, 1861-04-04

Suppose you go to war? You cannot fight al
ways and when, after much loss on both sides,
there is no gain; your causes to tight the old
identical questions as to terms oi intercourse are
again upon you. THIS country, with its institu-
tons, belongs to the people who inhabit it. When
ever they shall grow weary Of the existing gov.
ernnent, they can exercise their Constitutional
right of amending il, or their revolution ry right
to dismember or overthrow it. We cannot be
ignorant OF the fact, that many worthy, patriotic
citizeus arr dcsirouS of having the National Con-
stitution amended. While | make no recon-
mendation of amendments, ! fully recognize the
, rigltlul authority of the people over the whole
subject, to be exercised in either Of the modes
prescribed In the instrument itself, and should
under existing circumstances favor rather than
oppose fair opportunity being offered the pco-
pie to act upon it. ] will venture to add, the
Constitutional mode seems preferable, inasmuch
AS it allows the amendments to originate with
the people themselves instead only Of permitting
them to take or reject a proposition originated
by others not specially chosen for the purpose,
aud which might not be preferred, or such as
they would wish TO either refuse or reject
understand a proposed amendment to the
COnStitutiOn--whieh amendment, however, |
have not seen-has passed Congress, to the Ct.
feet that the Federal Government shall never in.
tcrlere with the domestic institutions Of the
States, including that Of persons held to service.
To avoid 4 miscOnccption Of what have said,
depart from my purpose to speak Of particular
amendments so far aS to say that holding implied
constitutional views, have no objection to its
being made express AMI irrcvocable. The chief
magistrate derives all his authority from the peo-
pie, and they have conferred none upon him 10
fix forms FOR the separation Of the States. The
people themselves do this only, if they choose;
but the Executive, as such, has nothing 10 do
with it. Ills duty is to administer and preserve
the Government as it came to his haad, and to
transmit il, unmpaired by him, to his successor.
Why should not there be patient confidence in
the ultimate justice Of the peOpl,! Is there any
better or equal hope in the world, in Onr present
dticultcsy Is either party Without faith, b, ing
in sight Of the Almighty ruler Of nations, with
His eternal truth and Justice on every side :
This same people have wisely given their public
servants but little power for mischief, aud have
with equal It isdOm provided for the return Of
that little to their own hands at very short in
tervals, while the people retain their virtue and
vigilance. No administration, in any extrcn Vf
wickedncss or fally, can very seriously ipjurc the
Government in the short space Of lDnr years.
My eounlrymen, one and all, think well and ia.
vorably uppn>the whole subject Nothing val.
uablc can he last by taking time. II there be
an object 10 hurry any Of you in hot haste to q
step which you would never take deliberately,
that object will be frustrated by taking time;
but no goo obi j.ct can he frustrntcdhy it. Such
Of you az are now dissatisfied still have the, old
Constitution uuinpaired, and on the sensitive
point the laws Of your own framing under II;
while the new Administration " III havc no imme-
date power, IL il would, to Change either. II IL
were admitted that you are dissatisfied, and would
be on the right in the dispute, there still is no
single good reason for prccipitate action. Intc-
gcncr, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm re-
lance in Him who has never yet fnrsakrn Ills
favored land. are still competent to ADJUST in the
best way, all our present difficulties In your
hands, my dissatisfied counuymen, and not in
mine, is the mom'n ntous issue Of civil war.
The Government viii not assa you. You can
have no conflict witlout being yourselves tie
aggressOrs. You have no oath registered In
heaven 10 destroy the Government, while shall
have the most solemn one to preserve, protect,
and defend Il. am 10th to close. We are not
enemies, but friends We must not be enemies.
Though passion may have strained, it must not
sever our bonds Of affection. The mystic chords
of memory. reaching from every battlefield and
patriots grave, to every living heart and hearth.
stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the
chords Of the Union, when again touched, as
surely they viii be, by the better angels Of our
nature. q