Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1861-03-13
the United States, are insur,ectionary or

}
Of the United States, are insurrectionary or
revolu.ionry according to circumstances.
therefore consider that in view of the
Constitution and law, the Union is unbrok-'
EN-, and to The G, tent Of my ability. shall
take care as the Constitution itself expressly
enjoins on me, that the laws Of the
Union he faithfully executed in all the
States. In doing this / deem, it to
be simple duty on my part, ana I
shall perform it., so far as practicable.
unless my rghtful mastcrs-tLe American
people-shall witlo'd the requisite means or
in some authoritative manner, direct the con-
|trary.
trust this will not be regarded as n men
ace, but only as a declared purpose of, the
Union that it will conytitutiona!fy defend and
maintain itself III doing this there need be
no blood she'd or violence, and there shall be
none unless it be forced upon the national au-
thority.
The power conGded TO me will be used to
bold, occupy and possess the property and
places belonging to the government. to coliec;
duties alii: impos:s, but beyond what may be
necessary for these objects these objects there
+ will be 10 invasion, no using Of force against
or among people anywhere; where hostility
to the United States in any interior locality
shall &c SO great and SO universal us to pre-
! vent competent resident citizens from holding
federal Offices, there will be no attempt to
force obnoxious strangers among a people
that object. While tbs strict legal right may
exist III the Government TO enforce the excr
else Of these Offices, the attempt to do So
would be so irritating ana socially imprac:ic.
able withal, that | deem it better to forge
for /: t!usc the uses CT such Offices. The mails
unless rcpe!!nd, will continue to be furnished
in all points OF the Union. So lar as possible
the people everywhere shall have that sense Of
perfect security which is most favorable tc
calm thoughts a. d reflection. The course
here indicated will ne followed unless currcn,
events and experience shall slow a modfi
cation or change to be proper, and in every
case and exigency my best discretion will be
exercised according to circumstances actual,
existing, and with a view and hope of {
peaceful solution Of the national troubles
and the restoration Of ivaternal feelings.
! That there are persons in one section q
another who seek to destroy The Union at al
events, and are glad Of any pyetest to do it,
will neither affirm OF. deny; but if there be
such, need address no word to them. Te
those. however, who really love the Union
may not speak7 Before entering upot. Sc
grave a matter rs the destruction Of our ma
tionu fabric, with al! its benefits, its memorie:
aud hopes, would it not be wise to ascertain,
previously why We do it? Will you hazarl
SO desperate step where there is any pos.
sibility that any portion Of the ills you f;
from have no real existence? Will YOU invite
the certain ills you flee to which may be
greater than all real ones you fly from? vii
you risk the commission Of so fearful a mis-
take? All profess to be contcnted in tho
Union if all constitutional rights can be main.
tanned. Is it true then that any right plain!,
written in the Constitution has been denied!
I think not Happily the human mind is so
constituted that no party can reach to the az.
dacity Of doing this.
Think, if you car, of single instance il,
which plainly written provision of the Con.
stitution has ever been denied. If by mere
force Of numbers a majority shall deprive a
minority Of any clearly written constitutional
right, it might, in moral point Of view, JUS
!tity revolution; it certainly would if such
fright was vital one; but such is not our
case. The vital rights. Of minorities and Of
individuals arc so plainly assured to them by
uflirmations and legal guarantees and prohibi.
lions OF the Constitution, that controversies
never arise concerning them. :. But no organic
law can ever be framed with provision spec
tally applicable to every question which may
occur in practical administration No fore
|sight can anticipate, nor any document OF
reasonable length contain express provisions
for all possible questions. Shall fus;.iyes
from labor be surrendered by National Or
State authorities? The Constitution does not
expressly say. Must Uongre2sproteet slavery
in Territories? The Constitution does not
expressly say. From questions OF this class
spring all our constitutional controversies and
we divide upon :lcm into majorities and mi.
norities. If the minority will not acoucsc
majOrities must, or the Government mus,
cease. There is no, alternative fer continuing
the Government bat acquiescencc on the one
side or the other.
| II the minority in such case will secede
rather than acqnicsce, they make prcce
dent which will III turn ruin and divide them
tor minority Of their own will scceGe from
controlled by such a minority. For instance
WY i'N~y stvsf 01y poirct ~ - icW COutGu
eracy year or two hence arbitrarily sccede
again, precisely rs portions CT the presen,
Union now claim 10 secedc- from it. All
who cherish disuuon sentiments. are now be-
ing educated to the exact temper of dora
this. Is there such perfect identity Of inter
ests among HE States to compose new Union
as to produce harmony only and prevent &
new secession ? Plaiuly the central idea O
secession is tile essence Of ahafcby.6 r 4 tn
t. A mHjority held in restraint by constitu
tional checks, limitations, ard always chang
ing easily with deliberate changessof popula,
opinion and sentiments,is the only true. SOW
ereign Of free people. Whoever rejects il
does of necessity fly TO anarchy or despotisIn
Unanimty is impossib.c-the rule of the mi
nority, as 3 permanent arrangement, is who'll,
inadlnissiole-so that rejecting the majority
principle, anarchy or despotisn is all that i
left. 0o 1T.Iai Esg.TI ii si&Scr - oissaiqstf:
I DO not forget the position assumed by
some that Constitutional objections are to be
decided; by the Supreme Court; aor do der,
that such decisions must be binding in an,
case to the parties TO suit, as we'll as to the
objects OF that suit. While they are .alse
entitled 10 very high respect and considera
ton in all parallel cases, by all other Depart
tlnehts Of Tie Governments, andswkile it .iSob
viously possible that such decision may b.