The Van Buren press., 1861-07-17

If its duty. While there is -
difference between secession snessptably bp, !,
prime movers knew thew coulJ fevolutio, ute
treason to respectability, bv n,,er never rai.san.
tion Of iaw-they could only ady..itn .itnplyin, sss'
teeth OF noble sentiments Of the nat, indirec,S
not insidiousiy debauch public sentPa,e-theyc,sa gu
invented an inglorious sophi.n 'v,n,'tiinent ra rla
cred logically, followed all which, if Obey
tior Of the Union. That sonbin.'tc TO the de..s'd'
peaceful withdrawal Of state WIN WIN Is The
consent-thus sugar coating reb. nout N; the UnsN,
has been drugged during thirv vroona-publie roa N.Y.,
men In arms against the governm.n, and p,aes
Ism derives currency from the ass~,-. This s,,t '
oanPot.h supremacy pertaining 10 SO Of .da.
have neither more nor less than Sa;e. S,,,s
one Of them being State out If ~ ''ed q powers
original ones passed into the Union niou ~
off British Colonial dependenea--,nt before ea.,e e
from their condition of depcndepce~ ones CONE
during her temporary independen.. Even Ten.
designated State The word soyera; Was nev'.
nc' ,n Sie c"hsIi.utlon, nor as is beGtra,S STAT,
OF the state Constitutions. Here fnVed. in ,,s
crate argument against the right os oiiows aa e.
1t Is Questioned whether the peo,Ja 'e0esession
except South Carolina. are not IN VI every S,,.
The contrary has not been demons,,a,i VI The Cnir
versaries have adopted some decls,a.sd Our a.
pendence. in which all men are cations Of ind.
people" has 'we the deputies ns :, oi we, u.
and Independent States" WHY ;o ol The sovereirs s
of men, the authority of the nsor nSre The npS,.
sentiaily peoples contest. am bsn,,ih ihis se.
plain, common people understand pIy apIy 10 believe
this. It is noteworthy that. while ~ u apprecis.
trial, officers have resigned, no enis naton,
sailor has deserted the flag. 'oh solder },
IL remains 70 oe demonstrated, thas H..
can fairiy carry an election can also r, uose Who
lion. That ballots are the rightfni 'pres'a ret.l
| successors OF bullets, and that wbau u ~ Peaceful
fairly and consttutonally decided ~ oaiio;s have
successful appeal back to buIlets2nl eiy can Be no
except to ballots themselves at succeed; ;ppea l
Such will be the lesson of peace ta, election.
what they cannot take by an election ,,ns ann .ner
take by war uley carno.
Lest there be uneasiness regard;n,,,
the government towards the soutbsrn 'Se course o.
We suppress the rebellion, it is pron.r a's' Ate
will be guided by the constitution ana say. VI
executive desires an administration gnraa avs Th
administered by the government mai ak.rs"ent, =
izens everywhere have the right to claim ny q,
Is not perceived that there is any coerc;a,' 1n.
gauon OF conauering In these terms
but the constitution guarantees TO each S,..
sentation from government If the STAT ,..e npr
the governments may change its form 10 ,ra1ii
going out 1t Is indispensable To ma;n,': NJ !.
guaranty 1t was with the deepest rgrp, ,.. "a :,
executive employed the war power in d0tau .Is' u
government, but it was forced upon hn,-.oU,aSe
perform his duty or surrender the goyernm.n, y y
cohP.""ise III Ihis case could cure-not tbs, ~
: promises are not proper, but popular-a rovs,
ment cannot long survive marked fear r,ss;S
that those who carry an election can onv
the country by giving up the main po.Ds sV,a u''
winch the people gave the election fbe ,sd' r
themselves, not their servants, can reserve d;.ol
sion as private eitivens. The executive coTS
consent that our institutions should perish, NM
less Detr0y SO vast, so sacred trust as the r,s
4, had confided in him. He had no moral r,l ~
! shrink, nor count the chances of his own IL,
r what might follow. In full view Of his Ores,
= sponsibility he has done what he deemed bs Su
Ou, now. according to your own judgment
yours-our hopes are that your views and art;c
will so accord with his as to assure faithful :;
zens who are distured in rights, Of their sn,,
restoration-"ha having thus chosen our course W
pure motives and purposes, let us renew the r.
and go forward without fear and with ma,
hearts.
t Signed, ABRAHAM LINCOLN