Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-13

more perfect Union. But if the destruction
| of the Union by one or by part OILY of the
States be Lawful, or possible, it is les perfect
than it was before, and the Constitution has
lost its vital element of perpetuity.
1t follows from these views that no State
upon its own mere notion can lawfully get
out of the Union. That resolves and ordi-
nances 70 that effect are legally void, and
that acts of violence within any State or
States authority of the United States, are
insurrectionary or revolutionary, according
TO circumstances.
! therefore consider, that in view of the |
Constitution and the laws, the Union is un-
broken, and to the extent of my ability, / |
shall take care as the Constitution itself ex-
pressly enjoins upon me, THAT THE LAWS
OF THE UNION BE FAITHFULLY EXE-
CUTED IN ALL THE STATES.
Doing this deem to be only simple du- |
ty on my part, and shall perform it so far |
as practicable unless my rightful masters, the
American people, shall withhold the reaui- |
site means, or in some authoritative manner !
direct the contrary. a
L trust that this will not be regarded as
menace but only the declared purpose of the
government, viz: that it will constitutional
ly defend and maintain itself
In doing this, there needs to be no blood
shed, or violence; and there shall be none,
unless it be forced upon the national author
ity
The power confded to me WILL BE USED
TO HOLD, OCCUPY AND POSSESS THE
PROPERTY AND PLACES BELONGING
TO THE GOVERNMENT, AND To COL
LECT THE DUTIESO ON IMPORTS But
beyond what are necessary for these objects
there will be no invasion, no using of force
against or among the people anywhere
| har 70 10 O.
interior locality shall be so great and so uni
yersal as to prevent competent resident citi-
frT,rrr fIvi,iirrs UfffUrS there
will be no attempttof rec obnoxious strangers
upon the people for that object While the
strict legal right may exist in the govern
ment to enforce the exercise of these, the at
tempt to do so would be SO irritating and so
nearly impracticable that deem it better to
forego for time the uses Of such Offices
The mails, unless repeled, will continue to
be furnished in all parts of the Union, so
far as possible. The people everywhere
shall have that sense of perfect security
which is most favorable to calm thought and
reflection.
The course here indicated will be followed
0 unless current events and experience shall
show modification or change to be proper.
and in every case of exgency my best dis.
g cretion will be exercised according to Cir
n cumstances actually existing, and with a
$ view and hope Of peaceful solution of
u the national troubles and restoration of
, fraternal sympathies and affections
+ That there are persons in one section or
~ another who seek to destroy the Union at
"a all events and are glad of any pretext for do
ing 1t, L will neither affirm or deny-but il
y there be such, need address no word to them.
l. To those, however, who really love the Union
g l may just speak before entering upon so
IL grave matter as the destruction of our ma
a. tonal fabric, with all its benefits, its memo
ie ries and its hopes. Would it not be wise to
y ascertain precisely why it should be done I?
Is Will you hazard so desperate step while
al there is any possibility that any portion oi
re the ills you tv from have no real existence !
80 Will you, while the certain ills you fly to are
~ greater than all the real ones you fiy from :
s. will you risk the commission of so fearful !
% mistake? ... ...a. ZAP ...
IL All profess to be content in the Union /
% all their constitutional rights can be main
&c tanned. Is i: true. then, that any right plain
&c ly written in the Constitution has been de
Is MED? | think not Happily, the human
III mind is so constituted that no party ca,
~ reach to the audacity Of doing this Think
- if you can, of single instance in which /,
IL plainly written provision of the Constitution
Sy has ever been denied If by the mere fore
~ of numbers majority should deprive the mi
'e- nority Of any clearly written constitutions
iu' right, it might in moral point Of view iusti
fly revolution. Certainly it would if suc
right were vital one. But such are not ou
ne ne cases. All the vital rights of minorities an
~ individuals are so plainly assured to them b
~ ~ athrmatlons and negations, guarantees an
l's prohibitions in the Constitution, that contre
~ versieS can never arise about them But n
| l,o(
no vision specially applicable to every questio
" which may occur in practical administrator
ny No foresight can anticipate, nor any doc,
oSe ment of reasonable length contain, expires
ees provisions for al possible questions. Sha
!. l, !, fugitlves from labor be surrendered by ma
- .'ai tiona or State Authority The Constitute
~, lue does not expressly say. May Congress pre-
Gu, hibit slavery III the Territories The Coz
lhu stitution does not expressly say Must Coz
OH gress protect slavery in the Territories? III
Constitution does not expressly say Fro
IN IN questions Of this class spring all our consi
80 tutonal controversies, and we divide upt
sen them into majorities and minorities If ii
Gus minority will not acquizsee, the majority mus
Nou N or the government must cease.
AVG There is no other alternative for continr
s lei ing the government but acquescence on Il
Il nis one side or the other. II minority in sue
the a case will secede rather than acauiesce, tn,
',ni ,ic make precedent which in turn will divi.
un- and ,uin them. \ minority of their ow
o,i, will secede from them whenever a majors
oiy refuse to be controlled by such minority. F
!. ~, VI instance, why may not any portion Of ne
lhe lhe CoDfedcracy year or two hence arbitrari
Pc .secede again as precisely as portions of Il
Nh present Union nox claim TO secede from Il
= All who cherish disunion sentiments are no
op- being educated 10 the exact temper for doll
ioi this. Is there such perfect identity Of in,e
,u' I ests among the States to compose ne
'liai Union as to produce harmony only and ~
ioi vent renewed secession Plainly, the &c
ep' trail idea Of secession is the essence of anar
uu- A majority held in restraint by constit
tional checks and limitations, and alwa
GOV changing easily with the deliberate chang
a'es of popular opinions and sentiments, is t
= only true sovereign Of free people. W
looy ever rejects it does, of necessity. fly TO
one archy or despotism. Unanimity is iapos
!, eaA =. BILE The rule of minority as a permane
70 arrangement is wholly inadmissible !; so
.ese . that rejecting the majority. Anarchy
tloh tloh espoiiSm in some form is all that is left.
per do not forget the position assumed Icy sor
tue that constitutional questions are to be de
.nan ded by the Supreme Court; nor do de-
oy that such decisions must be binding in Al
was case upon the parties to suit as to the G
q Oh ject of that sut-while they are also entiti
ma to very high respect and consideration in
H. -.