Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-12

resisted, even by arms, il necessary. Inc lime
NAV come when it shall he the duty Of State
in order to preserve itself from the oppression
of the General Government, to have recourse
to the sword; in which case, the proposed ioT'
of government declares that the State anu eS
ery ono of its citizens who act under lis autho
rity. are guilty Of O direct act OF treason re
ducinc, by this provision, the different States
to this alternative that they must tsmely an'
passiyely weld to deSpntiSIn, or their citizens
must onpose it at the hazard Of the lutter, !
unsuccessful; and reducing the citizens OF tn'
State which shall take arms, to 4 situation II
which they m list DO exposed to punishment
let them act us they will-sincc II they OBEY
the authority Of their Stale Government. Mel
uW be ouiliy Of treason against the CHatst
States j.; if they join the General Government
they will be guilty of treason against their o"!
State.
"To save the citizens fthc respective States
from this dsagreeable dilemma, and 10 secure
them from being punishable airs traitors to th'
United States, when acting expressly IN obeus
ence to the authority Of their own State, wish
ed to have obtained, as an amendment Il
the third section of this article, the following
clause Provided, that no acts Or act done b.
one or more of the States against the United
States, under the authority OF one or more
the said States. shall be deemed treason OIL
punished as such bit in case of war being
levied by one or more af the States against tbs
United States, the conduct of each party to
wards the other, and their adnerents respec
lively, shall be regulated by the laws OF wal
and Of nations. But this provision was moi
adopted"
Sir, it is amazing that, with so many sources
from which We can derive correct Information
as to the nature and character Of our Fedora
Government and the relations that the Suites
bear to i, md to each othcr-l say it is amaz
ing that. at this day, gentlemen viii get W
and contend that our General Government is @
mere Confederation Of States, in the fncc o
the fact that Henry and Mason, in the ConSen
ton Of our State, opposed the ratification o.
the Federal Constitution, because it created
Government that rested not for its Preserva
ton upon State authority. but came, as did the
State Government, from the people OF eacf
State, who delegated 10 it portion Of thcll
sovereign power to lie exercised III common
with the other States for the mutual oeneh'
and common good Of all.
know that gentlemen, when they speak ol
coercion cannot mean that there IS power tr
cocrce a sovereign State. as SUCH. There is nc
such power. No man in the Lard contends fol
such power; aud if no one contends Tor IT,
why level your sEathclnas against il Why
bnili up coh-houSeS that You may have til,
pleasure of knocking them down: Cocrclng 4
State, if it means anything-means making
war upon il; war against State affects The
innocent as well as the guilty. This Go
ve,nmtnt is created hy the same power that
created the State Government. Ii preserve" it
sci! by the same means that the State Govern
mrnlS preserve themseives-that is by punish
ing the guilty and protecting the innocent.
Why are Governments necessary! IL every
Loiy would act as Christians should do, each
rendering to the other what is his due, there
would BIZ no need f3r Government The very
fact that We have Government and that it is
necessary fer the protection Of society and il
diviiuals arises from the fact that all ;si no,
do right and that power must reside some
where to punish the l.$ubedicnt and enforce
tho laws
The Government, therefore, acts upon :nIi'
virluais, puniShcs the guilty, protects The III.
nGccnt; and without this power you can have
nu Government. And it must be sustained.
too, in the exercise Of that power, whenever /;
becomes necessary To be exercised, for the pre-.
servatinn and perpetuatiGn OF the Government
But, sir, is there anything in this Inaugural
Address 10 justify for Il moment the assertions
that have been made upon this lio"T, tina! II
hreathcs Il spirit Of war. Read it again, gen
tirlncr. More pacific, more peaceful language
cnlll not have been employed lay Dir. Lincoln,
unless nc had been willing to stand up before
that assembled nultiiG.Ic in Washington and
proclaim IL them thai, although IN :. tew i::si-
Im..:!% .i.aii swear to discharge the dulles OF
the Office 81 President o! the United States,
and 10 preserve, protect and dcicnt me lonst'
tul:"n If the Unitcl States, don't Imcan to do
it! mean 70 rrrjure myself" Sir, unless he
had done this, he could not have done less than
he has d9n:. He has told you, III elect, and
told you in pleading, begging terms, that m
war will he made upon you, tfiit no force VIII
be used against you-none whatever. Bn;
you were d;ssa,i. FED, ard lac appeals 10 you
and says: Dissatisfied though YOU he, wait
wait and pursue the remedy pointed Gu; under
the Constitution, to provide for yuu every
qua, an;ce, every protection that ycu may de-
sire; shall do nothing To iajuTc yon; it is
made my duty to say, SIS Mr.. Buchanan, as
General Jacks on, ard every President before
me has said. md as every future President
must say, that will prescrrc my cath but
after that ha tells you, that il States are SO
hostile 10 him that no one residing in them VII!
accept the Offices which, are 20 be filled BY the
Federal Government, hC Will not attempt to ill
them by IersuI.s from other States who may
he obnoxious to ;heIn.
But, these gentlemen say He says he in
tends 70 preserve un1 protect the forts und
other public property of the United States.
Well, sir, is he not right in doing so: is II
not his duty 10 dc so? Would yon have him
to do les? Did you rot s'issain Mr. Buchanan
III doing ~ 70 tic extent that he rid do so?-
Is it right hat those gentlemen in Louisiana
sh6ii IuD the mint Of our fio;'2y ana OF itj
money that they shall rob sou I'll y.ur arn::
and munitions Of war, and IF your forts and
arsena!s AMI deck yards? Is it yunr duty rs
good citizens to sland by and ll:us conIlVe
ut this Mct Of bad faith, and u speak we'll OF 1t,
and 10 give il aid aIl support, and 10 say 10 the
Federal Government: III you 10 nol give up
these firtS and arscna's niid dock raids pca'l-
bly, willingly, why we will take them icrclbly,
we will make war upon yout" Sir, |, and the
people represent, do 10 read our duties in that
way. Mr. Lincnin III his inaugural address 7ir-
.ually told yon that he Is not g'g TO mnSe
any effort 10 ret.Ilr forts which were taken be-
fore he calnc int, I''w"r j. would be linpnliilc
for bin 10 10 ST. CH The contrary h" negatives
such al, inference r. r,uch as he could do 81" hy
saying at he will ,n1ear"T 70 preserve, Su,saia
and hold the public properly SO tina! I:r HAY
hand it nvcrto Isl: successor as it Was lhhtr,i IL
him By Mr. 81. !,":.au and that IL nil BIZ DOTS
>Ir.
Nov, sir, locking alone to my OWN ideas OF
wha, would b. expcdient in the presc.t condi.
ton OF the country. would say. not rny Jet
them 20 with what they have taken: but lei
item have wha: is still left to take ic they desire
il; for am satisfied, rs much AZ can be ol
any fact, that has 10 occur in The future. that
one year will not roll rcurd until the people OF
each and all Of those STATES which have. in the
estimation Of soIr, withdrawn themselves
from the Union, will rise in their majesty, as.
sort their power. hurl those men rom the
places which they have obtatnrt: through their