, 1861-04-04

some authoritative manner direct the contrary.
trlSt tins viii not he regarded aS n menace, but
only as declared purpose Of the Union that it
VIII only tend and maintain the Constitution
itself In doing this there need h., no boulshed
or violence, and there shall be none, unless it be
iorccd upon the national authority The power
coniided to me will be used to hold, occupy and
possess the property and places belonging to the
COVE nment, and collect duties on imports; but
beyond what may be necessary for these objects,
there will be no using Of force against or among
, the people anywhere. Where hostility to the
United States in any interior locality shall be so
great and so universal as to prevent competent
resident citizens from holding Federal offices,
there VIII he no attempt to force obnoxious Stran.
! gers among the people that object. While the
strict legal right may exist in the government to
enforce the exercise Of those offices, the attempt
to do so would be irritating and so nearly imprac.
ticable withal, that deem il better to forego for
time the use Of such officers. The mails. unless
repelled, will continue to be furnished in all points
oi the union--so far as possible the people
everywhere shall have that sense Of perfect SC.
curtty which is most favorable to calm thoughts
and reflection. The course here indicated will
De followed, unless current events and experience
shall show modification or change to be proper ;
and IN every case and exigency my best discre-
ton viii b" exercised according to circumstances
actually existing, with view and a hope of
peaceful solution Of the national troubles, and
the restoration Of the frntcrnal synpathies and
affections. That there are persons in one section
or another who seek to destroy the Union at all
events, and are glad Of any pretcxt to 10 it,
VIII neither affirm nor deny; but il there be such,
need address no words to them To those,
however. who rely on the Union, may speak
before entering upon so grave a matter as the
destruction Of our national fabric, with all its
benefits and its hopes. Would II not he best to
ascertain previously why we do and will hazard
so desperate step, while there is any possibility
that any portion Of he ills you ly from have no
real existencep win you, while the eertain ills
you ny to are greater than all the real ones you
hy from, risk the commission Of 50 fearful mis-.
taker All profess TO be content in the Union IL
all constitutional rights can be maintained Is il
true, then, that any right written in the Consttu.
ton has been denied. I think not. Happily,
the human mind is so constituted, that no party
can reach to the au1acity Of doing this thing.
IL you can offer single instance in which
plainly written provision OF the constitution has
ever been denied, Il, by the mere force Of num-
bers, a majority shall deprive minority Of any
clearly written Constitutional rights, Il might, ia
moral point Of view, justify such decision.
1t certainly would, 70 such right were vital
one, but such is not our case all the vital rights
Of mnOrities aud individuals were so plainly
assured by theorZing aiti natives and Legislative
guarantees and propositions in the Constitution,
that controversy never arose concerning them !;
but no organic law can be framed with proris.
ion specifically applicable to every question which
may occur in practical administration. No fore.
son.hls Ior,,,h ro',,.;.' " Ies
nosS;hIa ones,;,,ns s~P'''S P'0''''O"s 'O' u"
Shall f,,r;,;vos G.o,,, ,.k,. A.. .,,.,..,
bv nStionsI or S,a,c an,L"r;,v a rho %nsa,;,,p up
ian docs no, a oxnressiS sa, r.,, T".. Dons,'u
Mi, Sisv,.rv y, ,ho T.s;; Tc"sress pro
tion does mi sxnressl, so M, S%nsu Cnms.i.
nro,.c, sl. h, ~. ...;,y uSS ss Ng'ess
tu,ion ,ln.s No, sx,,rnssI,, w., - "e NTl.s.- ..
oS his cI.s. srr;np' =, ' ny rro.n lues''ons
~o div;de ,,,o,, ,hdn, H., ~ .;l a,'u
,.s If ,hs ,,,.i,;.r No., M. .,'u n''''or-
,,ar,. - -, ~ Ds' VI 'ne govern
,;n.,,.'. 70 o.''eI a,ternatVe LOT
IN" one ~ % :. ,So LII. is Tu' ssiuGscence on
.a,. s o"s Iii Sus ".J. y, VI. o. minority IN Such
I;sS \; .au 'hey make
a.. ~ ;.".s. !" 'u'n WI 'u'iue ahu iu'n
u'". ',"'. ,.r, % ,.," s' Why may no, p"ruon OF
IN, 800" 80, ~. =. ~ M""encv. Mol'ra'
s":,, Iia;",' ' P'sS''.9 10 III"o.s W !Ie pre-,
sgns L ;n. J.Gn "Sm ' e'a'n 20 secede from ns An
nS,'.S."5 - ~, sen''len~ aie now oeing
.h.". ....,| ~ uong ths
y, .ue ln'eIests OF te
$500 S " % ",nP"~os "e" Ohho"' as 70 prouuee
%.y p,a'ns'. % S"s, sn1 prevent reviewed secession
@ @Ia'y, u.e cen''ai 'ueA o. secession Is the es-
sencs s.' .. ~ .uaLcny myorIty neld 10 restraint
~ eonsatuuonaI enecks ana limitations ~ and a.
wsys Snang,ng eashy w'In oehoerate changes Of
PoPu'eE op'nions ana sentiments, Is the only true
Soss'e,sn s " uve people. whoever rejects u
IDes ~ Necessity ny y anarchy ana despotiSm.
o"anIIty y sImPosslole. Ine VII o. majority
~. Per"Inen. .u Arrangement Is wholly inaumis-
s.o'e 20 onat, reJectlng Tue majority principle,
anarchy anu uespo'isn ,n some ior'n " all th"t is
Iet 10 not forget tne position assumed by
somS mat OoSstl.uIlonaI Questions are 70 be de-
clded oy tne supreme Vouft, nor do deny that