Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-03-16

destroy!it except oy some action not PROV.
ded for IN the instrument itself Again,
1t the United States be not government
proper, but an association of States in
the nature oil a contract merely, can it as q
contrac. be peaceably unmade unes, by
all the parties who made it? One party
to a contract may violate Tt-bresk it, so
10 speak, -but does it not require all to
lawfully rescind it?
Descending from these general princi-
pies, We find the proposition that in legal
contem plation the Union is perpetual. con
trmed by the history itself. The Union
is much older than the Constitution, it
was formed in fact, by the articles of assoc
ciation ia l7I4. 1t was matured and con,
tinued by the Declaration Of In dependence
in ZIG. Ii was further matured on the
faith Of all the then thirteen States, eX.
pressly pIignted and engaged, that il
should be perpetual by the Articles of
Confederation IN 1873, and finally in 1889.
One of the declared objec,s for ordaining
aud establishing Constitution was to
form a mure pertec: Union. If separation
by one or by a part only Of the States, be
lawfully possible the Union is less than
before the Constitution, having lost the
vital element OF perpetuity.
1t follows, from these views, that no
State, upon its own mere motion, can law.
fully get out of the Union. That resolves
and ordinances to that effect are legally
void and that acts of violence within any
States or State, against the authority of
the 'nted States, are insurrectiohary or
revolutionary according to circumstances.
! | therefore consider that, in view Of the
constitution and laws, the Union is un.
broken, and to the extent Of my ability,
shall take care, as the constitution itself
expressly enions, that the laws of the
Union be faithfully executed in all States.
Doing this | deem to be only simple
| duty on my part: and | shall perform it,
SO far AS practicable, unless my rghttul
masiers--ths AmerIeon people with
hold the requisite means, or ia some au.
lucrative manner direct to the con ray
| trust that this will not be regarded as
menace, but only as declared purpose Of
! Union, that 1t will constitutiona.iv defend
and maintain itself In doing this, there
need be no blootshsd or violence. aud
there shall be none unless it be forced
upon the national authority. The power
contidsd TO me will be used to bold. occupy
and possess the property and places be-
longing to the Government, to collect du.
ties on imports, but beyond what may BE-
necessary for these objects, there will be
no using Of force against or among people
anywhere. Where hostility to the United
States in any interior locality shall be SO
, great and so universal as to prevent com
patent resident citizens from holding Fed
eral Offices, there will be no attempt to
force obnoxious strangers among the pso-
pie that object While the strict legal
right may exist in the Government to en-
force the exercise Of the officers, the at
tempt to do SO would be so irritating. and
so nearly impracticable withal, that
deem it better to torego Tor the time, the
use of such officers. The mails. unless
repealed, will continue to the furnished in
all point. Of the Union. SO far as posi-
ble.lhe people everywhere shall have that
sense OF pertec, security which is most ia
vorable to calm thought and reflection
The course here indicated will be fol.
lowed, unless current events and expert
ences shall show a modification or change
to be proper, and in every case and eX.-
gency my best discretion will be exercised,
according to circumstances actually exist.
ing. and with a view and hope of the
peaceful solution Of the national troubles
and the restoration Of traternal sympathies
and affections. That there are persons in
| one section or another who seek to DESTROY
the Union, at all events. and are glad uf
any pretext TO do it, | will Mother affirm
nor deny. | need address no word to
those who really love the Union. May
speak before entering upon so grave
matter as the destruction OF our national
fabric. with al its benefits, it's memories
and hopes? Would it not DO wise to as
certain previously why we do hazard so
desperate a step while there is any posi-
bility that any portion OF the ills you hy
from have no real existence VIII YOU,
while the certain Ills you Ay TO are greater
than all The real ones you fly from, will
you risk the commission of so fearful
mistake? All profess to be content in
the lnion if all constitutional rights can
De maintained
Is it true then, that any right plainly
written in the Constitution has been de
MED think not. Happily the human
mind is so constituted that no party can
reach to the audacity Of doing this. Think,
| if you can, of a single instance in which
a plainly written provision Of the Consti-
tuition has ever been denied.
If by the nero force of numbers ma
jority shall deprive a minority of any
clearly written constitutional right, it may,
in moral point of view. Justify a revolu-
ton. 1t certainly would if such a right
were vital one, but such is no, our case.
All the vital rights Of minorties and of
| individuals. are SO plainly assured to them
| by atiirmations and negotiations. guaran
tees and prohibitions in the Constitution
that controversies never arise concerning
them Bat no organic law can be framed
with provision specifically applicable to
every question which may occur in practi,
cal administration. No foresight can an
ticipats. nor any document Of reasonable
length contain express provisions for all
possible questions. Shall fugitive. from
labor De surrendered by National or State
expressly say. May Congress prohibit
slavery in the Territories? The Cons,itu.
ton does not expressly say. Must Con-
gress protect slavery ia the Territories p
The Constitution does not expressly say.
From questions Of this class spring all
our controversies, and we divide upon
them into ma orities and mnorities. If
the minority will not acquiesce the major
ity must or the Government mustIcease
There is no other alternative for continu
ing the Government but acquiesence on
the one side or the other n miporitv
in such case will sscede, rather than ac-
quiesce, they make precedent which. in
turn, will divide and ruin them; for a