The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-03-06

Physically speaking we vsunot separates
We csnnot remove our respective sections
from each other, nor build an impossible
wall between them. A husband and wife
may be divorced, and 60 out Of the presence
and beyond the reach Of each other, but
the different parts of our country cannot do
this. They cannot but remain face TO face,
and IN intercourse, either amlcsble or hos
tile, muSt continue between them. Is It
possible, then, to make that intercourse
more advantageous or more satisfacto.
~ after separating than before Can aliens
make treaties easier than friends can make
laws! Sc6S c6SitItiss be more faithfully en-.
iedAd them OltNens than laws among
seins @ !Ss@ S suppSspu Spu aSGt SG tU "a Tas can
on both sides and no gain on either, YOU
cease lighting, the old identical question as
to terms OF intercourse are again upon Won
This country with its institutions. belonos
to the people who inhabit It. Whenever thew
shall grow weary Of the existing govern
ment, they can exercise their constitutional
right OF amending 1t, or their revolutionary
right to dismember or overthrow it. / cannot
be ignorant Of the fact that many worthy
and patriotic citizens are desirous of havine
the national constitution amended.
While l make no Recommendation OF
amendments, | fully recognize the rightful
authority of the people over the whole sub
ject, to BE- exercised in either of the modes
prescribed in the instrument itself, and |
should under existing circumstances favor
rather than oppose fair opportunity being
offered the people to act upon it. I will
venture to add that to me the Convention
mode seems preferable, inasmuch as 1t al.
lows the amendment to originate with the
people themselves, instead only of permit.
ting them to take or neglect proposition
originated by others not especially chosen
for the purpose, and which might not be
precisely such as they would not wish to ei.
ther accept or refuse. understand pro.
posed amendment to the Constitution, which
amendment, however, I have not seen, has
passed Congress to the effect that the Fede.
raj Government shall never interfere with
the domestic institutions of the States, in
| ciuding that of persons held to SERVICE
To avoid misconstruction of what have
said, depart from my purpose, not to speak
Of particular amendments so far as to say,
that holding such provision to be now i'm.
piled as constitutional law, have no objec-
tion to its being made express and irrevoca
BILE. The Chief Magistrate derives all his
authority from the people, and they have
conferred nUne upon him to fix terms for the
separation Of the States. The people them
selves can do this also If they choose, bu
the Executive, as such, has nothing to dc
with it. His duty is to administer the pre-
sent government as it came to his hands
and to transmit it, unimpaired by him, t
his successor. Why should there not b,
a patient confidence in the ultimate JUS
tice OF the people. Is there any bette
or equal hope in the World,
In our present differences is either p1rt,
without faith of being in the right. If tn
Almighty Ruler Of Nations, with his eterna
truth and justice, be on our side of the N N1rth
or on yours Of the South, that truth and taa
Justice will surely prevail by the judgmen
oi this great tribunal, the American people
By the frame OF Government under whin
we live, this same people have wisely give
their pubic servants but little power fo
mischief, and have with eqlol wisdom prc
vded or the return OF that little to their ow
hands, at very short iotervils. While tn
people retain their virtue and vigilance, n
administration, by any extreme of wicked
ness or folly can very seriously inilre tn
government in the short space Of four wear,
My countrymen, one and all, thiak cqlml
and we'll upon the whole subject. R0thin
volu1ble can be lost by taking time.
here be an object to hurry any OF you in ht
haste to step which you would never tax
deliberately, that object wi be frustrated b
taking time, but no good object can be fru
trated by it. Such Of you as are now d
satisfied, still have the old constitution un
impaired, and on the sensitive point OF law
OF your own framing under it, while the ne
administration will have no immediate powe
If it would, to change either. If it were a.
mitted that you who are dissatisfied hold Il
: right side o! the dispute, there stiI1 is Z
single good reason for precipitate action
Int diligence, patriotism. Christianity, and
firm reliance on Him who has never vet fo
saken this favored land, are still compete
to adjust in the best way all our prese
} tr ubles.
your hands, my dissatisfied countryme
and not in mine, is the momentous issue
civil war. The Government will not assa
you. You can have no conflict without b
ing yourselves the aggressors. You have l
gath registered in heaven to destroy Il
pvernmentJ while I shall have tho mo
q, 0lemn one to preserve, protect and defer
Fit. am 10th to close. We are not en-
mics, but friends. We must not be enemie
Though passion nay have strained it, it mu
. not break our bonds of affection. The my
tic co ds OF memory stretching from eve
battle field and patriot grave, to every 10
ing heart and hearthstone all over this bro
land, will yet swell the chorus of the Unio
when again touched, as surely they will b
by the better angels of our nature,