St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-03-07

and places belonging to the Government,
to collect duties and imposts, but beyond
what may be necessary for these objects
there will be no invasion, no using ottolce
against or among people anywhere; where
hostility to the United Statei, Il, in any inte-
rior locality shall be 50 great and so uni.
versal as to prevent Competent resident
citizens from holding federal Offices, there
will be no attempt to force obnoxious stran.
gers. amsng people that object. While
the strict legal right may exist IN the Gov
crnment to enforce the exercise Of these
Offices, the attempt TODD wrong would be
SO Irritating and socially practicable
withal, that deem it better to 'to,ego fora
time the uses of such Offices. The mai 8,
unless repealed, will continue to be fur
nishcd in all points Of the Union. So far
as possible the people everywhere shall
have that sense Of perfect security which
is most favorable to calm thong ts and re-
Election. Tho course here indicated will
be followed unless current events and ex-
perience shall show modification or change
to be proper, and il every case and ext
gency my best discretion will be exercised
according to circumstances actually exist
ing, aud with view and hope Of a peace
full solution Of the national troubles, and
the restoration of fraternal feeling
That there are persons in one section or
another who seek to destroy the Union at
all events, an i are glad Of any pretext to
do it, l will neither affirm or deny; but if
there be such, l need address. no word to
them. 10 those, however, who really love
the Union, may not speak? Before en-
tering upon SO grave matter as the DC
struction of our national fabric, with all
its benefits, its memories and hopes, would
it dot be wise to ascertain previous why we
do it? Will you hazard 50 desperate a
step where there is ahy possibility that any
portion Of the ills yru fly from have no
real existence. Will you invite the GER
tain ills you fee to which may be greater
than all the real ones you fly from? Will
you risk the commission Of 50 fearful a
mistake? All profess to be contentcd in
the Union if all constitutional rights can
be maintained. Is 1t true then that any
Ri ht plainly written iu the Constitution
has been denied? I think not. Happily
the human mind is 50 constituted that no
party can reach to the audacity Of doing
tbs.
Think, if you can, Of single instance
in which plainly written provision Of the
Constitution has ever been denied. If by
mere force OIL numbers majority shall de-
prive minority Of any clear = written
constitutional right, it might, in moral
point Of view, justify revolution; it GER
tainly would ifsuch right was vital one !:
but such is not our case. The vital rights
of minoritics and Of individuals are too
plainly assured to TEN ty utfirnnations
and l'ggal guarantees and prohibitions Of
the Constitution, that contr versies never
arise cYncerning them. But no organic
law can ever be framed with provision
specially applicableto every question: which
may occur in practical administration -
No foresight cau anticipate, nor any iocu-
n,ent Of reasonable length contain express
provisions for all possiblequestions. Sh II
fugitives from labor be surrendered bv Ma
tional or State authorities? The Consti
tuition does not expressly say. Must Con-
gres: pr"tec. Slavery in Territories p
The Constitution does not expressly say.
From questions Of this class spring up all
our Constitutional controversies, and we
divide upon them into majorities and mi
noritlcs. If the minority will not acqai-
esce, majorities must or t, government
must cease, There is no alternative for
continuing the Government, but acquies-
ence on the one side or other.
If the minority in such a case will Sc
cede rather than acquie-ce, they make a
precedent which will in turn ruin and d.
vide them; for minority Of their own
will secede from them whenever majori-
ty shall refuse to be controlled by such
minority. For instance, why may not
any portion Of new cvnfederacy year
or two hence arbitrarily secede again, pre-
cisely as portions Of the present Uuion
now claim to secede from 1t. All who
cherish disunion sentiments are now being
educated to tho exact temper of doing this.
Is there such perfect iden ity Of interests
among the States to compost rev Union,
as to produce harmony only and prevent
new secession Plainly the central ida
Of secession is the essence of anarchy. =
A majority held in restraint by consti-
tutional check limitations, and always
changing easily with deliberate changes tf
popular opinion and sen iments, il the on
y true sovereign Of free people: Who-
ever re- ect it, does Of necessity fly to anar-
chy or despotisnl. Unanimity is impossi-
ble-the rule Of the minority, as per-
mane"t arrangement, il wholly ipadmissa-
bic so that rejecting the majority princi.
pie, anarchy or despOtisln il all th.t Is