The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-03-15
Mr. Douglas vindicating the Inaugural.

let tllS was precisely Wnat occurred IN tit
senate on Wednesday. And it shows sagaci
ty as well as patriotism in Mr. Douglas. He
sees that the position taken BY Mr. Lincoln is
such as must command the substantially IN
animous support of the people of the free
STATES and of the conservative and loyal in
) the ave states, and that the avowed policy
or the new administration is the only one
that nj the present complication is likely tu
! preserve the Union, and he has good sense
I and patriotism enough to waive all factious
| opposition and cooperate in the great work.
j Mr. CGngman of North Carolina, had said
that the policy Of the presidents inaugural
would lead to war that the government
could not collect the revenue and hold the
forts in the seeding states without war, and
he therefore objected TO the policy as un-
. wise
Ny Douglas replied, SAYING that he could
not consent that Mr. Clingman's remarks
should 60 out unanswered He had read the
inaugural carefully. with the view of under
standing what the policy of the admnistra
ton is to be as therein indicated 1t is char
acteriZed BY great ability, and with great d.
rectnesS on certain points. 4 critical analy-
Sis is necessar, TO arrive at the true construc-
ton. He had partially made an analysis,and
had come 10 the conclusion that il was :,
peace rather than a war message. He had
examined 1t c.andidly and critically. and
thought there was no foundation for a differ
eht opinion. On the contrary. there is dis
tnct pledge that the policy of the admins
tratlon shall he conducted exclusively with
reference to peaceful solution of our nation
al difficulties. Mr. Douglas then proceeded
70 quote and analyze the passages of the in
augural bearing on the point, dwelling par
tlcularly on the sentence in which modifca-
ton OF the line OF policy TO suit changes of
circumstances is suggested, on which MIR
Douglas commented as follows
I'm other words, the president saws If the
COLLECTION OF the revenue will lead to q peaee-
tul solution, then il will be collected. If the
abandonment of that collection have that ef:
feet, then it will be abandoned. So of the
forts and arsenals in the seeding states. He
will recapture or not recapture them. and Will
reinforce or not reinforce forts Sumter and
Plckens pledged in either case 10 a peace
iul policy. and acting with this view. II this
IS rot the true construction, why was there
not inserted pledge TO use coercion. retake
the forts, recapture the arsenals, collect the
revenue. and enforce the laws, unless there
was attached to each one condition ON
which the pledge was TO be carried out ? But
the pledge IS only todo it in order 10 a peace
tui solution. and Tor no other cause. He sub
m!tted whether or not the friends of peace
have not much TO re oice at The inaugural
was much more conservative than he had an
,icipated. II was more peaceful and concjG-
ctory than he had predicted. He repeated.
after careful examination and ANALYSIS, he
was clearly of the opinion that the admins
raiion stands pledged to peaceful solution.
and Will do no act that will lead to war. ana
make no change OF policy unless necessar, 10
preserve peace"
lie thought the president had stated the
cause Of the troubles clearly. and indicated
remedy. 1t was the attempt TO prohibit sIa-
ver! or protect slavery in the territories. in
tht absence OF an express constitutional pro-
vision for either purpose II the president
has truly stated the cause. what is the r,mc-
dy? 1t is 10 adopt a constitutional provision
on the subject. Tie president speaks of ,uct,
amendments as to define the power Of Com
sreSs over the subject. He gives us 10 IN
derStand tAere never can be peace Until the
question Is settled. and that it cannot be- So
tied except by amendment to the con,t.ratiol,
lhe president stands pledged 10 lei the peo
pie decide on The mode of amerum nj H.
VIII not Interfere; he will not oppose it. If
the people say that Congress shall nro,ec-
slavery every"h here, the president is rledged
not to oppose it; and 50, if the peonls say
slavery shall not be protected evervwbere.-
II they shall incorporate the Cri,ten,ien pro-
position. ne will not oppose it, He i in IA
vor OF such amendments as will settle the
question forever by express provisions of ;ils
constitution. leaving to the people 10 dt,it!..
what amendments shall hc made, and Vii a.
cept them cherlfuliy Taxing this To BE-, .i,.
meaning OF the Proposition, he lbouoiasl
:"uEd IN 1t much cause for ercourace,oen+.
In the FRS place Il WAS peaceful. not agrres-
>ire ihe president will do no act Of agnes
SION; bat ali his conduct will be with view
OF peaceful solution. In the second place. As
tn" difficulty is owins To The absence of an
express provision on the slavery question in
the territories, he vii! advocate that the neo-
PIE change That instrument by express pro-
Vision. Whatever departure Mr. Lincoln has
made from his party platform should be Ia
ken as an act Of patriotism, and not as an
act OF lntidellty. If he understood him. Mr.
Lincoln has sunk the partisan in the patriot.
ard was entitled for this To the thank, of al
conservative men. He did not want !. 10 te
inferred that he Sympathizeti with .he admin
istration, or IN any contingency that he and
The president would be associated. He ex
pected TO oppose his administration on tnose
great principles which separated the nar,i.s
IN former times. But on questions lonkirp
to the preservation OF the Union BY peaceable
means. aid the settlement of the subject of
slavery ny amendment 70 the constitution. if
he understood the presidents true meaning.
he was with him. He believed he hai nut
proper construction on these parts of the
inaugural. He believed the president is 60
ing to ll'e up 10 1t. He would not surrender
TINS opinion until there should be reasons 20
change 1t. The Union cannot be preserve;
toy war-cann"t be maintained BY blood. l.
can only he doLe by peaceful means, and tu
ture difficulties can he prevented by cou,ti,n-
uonal amendments to settle the slavery ones
u"h .! express provisions. These two rem
taies are clearly marked out b, the president
IN his inaugural He would ASK the admin
!stration to live up 10 the line of policy h, 70
INDICATED. 80 tar from taking any political
advantage, ne would commend the act as one
OF hish patriotism, while he dissented from
the president. and would maintain his own
opposition on all other questions
SCoLDiNG.-lt laughter begets fat, it is no
less true that scolding is the parent of mea-
gerness. Who ever SAW plump termagant !?
he vrago Is scragsineSs is the
badge of all her tribe. II would seem thai