Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-03-13
EBENSBURG. Pi. WEDNESDAY,, NiRCH I3. 1861.

in the nature OF a contract merely. can II. n,
a contract, be peaceably revoked oy less thar
all the parties who made if? One party 10 g
contract may violate it. or break it. so 70
speak, but does it not require all to lawfully
Iescind itI Descending from these general
principles, We fiud the proposition that in a
legal contemplation Of the case. the Union is
perpetually confirmed by the history of the
Union itself. The Union IS much older than
the Constitution. It was formed in fact by
the articles of Association in 1774 1t was
matUred and continued by the Declaration Of
Independence in 1776 It was further ma
tured, and the faith OF all the then thirteen
States expressly Blighted sRd enjoiued that
it should be perpctual, by the articles of Con-
federation in 177S, and finally in 1877. One
OF the declared objects in ordaining and cs-
tabiishing the Constitution, vas to form a
more perfect union by al or by a part only
of the States. Can it be lawfully possible the
Union IS less than before, the Constitution
having lost the vital element of perpetuity?
It follows from these views that no State
upon ats own mere motion, can lawfully get
out of the Union that resolves aud ordinan-
ces to that eject are legally void aud that
acts Of violence within any State or States
against the authority of the United States,
are iusurreetiouary or revolutionary accord
inc to circumstances.
[ therefore consider that in view OF the
Constitution aud laws. the Union IS sunbroken.
and % the extent Of my ability, shall take
care, as the Constitution itself expressly en-
joins on me, that the laws of the Union be
faithfully executed in all the States Doing
this deem it 20 be only duty on nv part.
aud shall perform it 20 far as practicable.
-
people, shall withhold the requisite means, or
IN some authoritive manner direct the contra
~. ] trust this will not be regarded as
menace, but only as the declared purpose of
the Union that i will constitutionally defend
anu maintain itself In doing this there need
be no bloo3shod OF violence. aud there shall
be none. unless it be forced upon the national
authority The power cODfded TO NE will
be used to hold, occupy and possess the prop
erty and places belonging to the governme nj
to collect duties aud imPosts; but beyond
what may be necessary f0r these objects, there
viii be no invasion, no using Of force against
or among the people anywhere. Where hos
tilitv to the United STATES, in any interior lC-
cality, shall be 50 great, and 50 universal, as
TO prevent competent resident citizens from
holding federal cfices there will be 20 at
paople that object While the strict legal
right may exist II the government to enforce
tie exercise Of these offices, the attempt TO do
81 would be 50 irritating, ana sn nearly i'm
practicable wlthal. that deem 1t bette. to
lofcgo for some time the use of such Offices
The mails, unless repelled, will continue to be
furnished IL all parts Of the Uaion, SO far as
possible. The people everywhere shall have
-. oE --k1afa lc mo
favorable TO calm thought aud reflection.
The course here indicated viii be followed
unless current events and experience shall
snow modification 10 be proper and in eve
II case and ezigouey nay discretion viii be
exercised according to circumstances actually
existing, and with view and hope Of a
peaceful solution OF the national troubles, the
restoration OF the frsternal sompathies aud at
fections That there are persous in one sec
ton or apothes, who seek 10 destroy the I'm
ion at all events. aud would be glad of any
pretext to do it, | will neither affirm nor de-
ny. But if there be such, [ need address no
r.ords to them To those, however, who re-
ally love the Union, may | not speak? Be
fore upon so grave a matter as the destruction
of our national fabric. with all les benefits, It's
memories and hopes, would II not 6e wise to
ascertain why we do so.
VIII you hazard so desperate step while
there is any possibility that any portion of
the ills that you hy from have no real exIs
tance? VIII you, while the certain ills you
fiy to the greater than all the real ones you
fiy from VIII you risk the commission Of
80 fearful a mistake All profess to be con-
tent in the Union if all constitutional rights
can be maintained. Is It true. then, that any
right, plainly written in the Constitution. has
been denied I think not Happily the
human mind is so constituted that no party
can reach to the auiacity of doing this.
Think, If you can, OF single instance in
which a plainly written provision of the Con-
stitution has ever been denied. r. by the
mere force Of numbers, majority shall de-
pT;va minority Of any clearly written con-
stitutional right, it might, in a moral point of
view. Justify a revolution it certainly would
If such right were vital one; bu: such Is
not our case
All the vital rights of minorities and Of
arc so plainly assured to them by
afiirmaiions and negotiations, guarantees and
prohibitions in tbs Constitution. that contro-
versies never arise concerning them. But
no organic law can be framed with pTovis-
ion specifically applicable TO every question
which may occur in political administration
No foresight can anticipate, nor any docu-
mcut of reasonable length contain express
provisions for all possible questions. Shall
fugitives from labor Be surrendered by na-
,:onal or State authority? The Constitution
does rot expressly say. May Congress pro-
hi5it slavery in the Territories The Con-
siitution 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 Consti-
tutioral controversies. and we divide upon
them into majorities and minorities. If the
minority will not acquiescc the majority must,
or the Government must cease. There IS no
other alternative for continuing the Govern