The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-03-13

good that unanimous oath.
There is some difference of opinion
whether this clause should be enforced by
national or State authority, but surely that
difference is not very material one. If
the slave is to be surrendered, it can be of
but little consequence to him or 10 others
by which authority it is done.
And should any one. in any case, be con-
tent that his oath shall be unkept, or a
mefely unsubstantial controversy to how
I it shall be kepta Again-1n any law upon
this subject, ought not ali the safeguards of
liberty known in civilized and humane ju-
risprudence TO be introduced. SO that a
freeman may not be, in any case sure nder-
ed as a slave
And might il not be well, at the same
time, TO provide by law for the enforcement
of that clause in the Constitution. which
guarantees that s'the citizens of each State
shall be entitled TO all the provisions and
lmmnnities of citizens inlhe several Statess"
| Iake the official oath to day with NO
mental reservations, and with no purpose
TO construe the Constitution or laws by any
| hypercrilical rules. Aud while | do not
choose now to specify particular acts of
Congress as proper 10 be enforced, do
suggest that il will DE much safer for all, but
in official and private stations 10 conform to
and abide by all these acts which stand un
! repealed than 10 violate any of them, trust
/ ing to find impuni,y in having them held to
be unconstitutional.
II is nearly seventy.two years since the
| first Inauguration of President under our
National Constitution. During that period
fifteen different and greatly distinguished
citizens have in succession administered
the executive branch OF the government
They have conducted ii through many per
Ills, and generally with great success Yet
with all this scope for precedent now en-
| ter upon the same task for the brief term of
( four years, under great and peculiar diff
Guilty. A disruption of the Federal Union
heretofore only mepaced, is now iormida-
bly,. attempted. | hold that in contempla-
ton of The universal law and of the Consli-
| tuiion the Union of these States is perpet-
ual Perpetuity is implied ii not expressed
in the fundamental law OF all national gov
ernments.
# is safe TO assert that if the government
proper never had provision in its organic
law for lis own termination. | shall con-
tinue 10 execute all the express provisions
7 of our national constitution, and the Urion
will endure forever. it being Impossible 10
destroy it, except by some action not found
! in the instrument itself.
Again, il the United States be not Gov.
eminent proper, but an association of States
in the nature OF a contract merely, can it
be peaceably unmade by less than all the
parties who made itl One party TO the
contract may violate it, break #, so TO speak
does ii not require all TO lawfully rescind
II?
Descending from these general principles
we find the proposition that in legal con-
temptation The Union is perpetual, confirm.
ed by the history of the Union itself-ihe
Union is much older than the Constit ulion
II was formed in part by the articles of as
sociatioE IN l774 II was matured and
continued by the Declaration of Indepen-
dence in 1916. II was further matured ,and
the faith of all the then thirteen States ex-
pressIy plighied and engaged that it should
be perpetual by the articles Of coDfeder-
1 alton in 1878, and finally, in 1889 One of
The declared objects for ordaining and es.
tabishing the constitution was to form a
more perfect Unio,f /; but if the destruction
of the Union by one, or by part only of
the States be lawfully possible, Inc Union
is less than before the Constitution.
The Constitution having lost the vital ele-
neut of perpetuity, it follows from these
views that no Stale upon lis own mere mo-
ton can lawfully get out of the Union
j That resolves and ordinances TO that effect
are legally, void, and that acts of violence
within any State or States against the au-
thorits of the United States are insurrec.
tionary or revolutionary, according to cir
cums'ances.
[ therefore consider that in view of the
Constitution and laws, the Union is unbro-
ken, and to the extent of my ability shall
take care as the Constitution expressly en-.
joins on me, that the laws OF the Union be
faithfully executed in all the States During
this deem 10 be only simple duty on my
part, and shall perform it SO far as prac-
ticable, unless my righiful masters, the
| American people, shall Withhold the requi-
site means, or il some authoritve manner
direct the contrary. trust this will not be
! regarded as a menace, but only as the de-
clared purpose of the Union that will con-
slitntionalIy defend and maintain it. In
doing this there needs be no bloodsbed or
violence, and there shall be none, unless it
be forced upon the national authority.
The power con6ded to me will be used
10 hold. occupy and possess the properly