The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-03-13

their constitutional right Of amending it or to their
revolutionary right Of Remembering or overthrow
ing it. cannot be ignorant of the fact that many
worthy and patriotic citizens are DESTROYS Of having
the National Constitution amended, | make no
recommendations as to amendments, | fully re-
cognisc the rghtful authority Of the people over
the whole subject to DO exercised in either OF the
modes prescribed in the instrumentitself | should,
under existing circumstances favor rather than OPP
pose fair opportunity being afforded the people
to act upon it. ] will venture to add, that to me
the Convention mode seems to be preferable in
that it allows amendments to originate with the
people themselves instead of only permitting them
TO take or reject propositions originated by Others
not especially chosen for the purpose, and which
might not be precisely such as they would wish
either to accept or refuse. ! understand that
proposed amendment to the Constitution, which,
however, have not seen, has passed Congress to
the effect that the Federal Government never shall
interfere with the domestic institutions Of the
States, including that Of persons held to service
To avoid all miseonstructions Of what have said
will depart from my purpose not to speak Of particu
lar amendments SO far as to say that holding such
a provision now to be implied in constitutional
lsw, have no objection to its being made express
and irrcyocablc
The Chief Magistrate derives all his authority
from the people, and they have conferred none
upon him to fix terms of separation between the
State The people themselves can do this # they
choose, but the executive as such has nothing to
do with it. His duty is to administer the present
government as it came TO his hands and should
there not be patient confidence in the ultimate
justice Of the peoples Is there any better or equal
hopen the wordg In our difficulties is either par
~ without faith in its being right. II the Almighty
ruler of nations, with His eternal truth and justice
i IN, If
that truth and that Justice will surely prevail by
the Judgment of this great tribunal-the American
people BY the frame Of the Government under
which we live, the same people have wisely given
their public servants but little power for mischief,
and have with equal wisdom provided for the re
turn Of that little to their own hands at very short
Intervals. While they retain their notice aud wig
lance, no administration. BY any extreme Of wick
edncSs o. folly, can very seriously iniurc the gov
ernment in the short space Of four years.
/ My countrymen. one and all, think calmly and
well upon this whole subject Nothing valuable
can be lost by taking time. II the object be q
hurry You IN hot haste to a step which you would
never take deliberately that object will lie frustra
ted W taking timc hut no GOOD object can he irus
trated by it. Such of you as are now dissatisfied
stll have the old Constitution lnimpairel, on til,
sensitive point the laws Of your own gaming qn
der i. The new administration viii have no IN.
mediate power u change either, il il would. II i
were admitted that ypu who are dissatisfied hold
the right side Of the dispute there still isno single
good reason for precipitating action Intelligence
ipotriOtsn, Christianity. and firm reliance on Hin
who has never yet iorsaken this land. are stl
competent to adjust IN the best way all present
difficulties. III your hands, my dissatisfied fell
low-countrymen, and not in mine Is the mo
mcntous issue Of civil war. The Government
viii not assail you--you can have no conflict with
out being yourselves the argressorS. You have II,
oath registered IN Heaven d destroy this Govcrn
mcnt while ! have Il most solemn one 10 pre-
serve protect and defend il.
j lam 10th To close. We are not enemies, bu
friends. We must not be enemies Though pas
sion may have strained il must not break our bond
of affection. The mystic chords Of memory
stretching from every battle field and patriot,
grave to every living heart and hcarthstone alloye
this broad land will yet swell the chorus Of tn
i MON when again Touched as surely they will be
4 by the better angels Of our nature.