the peaceable oc cupancy of it's own fortresses. They have de handed the evacuation of the Federal forts, and have enforced the demand at the cannon's mouth Seven thousand men in arms, backed by nine teen batteries of artillery, have, in open day with disloyal hearts and traitorous hands, struck at the national flag in the harbor of Charleston and while we are assembled in this legislative hall, rebel army is mastering for march on the National Capital. We are in the midst of a rev. olution, on winch all that we hold most dear, as a free people, is staked. Never have the fiber, ties achieved for us, by our fathers, through the fire and blood of a seven years war;" been in such imminent peril as now.
 Duty to ourselves, to our country. and to God require that we weigh, candidly, the demands ot aggrieved citizens and, in the language o1 Washington, if any have "just cause to complain of grievances, we should redress them, but, ii complaints are inconsistent with the principles of freedom and constitutional liberty, we should show them that there is no remedy, and use tha powers of the Government to suppress any pas. sionate manifestations of their dissatisfaction in violations ofthe public peace and constitution al law" And again:-" If the laws are to be trampled upon with impunity, and minority, a small too, is to dictate to the majority, there is an end put, at one stroke, to republican gov D
 It is wise and safe to heed such admonitions, and hearken to such counsel as tEc rule of duty o-day.
 The most specific demand make by the mal- contents is, that the people shall recognize the existence of constitutional authority in the gen eral government to protect property in man, wherever the sovereignty of the government ex- tends, or that the constitution be so amended as to confer such authority.
 The alternative exhibits the weakness of the position. The constitutional right of tie states to control slavery within their respective bor- ders, (without dietation impertinent interfer ence from others) is, and ever has been, unques- tioned but that carries with it no authority to force upon citizens of other states the responsi- bility of nationalizng and sustaining the insti- tuition.
 This government was founded upon the prih- ciples of freedom. New guarantees to slavery are, therefore, inconsistent with it's principles and must be denied
 Again, the revolutionists justify rebellion against the government, on account of opinions entertained by its citizens. Long before the present administration was inaugurated, seces- sion was advocated, on the ground that the President elect, and those who elected him, en- tertained opinions unfavorable to Southern in stitutions. They insist that the public senti- ment is erroneous, which does not conform to their standard, having thus lost fight of the fact that the government can take no cognizance of opinions, as such.
 They claim, also, in effect, the right of the minority to dictate the terms upon which they will recognize ihe authority and influence of the majority III the administration of the govern meIt which that majority have constitunonally inaugurated.
 Tine alternative of submitting to their claims, or to the overthrow of tine government, is now presented. The issue is forced upon us, and must be met; not by cowardice and humble sub serviency to usurped authority, but by frmness with the magnitude ot the inter- ests at hazard and in a spirit that shall vndi- cate tEe insulted majesty of nation. The scep- ire ot authority must be upheld, and allegiance secured. It is no time to make concessions to rebels, barley with men in arms. We must make no sacrifices of principles vital to freedom and no indecent haste for conciliation and peace. " God makes haste slowly.'
 This is the day of our trial-freedon and des- potisn-repubiicanism and absolutism-civili- zation and religion, from every corner of this earth, are watching, with intense interest as we vibrate between law and anarchy. Events, fraught with fearful power for good or for evil, are following each other with teegraphic rapid ity, and no human wisdom can determine their power, or human foresight discern their infu- ence upon our future. Whether they shall be guided and controlled by reason, so as to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and OUT or whether, under the influence of passion, they shall subvert the government and establish an oligarky upon its ruins, depends, under God, upon the decision of the American people, at this solemn crisis. As they shall elect the government will stand or fall The blessings which it brings may be preserved by
 
 or refusal to acknowledge the supremacy of the government, will cost us our liberties.
 But indifferent or dsloyal we cannot be. Fail or falter we shall not. Through and beyond the clouds and darkness of the present, l think l see bright and glorious future. I hear, too, ab. ve the roar and shock of battle prophetic voices-voices of the patriot dead who fell al Lexington and Concord ald Bunker Hill, and on every bloody field of the revolution. They bid 1on6 1or1 u,.t millions and all it's wealth of prosper ty, and to remember that it is the purchase of their blood What they did for themselves, their children and us, their childrens children, they call on us to do for ourselves and ours. The liberties they conquered have been to us proud heritage ot freedom and national renown, for more than three-quarters of century. Be it ours to re. conquer those liberties, and, by the blessing oi God, transmit them, unimpaired, as priceless legacy to those who come after us. And in en. tering upon the desperate struggle before us let us rest assured that we fight not this battle alone. The enlightened sentiments and sense of justice-the sympathies, the benedictions the prayers of the civilized world are with us, and God himself is with us. Let us, then, register in Heaven our VOWS that, in firm reliance on Him, and on the righteousness of our cause, we will, if need be, make the battle fields of this second war of Independence, alters of patriotic sacrifice, and watchwords of Liberty forever.
 WILLIAM A. BUCKINGHAM.
 Hartford, May l, 1861,
 OSE WAT TO ESCAPE A LEcrURE.-One night, after having kept up their frolic until late hour, the Colonel came homo sopewhat mellow, when he found his wife waiting for him with a countensnce that foretold storm The Col whose face had never blanched before an enemy quailed before the just indignation of his better half Tpstead of going to he'd he fook A seat and resting his elbows upon his knees, with his face in his hands. seemed to be completely ab. sorbed in grief signing heavily, utter such ex,