The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-03-07

of the States, be lawfully possible then
the Union is les. than before the Consti-
tuition, having lost the vital element of
perpetuity-
1t follows from these views, that no
State, upon its own mere motion. can law
fully get out of the Union; that resolves
and ordinances to that effect are legally
void, and that acts of violence within any
State or States against the authority of the /
United States, are insurrectlonary or rev.
olutionary according TO circumstances.
l, therefore, consider that in view of the
Constitution ana laws, the Union is I'M
broken, aud to the extent Of my ability.
.hall take care, as the Conotitutior itself
ex pre-Sly enjaios en- me, that the laws OF,
the Uai n be faithfully executed In all the
States Doing this, | deem 10 be only
simple duty on my part, and | shall per-
/ form il far : praciIc ar'le, unless ms
rshful masters, the American people shall
withhold the requisite means, or IN some
authoritative manner direct the contrary
/ | trust this will not be re. arded as a men
ace, but only as declare purpose Of the
I Union that it may constitutjoaally defe Id
and m antain itself In doing this there
need be no blood shell, CT violence. AID
there shall be none unless it De forced upon
the national authority. The power con-
ferred on me will be used TO hold, occupy
and possess the property and places be-
longing to the Government to eoilect the
duties and mposts; but b yond what may
| be necessary for these objects, there will
be no using of force against or among the
people anywhere Where hos lity to the
! Uui,ed States, in any interior locality,
shall be so great and SO universal Is to
prevent competenf resident citizens from
holding Federal offices. there will be no
attcm pit to force obnoxious strangers upon
the people for that object. While the
strict legal right ay exist in the Govern
ment to enforce the exercise of these Off
ees, the attempt to do so would be so irri
ta,ing and SO nearly impracticable withal,
that deem it better to forego for the time
he uses Of such offices. The mails, unless
repealed, will continue to bs furnished at
ali points Of the Union, s. FIR as possible
The people every where shall have that
sense OF perfect security which is most IA
vcrshle to calm thoughts aud reflection.
! Can aliens make treaties easierthan friends?
Can they make laws? Can treaties be more
faithfully enforced between aliens than laws
among friends? Suppose you go to war.
you cannot fight always, and when after
much loss on both sides, and no gain on eli
questions as to terms of intercourse are again
upon you--This country. with its institu
tons. belongs to the people who inhabit it.
Whenever they shall grow weary of the
existing government they can exercise their
constitutional right of amending, or their
revolutionary right to dsmember or over
throw. / cannot be ignorant of the fact
that many worthy and patriotic persons are
DESTROYS of having the national Constitu
! ton amended. While | maxi no recon-
mendation Of amendments, l fully recog
niza he lawful authority OF the people over
the whole subject, to be exercised i'll either
Of the modes prescribed i, the ms. ument
itself and should. under existing eircum-
stances. favor rather than oppose a fair OPP
po.;unitv bei' , offered the people to act mp
on it. Will venture 10 add that to me h
convention mode seems Prs.erable. inasmuch
as 1t allows the amendmeBtto originate with
the people themselves. instead only of per
hitting them TO take or reject proposition
originated by others not especia -. --s;lsasen
for the purpose, and which might not he
precisely such they would wish TO either
accept or refuse. l understand proposed
amendment 10 the constitution which amend
ment, however | have not seen,-p passed
Congress. TO the effect that the federal gov
mestic institutions Of the States, including
that Of persons held to service.
To avoid a rlisconstruc,ion of WI hat have
said, depart from my purpose not TO speak
of particular amendments far say
that. holding such provision to be now i'm
piled as Constitutional law. | have no OBJ
lection to its being male express and irrev
ocsble. The Chief Magistrate derives all
his authority from the people, and they have
conferred none upon him TO Tx terms for
the separation of The States. The people
themselves can do this. also, if they choose;
bnt the Executive. as such. has nothing TO
do with it. His duty is 10 administer and
preserve tho Government it came TO his
hands. ard II transmit it unimpared by him,
TO his successor.
/ Why should there not be a patient con-
filencc in the ultimate justice OF the people?
Is there any better or equal hope in the
world? In our present differences. is either
party without aith or being in sight Of the
Almighty Ruler Of Nations? VIII Lis eter-
nal truth and justice. be on our side of the
North or on yours OF the South? That
truth and justice will surely prevail By the
jiud gement of this tribunal-thc American
people.
By the frame OF the governm mt under
which We live, this same people have wise
y given their public servants but little pow
er for mischief. and have with eqnal wis
dom provided for the return OF that little to
their own hands, at very short intervals,
while the people retain their virtue aud Wig
lance. admir- istration by any extreme Of
wichedness or folly very seriously in
lure the government in the short space Of
four years. My coGntrymen e.e- and ALL
think calmly and well upon this whole sub
ject. Nothing valuable can he lost by Ia
king time: Il there be an object to hurry any
OF you 10 hot haste to a step which you would
never take deliberately, that object will be
frustrated by it. But no good object can
be frustrated BY it. Such Of You as are
now dissatisfied sill have the old Constitu.
ton un;m paired aud on the sensitive poi
the laws OF your own raining under it.
while he new Administration will have no
immediate power If it could change either
Ii it were admit ed that vou are dissatisfied