Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-03-07

authority.
The power couhded 10 me will be used 10 hold,
occup, and possess the property and places
belonging 20 the Govern and 10 collect
duties aud mposts; but beyond what NAV be
necessary for these objects, there will be using
OF force against or among people anywhere.
Where hostility TO the United States in any in
terror locality shall be universal as to prevent
competent residents from holding Federal
Offices, there will be attempt 10 force obnoxious
Strangers ansp7g the people that ci1ect While
the strict legal right may exi-t IL the Govern
ment 10 enforce the exercise Of these oficerrs
the attempt 10 do 90 would be so irritating and
80 nearly impraciic Ibe withal, that dcein IL
better to forsgo for time the use Of such
Offices. The mails, unless repealed. will con
tinue to he furnished in all parts of the Union.
So AR a. possible, the people everywhere shall
have that sense OF perfect security which Is most
favorable to calm thought and reflection.
The course here indicated viii be followed,
unless current events and experience shall show
q modification or change TO be proper. In every
case and cxigency my best discretion will be
used according to circumstances actually exist
ing, and with a view and hope of peaceful
solution of the national troubles and the resiora-
ton of the national sympathis and affections.
That there are persons in one section or another,
who seek to destroy the Union, or. at all events,
are glad OF any preteIt to do IL, will neither
affirm or DENY, but, If there be such, need al
dress word to them. To those, however, who
really love the Union, may ! speak. Before
entering upon 30 grave a matter as the destruc-
ton of our national fabric, with all its dement's,
memories and hopes, would IL not be wise to
ascertain previously why We hazard so desperate
a stepl While there is any possibility that any
of the ills you fly from have no real existence,
while the certain ills you ay to are greater than
all the real ones YOU fly from. will you risk the
commission Of so fearful mistake All pro
Tess 10 be content in the Union, ii all constitu-
tional rights be maintained. Is it true. then,
that any right, plainly written in the constitution
has been d,nied7 / think not. Happily, the
hum mind ID so constituted that party can
reach to the audacity of doing this. Think, il
YOU can, of a single instance in which a plainly
written provision Of the constitution has been
denied. Ii, by the mere force of numbers, a
majority shall deprive minority of any clearly
written constitutional right, it might, in a moral
point of view justify n revolution. 1t certainly
would If such a right were vital one. But such
is not our case. All the vital rights of minori-
ties, of individuals, arc so plainly assured toth-m
by affirmation and regulations, guarantees and
prohibitions in the Constitution, that contro-
versies never arise concerning Them but no
organic law can be framed with a provision
specifically applicable to any question which may
occur in practical administration, no foresight
length contain, express provisions for all possible
questions Shall fugitives from labor be sur
rendered by National or State authority The
Constitution does not expressly say. May Con
gress prohibit slavery i'm the Territoriesl The
Constitution does not expressly say. Must Con-
gress protect slavery in the Territories The
Constitution does not expressly say. From
questions of this class spring all our constitu-
tional controversies, and we divide upon them
int u,ainrftipa and m II no min fv
will not acquiesce, the majority must, the
Government must sease. There is no other
ALTERNATIVE for ontinuing the Government, but
acuniescence on the one side or the other. Ii a
minority in such case will secede rather than
acquiesce, they make precedent which in turn
will divide and ruin them-for minority of their
70 Sn will secede from them whenever 4 majority
efus es to be controlled by such Minority.
For instance, why may not any portion of a
new Confederacy, year or two hence, arbitrar-
/ lily secede again, precisely a portion of the
present Union now claim TO secedc from it? All
who cherish dsunion sentiments are now being
educated TO the exact temper of doing this. /.
there such perfect identity of interest among
the States TO compose new Union, as to propose
harmony only, and prevent renewed secession
Plainly the central idea of secession is the es.
sence of anarchy-a majority held in restraint by
Constitutional checks and limitations, and al
ways changing easily with the deliberate changes
+ Of popular opinion and sentiments, is the only
true sovereign OF a free people. Whoever re
jects it, does of necessity fly to anarchy or DIES
potsm. unanimity is impossible. The rule OF
= minority, as permanent arrangement, il
whollT inadmissable; so that rejecting the major
ty principle, anarchy and despotism in some
form is all that is left. do not forget the post
tion assumed bysome that constitutional questions
are to be decided 10y the Supreme Court, nor dc
| deney that such decisions must be binding il
| any upon the parties to a suit as to the oh
ject of that suit while they are also entitled tC
very high respect and consideration in all paral
lei cases by all other departments of the Gov ern
ment. And while it is obviously possible tina
such decisions may he erroneous in any givel
case still the evil effect following il be ne limit
ed to that particular case, with the chance tina
it may be overruled, and never become n prece
dent for other cases. it can better be borne thar
could the evil of different practice.
At the same time the candid citizen must con
fess that if the Government upon vital question
affecting the whole people is to be irrevocabl
fixed by decisions of the Sup enc Court, the in
slant they made in ordinary litigation be
tween parties in personal actions, the people viii
have ceased to be their own rulers, having T.
that extent practically resigned their Govern
ment into the hands of that tribunal Nor
there in this view any assault on the Court o
Judges. Ii is a duty from which they NAV no
shrink to decide cases properly brought befor
them, and it fault of theirs if Others seek T.
turn their decisions to political purposes On
section of our country believes slavery is RICH
and ought to be extended, while the other be
lievcs tits wrong, and ought not 10 be extended
This is the only substantial dispute, for the Fu
gitive Slave cause OF the Constitution, and III
laws for the suppression of African Slave trade
are each a. we'll enforced, perhaps. as any law
can ever DC in n community where the mora
sense of the people imperiectly supports the la,
itself. Will the great body of the people abid
by the dry legal Obligations in both eases, bette
after the separation of the sections them before
The foreign slave trade, now imperfectly sup
pressed, would be ultimately revived without re
striction In one section while fugitive slaves no,
only partially surrendered, would not b
, surrendered ut all by the other Phvsical
speaking, We can not separate; can not remov
our respective sections from each other no
build an impossible wall between them. Tn
E husband and wife may be divorced and 60 out O
the presence and beyond the reach of each other
I but the different parts of our country can not d
c this; they can not but remain face TO face, an
@ an intercourse, either amicabe or hostile. mus
D continue between them. Is il possible then. I
c make that intercourse more advantageous n
e more satisfactory after separating than before
cah aliens make treaties easier than friends
e Can they make laws Can treaties he NOR
!, faithfully enforced between aliens than law
e a-.ong friends Suppose YOU GO u war. YOU ca
h not night always, and when, after much loss O
U oo'h SIDES and no gain on either, you cease igh
Il Ing, the old Identical questions as to terms G
n intercourse are again upon you. This cOuntr,
q with It's institutions. belong to the people VIII
| lnhaoit H. W henever they shall grow weary {