The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-03-09

Sraies be lawfully possible, the Union
is less than before-the Constitution
having lost the vital element of
perpetaity. |, follows from these views
that no State upon its own. mere notion,
can carefully get out Of the Union iha,
resolves and ordinances to that effect are
legally void and that acts of violence within
any States or State against the authority Of
the United States are insurrectionary or
revolutionary, according to circumstances.
| therefore consider, that in view OF the
Constitution and laws, the Union is unbro-
ken, and to the exten. of my ability, shall
take care, as the Constitution on itself express
ly eploins on me, that the laws of the Union
be faithfully executed in all the States
Doing this, deem to be only simple duty,
on nv part, and | shall perform it so ia, as
practicable unless my rightful masters, the
the American people, shall withhold the
requisite means, or in some authoritative
manner, direct the contrary.
trust this will not be regarded as men,
ace but orly as declared purpose Of Union
that it will Constitu,iona!!y defend and
maintain itself. la doing this, there need be
no blood shed. or violence and there shall
be none, unless it be forced upon the ma
tioual authorities. The power con6ded TO
me, will be used to hold occupy, ard
possess the property and places belonging
to the Government, and collect duties on
imports, but beyon what may be necessary
for these objects, there will be no using of
force against or among people anywhere.
Whenever hostility to the United States in
any interior lccal,sy shal! be so great and
SO universal as to prevent competent, resi-
ont nitt fyn hnl. yai of
there will be no attempt TO fierce obnoxious
While the strict, legal right may exist in The
Government to enforce the exercise OF these
Offices, the attempt to do so would be so irri
tating, ard so nearly fmprac;;c ,ble, wi;hal,
that | deem it better to forego, for the time,
the use of such Offices.
The mails, unless repelled, 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 are most favorable to calm thoughts
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
eSigency my best discretion will be
exercised, according TO circumstances. actu-
ally existing, and with view and hope
Of the peaceful solution of the national
troubles, and the restoration Of the fratern
al sympathies 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 pre,ext to do
it, will neither affirm or deny. But if there
be such, need address no word to them.
To those, however, who really love the Union
may not speak. Before entering upon
so grave n matter as the destruction of our
national fabric, with all its benefits, its
memories and hopes, would it not be wise to
ascertain, previously. why we do it ? Will
you hazard so desperate step, while there
is any possibility that any portion Of the ills
you fly from, have no real existence.
Will you, while the certain ills you fee to
are greater than all the real ones you fly
from, risk the commission of SO fearful a
mistake. All profess. to be content in the
Union, if all constitutional rights can be
maintained. Is it true then, 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.
Think, if You can, Of a single instance in
which plainly written provision Of the
Constitution has ever been denied. lfby the
mere force Of numbers majority shall de.
Prive minority of any clearly written Con-
stitutlonal r!sht, it might, in a mora, point
OF vle~ Justify n revolution. IL certainly
would, if such right were vital one, but
such is not our case.
All the vital rights Of mnorities and Of
individuals are so plainly assured to them
by ntkrmations and ncgations, guarantees,
and prohibitions in the Constitution, that
controversies never arise concerning them.
But no organic law can be framed with
provision specifically applied to every ques-
ton which may occur IN practical admins
tration. No foresight can anticipate. nor
any document Of reasonable length, contain
express provisions for MI possible questions
Shall fugitives from labor be surrendered
by National or State authority? The Con
stitution does not expressly say. must
Congress protect slavery in the Territories?
The Constitution does does not expressly
say.
From questions Of this class spring all our
controversies, and We divide upon them into
majorities and minorities. If the minority
will not acqniesoe tho ma jority must, or the
Government must cease. There mo other
alternative for continuing the Government,
but acquiescence on the one side or the other.
II minority in such case will secede rather
than acquiesce, they make precedent which
in turn will divide and ruin them, for a
minority of their own will secede from them
whenever majority refuse to be controlled
BY such minority. For instance, Why NAV
not portion of new Confederacy, year
or two hence, arbitrarily secede again,
precisely as por,ious of the present Union
now claim to secsde from it. All who
cherish disunion sentiments are now being
educated to the exact temperof dong this.
Is there such perfect identity Of interest
among the States to compose new Union
as to produce harmony only and prevent
renewed secession?
Plainly the central idea Of secession ia the
essence Of anarchy. a majority held in re-
s.rains BIZ Constitutional checks and limita-
tion., and always changing easily with the
deliberate changes Of popular opinions and
sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a
free people. Whoever rejects it does Of
necessity fy to anarchy and despotism.
Unanimi,y il impossible. The rule Of q
minority as a permanent arrangement, is
wholly inadmissibIe, so that rejecting the
majority principle anarchy and despo.ism
in some form is all that is left. ] do not
forge, the position assumed by some tha,
Constitutional questions are to be decided
by the Supreme Court: nor do deny tha,
such decisions must be binding in any case.
upon the parties 20 sui', as to the object
Of that sui., wbilethey are entitled to a verv
high respect and consideration in all parallel
cnses By all other departments Of The Gov
ernfnspt. and while it is obviously possibI.
that such decisions may be erroneous 10 any
given case, stili the evil effect following IL,
being limited TO sha. peculiar case With ib.