Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-03-02

that, under existing circumstances, a
happy and satisfactory solution of the
difficulties in the remaining Territories
would be obtained by similar laws, pro.
viding for their organization, if such or
ganization were otherwise practicable.
IT. therefore, Kansas were admitted
ls State, under the Wyundotte Con-
stitution, as think she ought to be,
and if the organic laws of all the other
Territories should be repealed, l could
vote to authorize the organization and
admission of two new States which
shouldincludc them, rcscrving the right
to effect subdivisions of them whenever
necessary into several convenient States;
but do not find that such reservations
could be constitutionally made. With
out them, the Interior cmbarrassmcnts
which would result from the hasty in
corporation of States of such vast extent
and various interests and character
would outwci yh all the immediate adj
vantages of such u measure. But if the
measure were practicable, | should pre-
fer Il different 'cs'nrsc-namcly, when
the eccentric movements of secession
and disunion shall have ended, in what
ever form that end may come, and the
angry cXcitrncnts of the hour shall have
subsidized, and camncSS once more shall
have resumed its accustomed sway over
the public mind, then. and not until
thcn-onc. two, ,r three wears hence
| should chccriuly advise convention
of the people. to be assembled in pnr-
sllancc of the Constitution, to consider
and decide whether any and what
amendments of the organic national
law ought to be made. "A Republican
now--as have heretofore been mcm-
Der of other parties existing in my day
Il nevertheless hold and cherish, as |
have always done, the principle that
this Government exists in its present
form onl V by the consent of the gov
crncd and that it is rs necessary As it is
wise, to resort to the people for rcvis-
ions OF the organic law when the trou-
blcs and dangers OF the State certainly
transcend the powers delegated by it to
the public authorities. .<ef tight Il tliie
suggestion to excite surprise. Govern
mrnt in any form is Il machine: this is
the most complex one that the mind Of
man has ever invented, or the hand of
man has ever framed. Perfect as it is,
it OUGHT to be expected that it will, ut
least rs often a. once in a century. &c
quirc some modification to adapt it to
the changes of society and alterations
of empires.
Fourllv. | hold myself ready now,
as always heretofore to vote for any
properly guarded laws which sail he
deemed necessary to prevent mutual
invasions of States by citizens of other
States. and punish those who shall aid
and abct them.
Filthy. Notwithstanding the argyll
mcnts OF the gallant Senator from Ore
gon. (Gen. Lanc.) I remain of the opn-
ion that physical bonds, such as high
ways, railroads. rivers and canals, are
vastly more powerful for holding civil
communities together than any mere
covenants, though written on parch-
mcnt or engraved upon iron. | re-
main, therefore, constant to my pur-
pose to secure, if possible, the construc-
ton of two Pacific railways, one of
which shall connect the ports around
the mouths of the Mississippi, and the
other the towns on the Missouri and
the Lakes, with the harbors on our
western coast.
If, III the expression of these views,
| have not proposed what is desired or
expected by many others, they will do
me the justice to believe that am as
far from having suggested what, in
many respects, would have been in har-
monv with cherished convictions of my
own. l learned early from Jefferson
that in political affairs we cannot al
ways do what seems to us absolutely
best. Those with whom we must ne
ccssarily act, entertaining different
views, have the power and the right of
carrying them into practice. We must
be content to lead when we can, and to
follow when We cannot lead and if we
cannot ut any time do for our country
all the good that VIC wish, we must be
satisfied with doing for her all the good
that we can.
Having submitted my own opinions
on this great crisis, it remains only to
say that shall checrfully lend to the
Government my best support in what
ever prudent yet energetic etiortsit shall
make to preserve the Union; advising
only, that it practice, as far as possible,
the utmost moderation, torbcarancc,
and Cancellation.
And now, Mr.. President, what arc
the auspiccs of the country? / know