The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1861-03-06


heretofore only menaced, is now formidably
attempted. bold that, IN contemplation of
universal law and of the Constitution, the
Union of these States is perpetual. Perpe,
,uity is implied, if not expressed, in the fun.
damcntal law of all national Governments =
| 1t is safe to a ssert th,t Government proper
never had provision in it. organic law for
its own termination. Continue t, execute
all the express provisions. Of onr national
Constitution, and the Union will endure for
cver-t bcin, impossible to destroy it, ey-
| cept by som, action not provided fr in the
instru ncnt Itself A gain, if tn, United
States be not Government proper, but an
association of States in the nature of con-
tract merely, can it as contract be peace
ably unmade by less than all the parties who
made it? Oae party to a contract may vio-
la;e it-bGe,k it, so to spsak-bu does it
not require all lawfully to res,ind it? De,
scending from these general principles we
find the proposition that in leg,l contempla,
ton the Union is psrpetually confirmed by
the history of the Uni,n itself. TIE Union
is much older than tn, Constitution. 1t was
formed in fact by tn, articles Of ass ,ciati N
! in TIA. 1t was mattired an confirmed by
the Declaration of Ialcp,nlen . in l77j.-
1t was further lnatured an | the faith of all
the then thirteen States expressly plightel
and engaged that it sl,oull b. perpetual by
! the articles OF cDnte laration OF 177S, and
finally in 1877.
One Of the dec,ar,i Objects Tor oil ,i.in =
ani establishing tt. Constitution. was t.
ior.n nlre perfect Union. II Secession BY
one, or by part only, of the States BE- law,
fully possible, tie Union is less than before
th, Constitution havin ..lo,t tle vital eIss
m mt Of perpetuity. 1t follows, from these
views, that NJ Sac uo,n its own mere mo-
/ ton, cln llwrllly get oIt Of Il: Uniol. =
| That resolves al orlioanccs to that effect
are lille I'll an.Fyoii, and thlt acts Of violen ,e
/ within any States or State against the al
| tI'iltyo vi ic = uttc Sistlc> al liiSuiTcCtiol-
ary or rev lltionary, acconGi t. circlm-
stances | therefore consider that tn, Con.
s.tution and Laws of the Union are unbrok.
Ell, AMI to the extent Of my ability | shall
/ take care, as the Constitution itself expressly
! enj ,nS on m, that the laws Of the Union be
! faithfully executed in all the States Doing
thiS deem t. be simple duty on my part
ani | shall perform it so far as practible, un.
less my ri shtful masters, the American peo-
pie, shall withhol the re1lisite means, or IN
some anthorit alive manner direct the con-
trary.
! trust this viii not be regarded as mcn-
ace, but only the declared purpose of the
Union, that il will constitutionally defend
and maintain ITSELF In doing this there need
be no blool she'd or violence, and there shall
be none unless it be forced upon tn, Ma
! tional authority. The power contiled to me
viii be used to, hold, occupy and possess,
the property and places belonging to the
G,vcrnnent-tp collect duties and imports,
but what beyond may be necessary for these
/ o iccts there will be no inrasion-no using
Of force against or among people anywhere.
( Where hostility to the United States in any
interior locality shall be SO great and so uni,
I vcrsll as t. prevent competent resident citi.
z,aS from h,llins Federal Offices, there viii
be no attempt t. force obnoxious strangers
among the people thit object. While the
s,rict legal right may exi4 in the Govern
ment to elfjrce the exercise Of these Offices,
the att .mpt to DO so would be so irritating
and 50 nearly impractica5le withsl, that
deem it better to fopego fJr the time The uses
of such Offices.
The mails, unless repe,led, will continue
to be furnished in all points Of the Union,
so FIR aS possible. The people everywhere
shall have that sense of perfect s:curity
which is most favora5i. to calm thoughts
and reflection.
The curse here ini.cltcd will b, followed
unles' current event. AL experience shall
show III Iii icatiol or change to be proper,
and2in every case an l cxigency, my best dis
cretiol will be exercised nee ,rliny to the cir
cum stances actually existing, an1 with a
view and hope Of 3 peaceful solution. of
the national troubles, the restoration of the
fraternal sympathy aad affections. That
there are persoas in one section or another
who seek to de,troy the Union at all events
aal VIII, are glad of any pre,eyt to d9 it,
will neither afii.qn o. deny. Bat ir there be
ssIch | need ilres no word to them To
those, however, whp really love the U,iol
my not SPEAK. B,f,re entering upon so
grave matter as tn. destruction Of our ma
tional fabri: with all its benefits it; meno-
rics and hopes, wolld it not be wise to as.
certain prcviou ay why we do it? Will you
haztrl 50 desperate Il step while there is any
possibility that any portion of the ills you
fly from have no real existence. Will you,
while tle certain ills you. fee to ara greater
thtn all the real o les you fly fr I'm; will you
risk the commission Of Sd fearful mistake ?
All profess - b. content in the Union if all
Con titutional rights can be m.intlinel l.,
it true th,n TIN, any right plainly written IL,
the Constitution has beer dsnr:d? | think
not. II .ppIy the human m.nl i; so con-
stitutel that NJ party can rea n t, the au-
da:i,y Of doing this. Tank if yoa can OF
a single instances il which pl,inly written
provision Cf the Co ! >titutio ha, ever been