Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-03-07
FeIl0s CHir-ns Of fhe United States

eminent itself, appear before you TO address YOU
brIefy, anu take IA you presence the oath pre-
serl6ed BY the Constitution of tho United State.
% be taken by the President before he enters on
the execution of HE official duties. do not con
slider IL necessary at present for me to discuss
those mattersof administration about which there
- no anxiety or excitement. The apprehe nsiOn
seems 10 exist among the people OF the Southern
States, that, Nv the accession Of Republican
administration, their peace and personal sccuri-
~ to be endangered; but there has never
been any reasonable cause for such apprehension.
Indeed the most ample evidence to the contrary
has all the while existed, and been open to their
inspection. IL is found in nearly all the publish
e1 speeches Of him who now addresses YOU.
quote now from.one Of those speeches where Ide-
clare that have no purpose, directly or indirect
ly. to interfere with the institution of slavery in
the States where it exists. | believe | have no
lawful right to do 30. and have no inclination
TO do so. Those who nominated me, and elect
ed me. did so with the full knowledge that had
made this aud many similar declarations. and had
never recanted them. And more than this, they
placed in the platform for my acceptance, rs a
law TO themselves. and TO me, the clear and en-
phatic resolution which now read:
"ResoIUed, That the maintenance inviolate Of
the rights Of the States, and especially tue right
Of each State TO order and control its own do
nestle institutions according to it, own iudg-
msht, exclusively, Is essential to the balance of
power which the perfection and endurance of
ou- political fabric depend; and We denounce the
iswless invasion, by armed force of the soil of
any State or Territory, no matter under what
?rsteIt. a among the gravest OF crimes
now reiterate these sentiments, and in doing
so. only press upon the public attention the
most conclusive evidence of which the case
ID susceptible. The property, peace aud security
Of no section ID be in any,wise endan cred by
,he now incoming administration. l add to this
that all the protection which consistently with
the constitution and the laws can be given, will
be cheerfully -;iven to all the States, when law
fully demanded, for whatever cause, as cheerful
~ To one section As 10 another.
There is much controversy about the deliver
ing OF fugityes from service or labor; the clause
] now read is as plainly written in the constitu-
ton a. any other of its provisions:
"No person held to service or labor in one
State under the laws thereof, escaping into an
other shall, in consequence of any law or regu
lation therein, be discharged from such service
or labor but shall be delivered mp on claim of the
party TO whom such service labor may be
due"
II Is scarcely questioned that this provision
was intended by those who made il for the re-
claiming of what We call fugitive slaves, and the
intention of the law giyer is the law. All mem
hers Of Congress swear their support to the whole
Constitution. to this provision rs much any
other. To the proposition, then, that slaves
whose cases come within this clause shall be de-
livered up, their oaths unanimous. Now
II ;hey would make the effort in good temper.
could they not with nearly equal unanimity frame
and pass a law by means of which TO keep good
that unanimous OATH There is some difference
of opinion whether this clause should be enforced
by National or State authority, but surely tina,
difference il not a very material one. IL the
slave is to be surrendered, il be of but little
consequence TO him or to others by what author
ity IL is done. Again, in anv law upon this sub
iect, ought not all the safeguards of liberty
known in civilized and humane Jurisprudence &c
be introduced so that freeman may never in
any case be surrendered as a slave, and might il
not be well at the same time TO provide by law
for the enforcement of the clause in the Consti
tuition which guarantees that the citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all the privileges and
imnunties OF citizens in the several States7
take the official oath TODAY, with no mental res
ervation and no purpose 10 construe the Consti-
tuition and laws by any hypercritical rules, and
while do not choose now to specify particular
acts of Congress as proper to be enforced, dc
suggest that il will be much safer for all both in
official and private stations, to- conform to and
abide by all those acts which stand unrepealed
than to violate any of them, trusting to find i'm.
punitv in having them held TO be unconstitu.
sional
IL is ssventy-two years since the first naugu-
ration of President under our National, Consti.
tuition. During that time fifteen different and
cseatly distinguished citizens have in succession
administered the executive branch of the Gov
eminent. They have conducted it through
many ptrils. and generally with great success
Yet, with all this scope of precedent now eutel
upon the same task, for the brief constitutional
term Of four years, under great and peculiar
difficulty. Disruption of the Federal Govern
ment, heretofore only menaced, is now tormdabl,
Attempted.
hold that in contemplation of universal law
and che Constitution, the Union of the States i
perpetual. Pcrpetuity is implied, IL not cx
pressed. in the fundamental law of all govern
ments. IL IS not safe to assert that the govern
mcnt proper ever had provisions m its Organj
law for its own termination. Continue {
execute all the express provisions of our nationa
constitution, and the Union will endure forever
IL being impossible to destroy it. except by som
action not provided for in the constitution
Again: il the United States be not a government
proper, but association of States in the natur
of contract merely, can IL. a n contract, b
feaceably unmade. unless by all the parties VIII
made it, One party TO contract may yiolat
it-break u, 30 TO speak-but does IL not requir
all TO lawfully rescind it
Descending from these general principles. "
find the proposition, that. in legal contemplation
the Union - perpetual, IS confirmed by Oh
history of the Union itself. The Union is niue
older than the Constitution. Ii was formed
fact by the Articles OF Association in liza
vas matured and continued by the Decarati,
OF Independence in l176. IL WAS further matur,
on the faith of all the then Thirteen States, e.
grossly plighted and engaged that il should
perpetuatcd by the Articles Of Confederation
l71s. and finally in lsc7. One of the declar,
objects for ordaning and establishing the Co
stitution. was To form more perfect Union.
separation By one. or BY a put only, OF q
States. be lawfully possible. the Union is lie
than before the Constitution. having lost q
sltsl element Of perpetuitv. IL follows fro
rSese views that m State, upon its own me
motion. can lawfully get out of the unicn-,h
resolves AMI ordinances 10 that effect arc legal
void, and that acts OF violence within any Stat
or States, against the authority OF tie uIit
states, are insurrectiOnsry or revolutionary,
eordinS 10 circumstances
therefore consider tina. in view Of the cons
tntioa AMI lava. tie Union il unbrokcn, and
the extent OF ny ability shill take care, as 9
constitution itself expressly enioins on me, Oh
the laws Of the Union be faithfully executed
AL the States In doing this, deem it 10
only simple duty on my pirt. and shall %
form ;, 81 far as Practicable, unless nv right
masters. the American people. shall withhold {
requisite means, or IN sOme authoritative mann
direct the contrars. trust this wilt not be !
gsrJed a. menace, but only as q declared ~
pbse If tie Union. that Il will constitutions
defend and maintain Itself. In doing this the
ace! be no bo2lshcl Or violence, AMI ,hs