The Shreveport weekly news., 1861-07-22

eessful administering Of it. One still I
remains It's SUCCESSFUL maintenance
against : f0rmidnblein int email. attempt |
to overthrowdt. s 1t Is now for them
to .dqpoaptsake .osthewotA that thossf
who can fGirlt carry an election can
also suppress a rebellion. The bal
lots are the rightful and peaceful sue
'cessors to bullets. and that when bal |
lots are fairly and constitutionally
decided; there can be no successful
appeal back to bullets. That there
can be no successful! appeal, except
to ballet themselves at succeeding
elections. Such will be a great les
son of peace, teaching men that what
they cannot take by an election nel-
Their can they take it by war: teach
ing all the to1y Of being the begin
SMGrs Of war.
Lest there be some uneasiness on
the minds of candid as to v, bat is to
be the course Of the government to-
ward the Southern States after the
rebellion shall have been suppressed,
the Executive deems it proper to say
is ,siN be Ais 7'urpo.e then, cs erey' to
be guided. 5y'tAe Conssitation and the
iaaes and that he probably viii have
no different understanding Of the pow
or, and duties of the Federal govern
meut relatively to the rights Of the
States and the people under the Con
.stitution, than that expressed in the
inaugural address. He desires to
Dreserve the government, that it may
be administered for all, as it was adj
.ministered for all, as it was admins
setered by the men who made it.
I.oval citizens everywhere have
tn tight to claim this of their gov
eminent, and the government has no
right to withhold or neglect it. 1t is
net perceived that in giving it there
is any coercion, any conquest. or any
subjugation, in any just sense Of these
terms.
The Constitution provides, and all
the States have accepted the provi'
sion, that the United States shall
guarantee to every State in this Union
Wa republican form of government
But If a State.in this Union may
lawfully go out of the Union, having
done so, it may also discard the re
publican form OF. government, so thai
to prevent its going out is an indls
pensible means to the end of main
tanning the guarantee mentioned
and when an end is lawful and oblig
atory, the means indispensable to i
are also lawful and obligatory,
It was with the deepest regret tina
the Executive found the duty Of EN-
blowing the war power in defence o
the government forced upon him.
He could but perform this duty, o!
snrrender the existence of the govern
ment.
No compromise by public senti
ment could in this case be a cure
Not that compromises are not otte,
proper, but that no popular govern
ment can long survive marked pre-
cedent that those who carry an cleo
ton can only save the government
from immediate destruction by Civ
ing up the main point upon whicl
the people gave the election.
The people themselves. and no
their servants, can safely rcvers
their own deliberate decisions.
As private citizen. the Execu
tive could not have consented tina
these institutions shall perish-mucl
less could he, in betrayal of SO vas
and 50 sacred trust confided to hin
He felt that he had no moral right t
shrink, nor even to count the chance
ofhis own life in what might follow
In full view of his great responsi
bility, he has so far done what he ha
deemed his duty. You will now, az
cording to your own judgment, pei
form yours. He sincerely hopes tina
your view and your action may 9
accord with his, "a to assure all faitf
full citizens who have been disturbe
in their rights, of a certain an
speedy restoration to them under til
Constitution and the laws.
And having thus chosen our cours
without guile and with pure purpos
let rs renew our trust in God, an
go forward without fear and wi,
manly hearts.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
July 4. 1861.
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