The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-03-21


pci, The Message is explicit and certain upon
the point that the President will not, directly
indirectly, interfere with the institution of slavery
within the States-is specific upon the point that
he will do everything in his power to give faith
full execution to the Constitution and the laws for
the return of fugitive slaves-s explicit upon the
point that he will not oppose such amendments
TO the Constitution as may be deemed necessary
TO settle the slavery question and restore peace
to the country. Then it proceeds to Indicate
line Of policy for his Administration. He de-
clares that, in view Of the Constitution and laws,
the Union remains unbroken. | DO not suppose
that any man deny the proposition, that in
contemplation Of law, the Union remains intact,
no matter what the fact may be. There may be
separation de facto, temporary permanent, a.
the sequel may prove but in contemplation of
the Constitution and the laws, the Uuion does re-
nlain unbroken. / think can deny the cor
rectness of the proposition, as Constitutional
principle. Let us go further and see what there
is in the address that is supposed to pledge the
President to a coercive policy. He says I" shall
take care, the Constitution itself expressly en-
joins upou me, that the laws of the Union be faith
fully executed in all the States.'' THIS declara
ton is relied upon as conclusive evidence that CO.
ercion is to be used in the seeding States; but
take the sentence: Doing this deem to he
only simple duty on my purt. shall perform it
SO far as practicable, unless ''-unless what Let
US see what the condition is on the hippe ming of
which he will not enforce the laws" unless my
rightful masters, the American people shall with
hold the requisite means, or in some other auther-
tiles manner direct the contrary
This condition, on which he will not enforce the
laws in the seeding States is not as explicit as
could desire. When he alludes to his =" ghtlu
masters, the American people," | suppose lie
means the action of Congress in Withholding The
requisite means. Query: Does lie wish to be IN
derstood as saying that the existing laws
fer upon HIM requisite means - or, does he
mean to say that inasmuch the existing laws
do not confer the requisite means, he cannot exc
cute laws in the sereding States unless those
means shall be conferred by Congress The Ian
guage employed would seem to imply that the
President was referring to the future ction Of
Congress az necessary TO give him the requisite
means II enforce obedience to the laws in the Sc
ccding States. Doubtless the President was not
uninformed of the fact that his friends in the
House Of Representatives had prepared force
bill, comforting these requisite means to coerce
obedience in the seeding States and that that
bill was defeated in the House He must be
aware, historically, that in 1892, General Jackson
deemed additional legislation necessary to enforce
revenue laws at Charleston, and that force bill
was then passed, which expired by its own limita-
ton in short time, think two years, and is not
now in force. Does Mr.. Lincoln consider that he
has any power to cOerce the collection of the
revenue in Charleston harbOr without further lie
gisaton than General Jackson had in 1892
When he pledges himself to collect the revenue
and enforce the laws in those States, unless Cor
grcss withholds the requisite means TO do is he
not to be understood that whether he does enforce
them or not depends on the future action OF Con
gress l think that is the proper construction o
his language.
In a subsequent paragraph he says: Tho
power conidcd to me will be used to hold, occupy
and possess the property and places belonging Il
the Government, and to collect the dues and i'm
posts" What powerl Does he mean that whcl
has been confded, that which may be confided
Does he mean thst he vii exercise the power un
less Congress directs the contrary. that he viii
exercise it when Congress coners it | regre
that this clause is understood by some persons al
meaning that the President will tn. Who'll,
military force of the country to recapture tn
forts and other places, which have been seize
without the assent of Congress If such was hi
meaning he unfortunate in the selection o
words to express the idea. He does not say tina
he will recapture or retake, hold an occupy tn
forts and other places. Nor does he say that h
will recommend to Congress to furnish HIM me
and money for such purpose /; but 9" the powe
. confded to me will be used to hold. occupy all
possess the property and places belonging to tn
Government" To say the least of it, this
equivocal language. am not going to condcm
him for i; ; my present object is not TO censurC
, but to ascertain the meaning of the inaugul
y al, in order to learn whether the Admnistratio
is committed to an aggressive policy, which mus
inevitably involve us in civil war, or to solntio
Of our national troubles. He says farther, I" br
4. beyond what may be necessary for these object
there will be 40 invasion, no using offorce again
or among the people anywhere" He will lis
the pow er con6ded to hi'n to hold, occupy aud po
sess the forts and other property, and to coe'
- the revenue but beyoud these objects he wi
" not use that power. | am unable to underst an
'" the proprety of the distinction between cniorcir
=" the revenue laws and all other laws. If it is h
. duty to enforce the revenue laws, why i. it not h
vt" duty to enforce the other laws of the land Wh
right has he saw that he will enforce those Law
~ that enable him to raise revenue, to levy and co
lect taxes from the pepole, aud that he will NJ
%" enforce the laws which protect the rights Of pc
:" and property to the extent that the Constt
~ ton confer the power in those States 7 | re;e
the distinction it cannot be justified in law
morals. If taxes are to be collected, and the C
u" enue law. arc to be enforced, the laws that afIo
protection, as a compensation for the taxes, mu
10 also be enforced.
no The next paragraph is also Objectionable. i W
ws readlt:
m Where hostility to the United States in a
nd interior locality shall be so great and universal
l.,1