Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-03-13

POooSco
the property and places belonging to the govern
ment and to collect the duties no imports; but be-
yond what may be necessary for these objects there
will be no INVASION no using of force against or
among the people anywhere. Where hostility to the
United States in any interior locality shall be 50
great and so universal to prevent competent resi-
dent citizens from holding the Federal offices, there
will be no attempt to force obnoxious strangers
among the people for that object.
While the strict legal right may exist in the Gov
eminent to enforce the exercise of these Offices the
attempt to do would be 50 irritating and so nearly
impraccabe withal, that deem it better to forego
for the time the uses of such offices. The mails,
unless repelled will continue to be furnished III all
parts Of the Union. So far as possible, the people
everywhere shall have that of perfect security
which is most favorable to calm thought and retec-
ton.
The course here indicated will be followed, unless
current events and experience shall show mod'f-
cation or change to be proper and in every case
and exigency my best discretion will be exercised
according to circumstances actually existing and
with view and hope of peaceful solution OF the
national troubles, and the restoration OF traterna
sympathies and affections.
That there are persons in one section or another,
who seek to destroy the Union at all events and are
glad of any pretext to do it. will neither affirm or
deny; but if there be such, need address no word
Union, may not speak?
Before entering upon so grave matter as the de-
struction of national fabric with all its benefits
its memories and its hopes would it not be wise to
ascertain precisely why we do it? Will you hazard
so desperate step while there is any possibility
that any portion Of the ills you fly from, have no
real existence? Will you, while the certain ills you
fly to are greater than all the real ones you fly from
Will you risk the commission of so fearful mis-
foGo 70 ho in
constitutional rights can be maintained
Is it true, then, that any right plainly written in
the Constitution has been denied? ] think not
Happily the human mind is so constituted that no
party can reach to the audacty Of doing this thing
Think if you can, of single instance in which
plainly written provision of the Constitution has
ever been denied If by the mere force of numbers,
majority should deprive minority of any clearly
written Constitutional right, it might, in moral
point of view, Justify revolution. Certainly it would
if such right were vital one But such is not our
case All the vital rights of minorties and of indi-
viduals are so plainly assured to them by affirma-
tions and ncgatons guarantees and prohibitions in the
Constitution that controversies never arise concern
ing them.
But organic law can never be framed with pro-
vision specifically applicable to every question:
No foresight can anticipate nor any documents Of
reasonable length contain express provisions for all
possible questions.
Shall fugitives from labor be surrendered by Ma
tiona or by State authority? The Constitution does
not expressly say. May Congress prohibit slavery
in the territories? The Constitution does not ex-
pressly say. Must Congress protect slavery in the
territories? The Constitution does not expressly say.
From questions of this class spring all our consti-
tutona controversies, and We divide upon them in
to maorties and minorities. If the mnores will
not acquiesce, the majorties must, or the Govern
ment must cease There is no other alternative for
continuing the Government than acquiescence on
one side or the other. If minority in such case
will secede rather than acquiesce they make pre-
cedent which, in turn, will divide and ruin them ;
for minority of their own will secede from them,
whenever majority refuses to be controlled by
such a minority. For instance, why may not any
portion of a new confederacy, year or two hence,
arbitrarily secede again, precisely portions of the
present Union now claim to secede from it 4? All
who cherish disunion sentiments are now being cdu
Gated TO the fact and temper of doing this Is there
such perfect identity of interests among the States
to compose new Union as to produce harmony
only, and prevent renewed secession? Plainly the
central idea of secession is the essence of anarchy
majority held in restraint by constitutional checks
and limitations and always changing easily with de-
lberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments
is the only true sovereign of free people. Who
rejects it. does of necessity fly to anarchy or to
despotism. Unanmty is possible. The rule of a
minority as permanent arrangement is wholly in
admissible that. rejecting the majority principle
anarchy despotism in some form is all that is left
do not forget the position assumed by some,
that constitutional questions are to be decided by
the Supreme Court nor do deny that such decisions
must be binding in any case upon the parties to a
suit to the object of that suit. While they are
also entitled to very high respect and consideration
all parallel by all other departments of the
Government; and while it is obviously possible that
such decisions may be erroneous in any given case,
still the evil effect following it. being limited to that
particular case with the chance that it may be over
ruled and become precedent for other cases,
better be borne than could the evils of differ
ent practice. At the same time the candid citizen
must confess, that if the policy Of the Government
upon vital questions affecting the whole people, is
to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme
Court the instant they are made, in ordinary tiga-
ton between parties in personal actions the people
will have ceased to be their rulers; having to
that extent practically resigned their government
into the hands of that eminent tribunal.
Nor is there in this view any assault upon the
Court or the Judgcs-it is duty from which they
may not shrink to decide properly brought be.
fore them; and it is fault Of theirs if others seek
to turn their decisions to political purposes.
One section of our country believes slavery is
right and ougth to be extended, while the other be.
lieves it is wrong and ought not to lie extended
This is the only substantial dispute.
The fugitive slave clause of the Constitution, and
the law for the suppression of the foreign slave
trade, are each we'll enforced as any law can ever
be in the community where the moral sense of the
people imperfectly supports the law ITSELF The
great body Of the people abide by the dry legal Oh
legation in both cases, and few break over in each
This, think cannot be perfectly cured, and it would
be worse in both cases. after the separation of the
sections than before. The foreign slave trade, now
imperfectly suppressed would be ultimately revived
without restriction in one section, while fugitive
slaves, now only partially surrendered would not be
surrendered at all by the other.
We cannot physically speaking. separate. We
cannot remove our respective sections from each
other, nor build an impossible wall between them
husband and wife may be divorced and go out o.
the presence and Beyond the reach of each other
but the different parts Of our country cannot d.
this. They cannot but remain face to face; and in
tercourse, either amicabe or hostile must contnu,
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