, 1861-03-08

; all the power conferred by the Constitution
for that purpose. But we must look tn
facts in the face. We must take notice o
T those things whose existence cannot be de
J MED. History teaches us that rebellion
often becomes successful revolution AnC
the greatest republics and proudest mon
arches have found it necessary to recognize
the existence Of a Government, de fdctO, il
the rebellion Of States and provinces. Sucl
was the condition Of the American colonies
for seven years after the Declaration Of In
dependence. Atfrst, it was rebellion, and
rebellion was treason. A few months after
ward, it was revolution and Government
de faeto at Philadelphia, Mr. Hancock
President, and Washington commander oI
the armies. Rebellion had ceased, and
revolution take its place. The American
| Colonies were II, ggr1lf, Ind Governments
de factO, and Great Dr,ulu, proud as she
was, was compelled 10 recognize the exist
| ing state Of facts. The laws Of nations
and the laws of civilization demanded that
the Government de faelO be acknowledged.
But the laws must be enforced. In our
system of government the laws are to be
enforced by civil authority, assisted by the
militia and posse oODs;latus, when the Mar
shall is resisted. If the colonies, or q State
revolt, the revolution is complete. When
the Federal authorities are expelled, and
no one man left to acknowledge allegiance
to the United States, how are you going to
enforce the laws then? How are you going
to do it in South Carolina? She has pass
ed an ordinance of secession. l deny her
right to secede, but she has done it. The
revolution is complete. She has no human
being in her borders to acknowledge our
authority.
This is all wrong, but how are you going
to help it? You tell US we must enforce
the laws am in favor Of that Laws
must be enforced according TO the Constitu-
ton and the laws. Under our Oonstitu-
tion, laws can only be enforced against
criminals, and those Of Us who are in favor
of the Constitution and the Union must be
careful that we do not perpetrate the very
things we denounce as criminal 10 these Sc
ceding States And South Carolina does
not stand alone. We are told that seven
other States will follow her, aud we have
reason TO apprehend that seven more States
may follow them. The answer is, we must
enforce the laws. My reply Is, you cannot
enforce the laws in countries not iu your
possession. l deny that We have the right
to make war in order to regain possession,
in order to enforce the laws. Are we pre-
pared for war? do not mean prepared in
the sense Of having soldiers, arms and mu-
nitions; but are we prepared in our hearts,
for war with our brethren? While affirm
that the Constitution was intended to form
a perpetual Union; while l affirm the right
to use all lawful means to enforce the laws; !;
yet | will not mediate war, nor tolerate the
idea, until after every effort at adjustment
has been tried and failed, and all hope Of
the Union is gone. Then, and not till then,
will deliberate and determine what course
my duty will require Of me. / am for
peace, to save the Union. War Is disunion,
certain, inevitable, final and irrepressible
Our own very existence forbids war. Mr..
Douglas referred to the purchase Of Louisi-
ana, and said it was purchased for the ben
eft Of the whole Union, and for the safety
Of the Upper Mississippi in particular. The
possession Of that river now is more neees-
sary then it was then. We cannot expect
the people OF the interior to admit the
right Of foreign State taking possession
Of that river He also referred TO the pur-
chase Of Florida and the amount paid, aud
asked il she could 60 ont now. The Pres
ident, in bis message, FIRST said we could
not coerce State 10 remain in the Union,
bot in few sentences he advised the acqui-
sition OF Cuba--as If we should pay $780,
00O, 900 for Cuba, and then the next day
she might seeede and re-annex herself to
Spain, and Spain sell her sgain. He had
admitted that Texas cost us q war with
Mexico and 10000 lives. In the name Of
900 gallant men from Illinois who fought
those battles, against the right Of that State
To secede-
Mr.. Hemphill, of Texas, (Dem. }, asked
if the protection Of Texas was The only
reason Of the war, aud if the United States
paid anything to Texas for the land, and
if we did not acquire California from that
warl
Mr.. Douglas said the only cause Of CON-
plant Of Mexico was the annexation Of
Texas, and we had only paid Texas $l0,-
900, 900 for some barren land she did not
own. Laughter He said tine Consti-
tuition was intended TO be perpetual, and
he denied the right Of secession under the
Constitution, as against the Constitution,
aud against justice aud good faith He
said there could be no government without
] coercion, but coercion must be used in the
mode prescribed by law. This is no ques-
tion OF correction in a State. Where no au.
thority Of the Federal Government remains,
we are bound to recognize q Government
de faeto, when the State maintains individ
ual sway. The man who loves the Union,
who loves to see the laws enforced, will
love to see rebellion put down. There is
no other way or recourse left, to enforce
the law in q seeding State, except to make
war and bring the State within your pos
/, session FIRST, aud then enforce the law af
terward. A war between eighteen States
on the one side, aud fifteen seeding States
on the other, is to me q revolving thing
| For what purpose is this war to be waged'