M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-03-07

~ VIZ" "h 10 oCoPV loI pItCcucHt,
| oy enter upon the same task iol
the brief constitutional term Of iom
years under great and peculiar diff,
cully-disruption OF the Federal UL,
Iion-heretolorc only menaced, is now
iornidably attempted.
| hold that, in contemplation ofuni.
versal law and the Constitution, the
Union of the States is perpetual
Pcrpetiity is implied, ifnot expressed
| in the fundamental law Ofall national
governments. 1t is safe to assert that
the Government proper never had q
provision in its organic law for its own
termination. Continne to execute all
the express provisions Of our Nation
al Constitution, and the Union will
endure forever-it being impossible
to destroy 1t, except by some action
not provided for in the instrument it,
Iself. I
Again, if the United States Ye not
a Government proper, but an as $ocia-
ton Of States in the nature of COZ tract
merely, can it as a contract be peacea.
bly, unmade, unless by all the parties
who made itl One party to a con,
tract may violate it, break it, so to
speak, but does it not require all to
lawfully rescirG it9 Descending from
these general principles, we find the
proposition that in legal contempla
ton the Union is perpetual, confirmed
by history of the Union itself.
The Union is much older than the
Constitution. 1t was formed, in fact,
by the articles Of associated States in
IVA; it was matured and continued
by the Declaration of independence in
I1776; it was further matured on tie
faith OF all the then thirteen States,
who expressly plighted au1 engaged
that it should be perpetual by the ar
Iticlcs Of Confederation in 177S, and
| finally, in 1887. One Of the declared
objects for ordaining and establishing
the Constitution, was to form more
perfect Union. If its destruction by
one or by part only OF the States be
lawfully possible, then the Union is
less than before the Constitution, hav-
ing lost the vital element Of perpetuity.
1t follows from these views that no
State, upon its own mere motion, can
lawfully get out Of the Union; that re-
solves and ordinances to that effect are
legally void; and that acts of violence
within any State er States, against the
authority Of the United States, are in.
surrectionary or revolutionary accord.
ing 10 circumstances.
], therefore, consider that in view
Of the Constitution and laws the Tn.
ion is unbroken, and to the extent of
my ability shall take care, as the
Constitution itself expressly enioins
on me, that the laws ef the Union be
faithfully executed in all the States.
Doing this | deem to be only a sim
pile duty on my part, and sLall per.
form it so fur as practicable, unless my
rightful Masters, the American peo-
pie shall withhold the requisite
means or in some authoritative man.
ner direct the contrary. | trust this
will not be regarded as a menace, but
only as declared purpose of the Un.
ion that il will constituti0nalIy defend
and maintain itself. In doing this
there need be no bloodshed or vic.
lGnce ard there shall be none unless
it be forced upon the National author.
ity. The power confded TO me will
Oc used to hold, occupy and possess
the property and places belonging to
the Government, to collect duties and
imports, but beyond what may be
necessary for these objects there will
be no using OF force against or aneng
people anywhere. Where hostilities
to the United States in any interior
locality shall be SO great and so upi-
versal as to prevent competent resi-.
dent citizens from holding Federal Of.
fees, there will be no attempt to force
obnoxious strangers among the peo.
pie for that object. While the strict
legal right may exist in the Cove III
ment to enforce the exercise o. these
Offices, the attemps to do so would be
so irritating ard so nearly impracti.
caole withal, that deem it better to
forego for time the uses Of such off
ces. The mails unless repelled, will
continued to be furnished in all point
Of the Union so far as possible. The
people every where shall have that
sense of perfect security which is most
favorable to calm thought and reaec.
ton. The course here indicated will
be followed unless current events o.
experience shall show a modification
or change to be proper; and in every
case and xigency my best discretion
will be exercised according to the cir.
cumstances actually existing, and
with a view and a hope Of peacefu
solution Of the national troubles, the
restoration Of the fraternal sympathiO'
| Il ,H