Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-13

an never become precedent for other cases
can better be borne than could be the evils
OF different practice. At the same time.
the candid citizen must confess, that if IN.
policy OF the government upon vital oueS
tions affecting the whole people is to be ir
revocably fixed by decisions of the Sunrerne
Court, the instant they are made in ordlna.
ry litigation between parties in personal ac-
tons, the people will have ceased to be tho;r.
own rulers, having to that extent practically
resigned their government into the hands OF
that eminent tribunal Nor is there in this
view any assault upon the Court or the
judges. 1t IS duty from which they may
not shrink to decide cases properly brouobt
before them, an it Is no fault Of theirs IL
others seek 70 turn their decisions TO uss,s;4sz.
purposes.
One section of our country believes .layerv
is right, and onght to be extended. while tho
other believes it is wrong, and ought not to
oe extended This is only the substantia,
question il dispute
The Fugitive Slave clause of tha Co.;
tuition, and the Law for the suppression ~ H..
Foreign Slave Trade, are each as we'll o.
forced as any law can ever be IN the romm.,
nlty where he moral sense of the neonla
lmpeflectly supports the law itself Thr
great body OF the people abide by the drv
ie3al ooHgatlon IN both cases, and a few brcak
over IN each. This, | think. cannot be ner-
in hnfh
eases after the separation of the sections than
before The foreign slave trade now imnar-
fectiy suppressed, would be ultimately r..
viVcd without friction in one section Will
1hgltlve slaves now only partially surrender
ed, would not be surrendered mt Ali bv the
other. ..-..
PhySicaiiy speaking. We cannot separate
we cannot remove our respective sections
from each other, nor build an impassable wall
fhar has -l.ar,. 4 --:c
di"eraea- -aat .i.@lf.--sss--.r-a.il- Al.
yond the reach of each other, but Il leelG.r-
ent parts of our country cannot do this. They
cannot but remain face to face, and their ia
tercourse must be either amicable or hostile
and continue so between them. Is it possible,
then, to make such intercourse more advan-
tageous or more satisfactory after separation
than before? Can aliens make treaties easier
than friends can make laws? Can treaties
be more easily enforced between aliens than
laws bet ceen friends? SuppaSe you 90 to
war--you cannot always fight and when, af-
ter much loss on both sides, and no gain on
either, you ceass fighting, the identical old
questions as to terms of intercourse are again
upon you.
This country, with its institutions, belongs
| to the people who inhabt it-whenever tbey
shall grow weary of the existing government.
they can exercise their constitutional riehf
OF amending it, or to their revolutionary
| right of dsmembering or oyerthrowing it
I cannotsh be igh0rant es- - = ssS4-----
worthy and patrio'ic citizens ARG aexnSof Eoura
having the National Constitution amended
/ | make no recommendation as to amendments
| L fully recognize the rightful authority of the
| people over the whole subject, to be exercis-
ed in either of the modes prescribed in the
INSTRUMENT itself | should under existing
circumstances, favor rather than oppose a
fair opportunity being afforded the people TO
act upon it. | will venture to add that to
me the Convention mode seems preferable.
/ In that it allows amendments to originate
with the people themselves, instead Of onlv
permitting them TO take or reject propoSi-
lions originated by others not especially cbo
sen for the purpose. and which might not
be precisely such they would vi h either
to accept or refuse. i understand that
proposed amendment to the Constitution
which, however, | have not seen, has passed
Congress, to the effect that the Federal Gov
ernment never shall interfere with the de-
mestic institutions of the States, includip.,
that Of persons held to service To avoiI
all misconstruction OF what / have said |
Will depart from my purpose not to speak of
!, particular amendments, so far as to say, that
holding such provision now to be Implied
| in constitutional law, have no objection to
its being made express and irrevocable
The Chief Magistrate derives all his an,
: thority from the people, and they have con-
ferTed y m, upon him to ix terms of Separa-
: ton bet Secn the States. The people them
selves can DO this if they choose but tho ey
ecative as such has nothing to do with it
0 His dutV il to administer the present gov
: ernmcnt as it came to his hands; and SHOULD
. there not be a patient confidence in tn,
l. ultimate justice of the people Is there
/ any better or equal hope in the world In
s s our present difficulties is either party with
IL out -ith in it's being right, If the Amgh-
ty Ruler of Nations, with His eternal truth
u and justice be on your side Of the North. or
yours "f the South, that truth aud that ins
l. ticc will surely prevail by the iidg nent Of
J. this great tribunal tine American people
70 BY the frame Of the Government under
N which we live. the same people have wisely
l. given their public servants but little power
~ for mischief, and have with equal wisdom,
le provided for the return Of that little TO rheir
:, own hands at very short intervals. While
they retain their notice and vigilance, no all
! ministration, by any extreme Cf wickedness
ie or Jolly, can very seriously injure the COY
N ernment in the short space of four years.
y My countrymenl one and all, think calm
le ly and well upon this whole subject Moth
u ing valuable can be last by taking time. If
y the object be 20 hurry you in hot haste 10 a
'r step which you wonli never take deliberate
ly, that object will he frustrated BY taking
y time out no good ni,lsct can De frustrated bv
le it. Such of you as are now dissatisfied. still
]! have the old Constitution unimpaired, on the
W sensitive point the l1ws Of your own framing
e under it. The new administration will hayc.
Z DO immediate power to change either, if it
w would Ifit we c admitted that you who arc
e disSatisfedhold the right side of the dispute
n there still is no single good reason for pre-
,. cipitating action Intelligence, patriotism.
u christianity, and firm reliance on Him who
Us has never yet forsaken this land, are still
es competent to ADJUST in the best way all our
ne present difficulties. Iuyour hands, nv Dis
no satisfied felow-countrymen, not in mine is
n the Iomentous issue Of civil war Tue gov
So trnment will not assail you. Yen can have
mt no conflict without beng yourselves the az
IS gressors. You have oath registered In
or heaven to drstroy the government, while |
L have the most solemn o9e 20 preserve pro-
ne tect and defend il.
i - am 10th to close We are Dot enemies
~ but friends. We must not be enemies. So
~ Though passion nay have strained, il must
o. not break our bonds of affection. The mys-
ed tic chords Of memory stretching from every
VI battle field and patriotic grayeto every living