Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-03-09
MIR. DOUGLAS on rHE1NAuouRAI

'tsLlLtlRes' NOuees OF minerals and announcements
sermons, 80 eents cHeh. unVlls59
/
MIR. DOUGLAS ON THEINAUGURAL
ne COnstrues It to STean Peace, ana
Declares he Will Subnlit--RemnrISs
in the Senate, March o..
In reply to some remarks of Mr.. Cling
man, on a motion to print the usual num-
her of the Presidents inaugural:
MR. DouGLAs said be could not consent
that the Senator's remarks should 20 out
unanswered. He had read the Inaugural
carefully with the view of understanding
what the policy of the Administration il
to he, as therein yindicated. 1t is charac-
tcrized by great ability, and with great
dtrertness on certain points. a critical
analysis IS necessary to arrive at the true
construction. He had partially made an
analysis, and had come to the conclusion
that it was a peace rather than a war
message. He had examined it candidly
and critically, and Thought there was no
foundation for different opinion. On the
cORtnry, there is distinct pledge that
the policy of the Administration shall he
conducted exclusively with reference to u
peaceful solution of our national Difficult.
ties. It is tue the President Indicated a
certain line of policy so to be conducted
as to lead to a peaceful solution, hut it
was not as explicit as he (Douglas) desired.
Re then quoted from the inaugural in sun
port Of his positions, saying, unless the
means he furnished tue President caunot
execute The laws. He thought the Prcsi-
dent in his remarks on this subject was
/ referring to the future action of Congress
| giving him power to enforce obedience TO
them. The Presidentiiust have beenaware
! that in 1882 a law was passed to enable
| President Jackson 10 enforce the revenue
laws in the port of Charleston. The act
I expired in two Years! a-it to be san.
! posed that Dir. Lincoln thought he had
more power without, than Cen jackson
had. with the aid q, legislation. He
repeated whep the President pledges
himself to collect the revenue and en-
force tue laws unless Congress with.
I holds the requisite means, is he not to be
understood that his act is dependent ON
tho future course of COnprPss2 He
thought that WIS the proper construction
OF the inaugural, for the President saws
"lle shall perform his duty SO far as prac-
ticable, unless his rightful masters, the
American people, shall withhold the re-
| qnisite means, or in some authoritative
manner direct the contrary r. The Presi.
dent further says, "the power confided to
| melWill be used to hold, occupy, and nos.
sess the property and places belonging to
the United States, and to collect the du-
ties and imposts, but beyond what NAV be
necessary for these objects there will be no
invasion, no using of force against or
among the people anywhere" The presi-
dent does net say he will take possession,
of the forts, but thdt hewin hold, occupy
and possess them. This was eauivocal
lnnguRge, but he did mot condemn the
President for it, Beyond what NAV be
necessary for these objects there will be no
invasion, no using of force among the
peoplesnOywhere. II Il is the duty Of the
President TO enforce the revenue laws, il
IS hls duty TO enforce the other laws
1t Sannot be justified that the revenue
laws sna!l he enforced and all other
laws which afford protection as compen-
Satlon Tor taxes, shall not be enforced.-
de thought there were two points in
which they could find a solution of these
doubts The President snys; .Where hostii
ity to the United SthteS in any interior IocaIi-
! y shall be so great and so universal MS 10
prevent competent resident citizens from
holding the Federal Offices, there will he
no attempt to force obnoxious strangers
among the people for that ohieet.R The
President draws a distinction between tie
cxtsriortaud Interiors If he has mower in
one case, be has power in the other. Hit
is MS duty In one case to enforce the laws.
tits his duty in the otherg There wns no
provision OF law which authorizes a dis
tinction in this respect between places in
tue interior and on the seaboard. This
| brought him to the construction of an
other clause, the most impnrtant ofsMll.
and the key to the entire policy. Bot he
WIS rejoiced when he read it He invited
attention to it, as showing cunclusively
| that the President is pledged to a poiicv
| winch looks to peaceful solution Of onr
dlmcuities, and against all others. He
says the course here indicated will be
followed, unless the current Of events ana
! experience shall show modification or
enange TO be ProPeri and IN every case or
eAlgency my best discretion will be exer.
cisco 1ceordtng to the circumstances
usually exissiRR, aud with a view and
hope OF 8 peaceful soldtion of the
qatlenal troubles, aud restoration
OF IEaternal sympathies aud affections,
In other words, the President SAYS IL the
SOleclloU OF the revenue win lead to n
peaceful solution. tlien'it will be soIIecte8t
u the abandonment of that collection
nave that effect, then n viii be abahdo6eds
90 oI tue forts and arsenaIs in the se.eGls
ipg States. He will fecaptnre or NOT re.
capture them, and win re+enforrs or not
re-entoTce Forts SnmteF and PickefsL
- :. -. sit.,St Se.ss 70 peaceInt policy,
ana acting With this lTieU. lfthissis mot
.ne true construction, Why was there mai
inserted Fiedge TO use coercion. retake
the forts, recapture The arseuals, collect
ne seEeuue, and enforce the laws. uniess
there Was attached to each one eondifiob
on which the pledge was TO be carried o1ts
but the pledge Is only 70 do Il in order 10 4
peaceful solnnOn. and lof no oLher canse.
He submitted, whether. or not the friends
9t@ peace baye mot much 70 rej9iye At The
inaugural was mnei more conservative
than be bad anticipated. II Was fuopd pa