, 1861-04-05

I suPpIeSseui Woulu De ultimately reYlvct
D without restriction in one section, Will
' fugitive slaves, now only partially surrcnd
e cred, whould not be surrendered at oil b,
+ the other.
Physically speaking, wo cannot separate
r cannot remove our respective sections from
t each other, nOr build an impossible wall be
, tween them. The husband and wife may
+ be divorced and go out of the presence OF
, beyond the reach Of each other; but tht
, different parts of our country cannot d.
this. They cannot bnt remain face to face
CAqnd an intercourse either amicable or hos
Tile must continue between them. Is il
possible then TO make that intercourse
more advantageous or satisfactory after
than before 7 Can aliens make treaties
easier than friends can make laws? Can
treaties be more faithfully enforced be.
tween aliens than laws among friends
Suppose you 90 TO war? You cannot fght
always, aud when, after much loss on both
sides, there is no gain; your causes to eight
the old identical questions as 10 terms Of
intercourse are again upon you. This
country, with its Institutions, belongs 10
the people who inhabit it. Whenever
they shall grow weary Of the existing gov
ernment they cnn exercise their Constitu-
tlonal right of amending it, or their sevo-
lutionary right TO dsmember or overthrow
it. We cannot be ignorant Of the fact,
that many worthy, patriotic citizens are
desirous Of having the National Constitu-
ton amended. While l make no recon-
mcndation Of amendments, fully recognize
the rightful authority of the people over
the whole Subject, 10 be exercised in either
Of the modes prescribed In the instrument
itself, and | should under existing circum-
stances favor rather than oppose fair op.
portunity being offered the people 10 act
upon 1t. will venture TO add the Consti.
tniional mode seems preferable, inasmuch
as it allows the amendments to originate
with the people themselves instead only Of
Permitting them TO take or reject propo
stion originated by others not specially
chosen for the purpose, and which might
not be preferred, or such as they would
wish to either refuse or reject.
! understand proposed amendment TO
the Constitution-which amendment how
ever, / have not seen-has passed Con.
gress, TO the effect that the Federal Gov
eminent shall never interfere with The do.
nestle Institutions Of tho States, inrinding
that of persons held to service. To avoid
a misconcepiion Of what have said, / de-
part from my purpose to speak Of particu-
lar amendments so far as 10 say that hold
ing implied Constitutional views, have no
objection to iis being made express aud IT.
revoeable. The chief magistrate derives
oil his authority from the people, and they
have conferred none upon, him to OK forms
for the separation Of the States. The peo
pie themselves can do this only, II they
choose; but the Executive, as such, has
nothing to do with IL. His duty Is 10 ad-
minister and preserve The GoFernhent as
il came to bis hand, and TO transmit Il M
impaired by him, to bis successor. Why
should not there be patient confidence IN
the ultimate justice Of the peoplel Is
there any better or equal hope ia the
world, 10 our present difieoltiesf Is either
party without faith being 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 ser.
wants but little power for mischief, and
have with equal wisdom provided for the
return Of that little TO their own hands at
very short intervals, while the people re-
tain their virtue and vigilance. No admin
istratlon 10 any extreme Of .wickedness Of
folly can very seriously injure the Govern
ment in the short space Of four years. Ny
countymen. one and oil, think well aud
favorably upon the whole subject Moth
ing valuable eau be lost by taking time.
II there be an object 10 hurry any Of you
in hot haste TO a step which you would
never take deliberately, that object will be
frustrated by taking time; but no good OBJ
ject can be frustrated by IT, Such Of you
as are now dissatisfied still have the old
Constitution unimpaired, and on the sensi.
tive point the laws Of your own framing
under It; while the new Administration will
bave no immediate power II Il would. 70
change either. II Il were admitted that
you ere dissatisfied, would be on the right
in the dispute, there still & no single good
reason for pFecipitats action. lhlelligence,
patriotism, Christianity, and firm reliance
10 Him who has never yet forsaken His "a
vored land, are still competent TO adjust, "a
The best way, all our present difficulties
10 your hands, my dissatisfied eountrymen
and not 10 mine, is the momenlous issue o.
civil war.
The Government win not assaii you
You can have no Conflict without being
I yourselves the aggressors. You have nc
oath registered in Heaven to destroy th'
Government, while 1 shall have the mos
solemn one to preserve, protect. and defend
it. am 10th 10 close. We are not enc
mics, but friends. Though passion MAJ
have strained, it mast not sever our bond
/; Of affection The mystic chords Of memo
ry, reaching from every battlefield aud pa
triots grave, TO every loving heart an'
, heartstone all over this broad land, vii
yet swell the chosen OF the Union, whei
again touched, as surely they will be, b.
the better angels Of our nature.
Don't read these three lines as there
nothing in them Of any importance being 10