The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-03-13

the Tact that many worthy and patriotic
citizens are desiTous Of having .be N alton
nj Constitution amended. While make
no recommendation Of amendment. fully
recognize :be rightful authority Of the q,
people over the whole subject, 20 5eeex.
ercised in either Of the modes prescribed
In the instrument itself, and l should, I'M.
der existing circumstances, favor rather
than oppose fair opportunity being af-
forded the people to act upon it.
Will venture 10 add, that TO me the
Convention mode seems preferable, in
that it allows amendments TO originate
with the people themselves, instead of
only permitting them to :ske or reject
propositions originated by others not es-
Pecially chosen for the purpose, aud
which might not he precisely such as
they would wish 10 either accept or re-
iuse. understand proposed amend,
ment TO the Constitution, (which amend,
ment, however, have not seen.) has
passed Congress, TO the effect that The
Federal Government shall never interfere
with the domestic institutions Of the
States, including that Of persons held to
service.
To avoid miscons,ruc,ion of what have
said, l depart from my purpose, no, to
speak OF particular amendments, so far as
to say that holding such provision to be
now the implied constitutional law, have
no objection to its being made express
and irrevocable.
The Chief Magistrate derives all his
authority from the people, and they have
conferred none upon MIN to fix terms for
the separation Of the States, the people
themselves can do this also il they choose
but the Executive, AS such, has nothing
10 do with it. His duty is to administer
the present Government as it came TO his
hands, and 10 transmit it unimpaired by
| nim TO his successor
Why should there no, DO a patient con,
hdence in the ultimate justice of the peo,
pie 7 Is there any better or equal hope
in the world 10 our present differences
ls either party without faith Of being in
the righta May the Almighty Ruler OF
Nations with his eternal truth snd Justice
be on your side Of the North. or on yours
OF the truth. That truth and that Justice
will surely prevail by the judgment of this.
great tribunsl-lbe American people.
BY the form of Government under
which we live. this same people have
wisely given their public servants but liz.
tie power Tor mischief, and have with
equa' wisdom provided for the return of
that little to their own hands at very short
intervals. While the people retain their
virtue and vigilance no Administration.
by any extreme Of wickedness or folly,
can very seriously injure the Governments
in the short space Of four years.
NY countrymen, one and all, think
calmly and we'll upon this whole subject.
Nothing valuable can be lost by taking
time. II there be an object TO hurry any
Of you in hot haste to a step which YOU
would never take deliberately, that object
will be frustrated by taking but no good
object can be frustrated by il. Such of
you as are dissatisfied, still have the old
Constitution unimpaired, and, on the sen.
si;ive point, the laws of your own framing
under ii. When the new Administration
will have no immediate power. il il should
change, even If it were admitted that you
who are dissatisfied. hold the right side
in the dispute. There still is no single
good reason for rrecipitale action. Intel.
ligence. patriotism, christianity. and firm
reliance on Him who has never We, forsa.
ken this favored land. are still competent
to adjust all our present difficulties.
In your hands, my dissatisfied friends
and countrymen, and not 10 mine, is the
momentous issue OF civil war. The Gov.
ernment will not asssil you. You can
have no conflict without being yourselves
the aggressors. You have no oath regis.
tered in Heaven to destroy the Govern.
ment, while shall have the most solemn,
one TO preserve, protect and defend IT,
am 10th to cease 10 believe that we are
not enemies but friends. We must not
be euenies, though passion may have es.
tranged it must not break our bonds of
affection.
The mystic cbo.d Of memory stretch.
ing from every battle field and patriot
grave. to every loving heart and hearth.
atone, all over this broad laud, will yet
swell the chorus Of the Union, when
again tonched, rs surely they will be By
the better instincts CT our nature.