The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-03-05

: of the United States are insurrectionary OF
| revolutionary, according to circumstances
| l therefore consider that in view of the
/ constitution and laws, the Union is unbrok-
! en-, and to the extent of my ability, I shall
take care, as the constitution itself express
/ ly enjoins, that the laws Of the Union be
faithfully executed in all the States. Doing
this deem to be only a simple duty on my
part and shall perform it, so far AS prac-
ticable, unless my rightful masters, the
American people, shall withhold the requis-
tie means, or in some authoritative manner
direct the contrary.
trust this will not be regarded as a menace
but only as declared purpose of the Union
that it will constitutionally defend and
maintain itself In doing this there need
be no bloodshed or violence, and there shall
be none unless it be forced upon the nation
al authority. The power confded to me
will be used 20 hold, occupy and possess the
property and places belonging to the gov
eminent, and to collect duties on imports
but beyond what is necessary to those OBJ
jects there will be no using of force against
or among the people anywhere. When
hostility to the United States, in any inte-
rior locality, shall be so great and so uni
versal as to prevent resident citizens from
holding federal Offices, there will be no at
tempt to force obnoxious strangers among
the people that object. While the strict legal
right may exist in the governmental enforce
the exercise of these offices, the attempt to
do so will be irritating and so nearly i'm
practicable, that deem it better to forego
for time the uses of such offices. The
mails, unless repealed, will continue to be
furnished in all points of the Union so far
as possible.
The people everywhere shall have that
sense of perfect security which is most ia
vorable to calm thought and reflection
The course here indicated will be followed,
unless current events and experience shall
show a modification or change to be proper,
and in every case and exigency my best
discretion will be exercised according to cir
cumstances actually existing and with
view and hope of peaceful solution of
the national troubles, the restoration of fra
ternal sympathies and affections. That
there are persons in one section or another,
who seek to destroy the Union in all events
and are glad of any pretext to do it, I will
neither affirm or deny but if there be such,
| need not address them. To those, however,
who really love the Union, may | speak.
Therefore entering upon so grave a matter
as the destruction of our national fabric
with all its benefits, its memories, and
hopes, would it not be wise to ascertain
whether what we do will hazard so des-
perate a step. While there is any possibility
that any portion of the ills sou fly from
have no real existence, will you, while the
certain ills you fly to are greater than all
the real ones you fly frOm-wiu you risk
the commission of so fearful a mistake. All
profess to be content in the Union if ell
Il T.
it true that any right plainly written in the
Constitution has been denied. think not.
Happily the human mind is so constituted
that no party can reach to the audacity of
doing this thing. If you can think of a
single instance in which plain provision
of the constitution has ever been denied, if
by the mere force of numbers majority
shall deprive a minority of any clearly
written constitutional right it might, in a
moral point of view, justify revolution. 1t
certainly would if such right were vital
one But such is not our case; all the vital
rights of minorities and of individuals are
so plainly assured to them by affirmations
and negations, guarantees and prohibit
tons, in the constitution, that controversies
never arise concerning them. But no organ
ic law can be framed with a provision spe-
officially applicable to every question which
may occur in practical administration.
No foresight can anticipate, nor any doc
ument Of reasonable length contain, express
provisions for all possible questions. Shall
fugitives from justice be surrendered by
national or state authority The Constitu-
ton does not expressly say. May Congress
prohibit slavery in the territories The
Constitution does not expressly say. Must
Congress protect slavery in the territories?
The Constitution does not expressly say
From questions of this class spring all the
controversies, and we divide upon them
into majorities and minorities. If the mi
nority will not acquiesce the majority must,
or the government must cease. There is
no other alternative for continuing the gov
eminent but in acquiescence on one side or
the other. If minority in such case
will seeede rather than acquiesce, they
will make a precedent which in turn will
divide and ruin them, for a minority
of their own win secede from them, when
ever a majority refuses to be controlled by
such minority. For instance2 Why may not
another portion of a new confederacy, a
year or two hence, arbitrarily secede again
as portions of the present union now claim
to secede from it All who sherish dis
union sentiments are now being agitated by
the exact temper doing this Is there such
exact identity of interests in the States to
compose a new union as to produce harmo-
nv only, and prevent renewed seCession?-
The great idea of secession is the essence of
anarchy. A majority held in restraint by
constitutional checks and limitations and al
ways changing easily with deliberate
changes of popular opinion and sentiments,
is the only true sovereign of free people.
Whoever rejects it, does of necessity fly
to anarchy or despotism. Unanimity is i'm
possible The rule ola minority as a perma-
nent arrangement is wholly inadmissible, so
that in rejecting the majority principle anar-
chy and despotism in some form is all that
is left do not forget the position assum-
ed BY some, that constitutional questions
are to be decided by the Supreme Court
nor do deny that such decisions must be
binding in any case upon the parties to the
suit as to the object of that suit, while they
are also entitled to very high respect
and consideration in all parallel cases
by all other departments of the gov
eminent; and while it is obviously
v,o.,iLIa that sIch decisions NAV he