The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-02-13
1sr. N0USemGn, anil
Eriends and NeiGAbora :

LTtt""" o"H -fttI"ONIo'
I am happy to meet yon all once more. de-
sire to take each one of you by the hand From
my heart | thank you for this demonstration,
and most sincerely do | thank you, Sir for the
kind terms in which you have given expression
to the feelings of my neighbours. | come now,
having thrown off all the responsibilities and
trappings of Office, to take up my residence in
vour midst and to endeayor to perform all tho
duties of private citizen. Ny long absence
has increased my love retirement; and while
far away, and engrossed with the cares and la
bors of high position, have constantly kept my
eye on this hour as one which would bring indi-
vdual relief and independence.
Wehave fallen upon peculiar and trying times,
and it behooves us all to grid our loins and pre-
pare to meet every emergency with Already, but
an unyielding spirit. You Sir, Mr.. lIouseman)
were pleased to refer to the manner in which
separated from the Cabinet at Washington, in
terms of approval. Fidelity to my State and
Gated, left me no discretion. The course taken
was the result of a conscientious conviction of
duty, and, while in the presence of others have
not sought to bring myself and my conduct
prominently before the public, yet owe it to
myself to enter upon an explanation. so as to
give you fuller view of all the circumstances
attending my resignation.
No serious difficulty or division occurred in
Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet until after the late Pres
idential election. As soon as it was known that
a sectional candidate was elected President by a
sectional vote, on platform of principles in d.
rect conflict with the Constitution, which, by
denying right Of protection TO a vast property
in the Southern States, overthrow the equality
of the States, and in effect put all the States Of
the South in state of outlawTy, it was per-
ceived that new class of questions would
arise. The extent Of the reserved powers of
the States was the first great question, and the
power of the general Government to use militia
nv force upon the people of a sovereign State,
undertaking to resume the powers delegated in
obedience to the mandates of the Government Of
the Union, was the next great question. On the
first, that is, on the power Of State to secede,
there was soon developed an irreconcilable differ
ence of opinion On the power to coerce a State
to remain in, or to return to the Union, there
was found to be unanimity and harmony
Hence it was. fellow-citizens, that continued a
member of the Cabinet after the delivery of the
Presidents message. differed with him in his
argument on the right of secession. | agreed
with him in denying the right of coercion.
agreed with him that it was his duty to enforce
the laws, and to hold aud preserve the public
property. And believing, as | did, that in en-
forcing law in this free Government, where our
fathers took the greatest pains to subordinate
the military to the civil authorities, the army
and navy could only be called in as posse com
itatus to aid the civil officers in executing the
processes and orders issuing from the civil mag
istrates-and that in preserving property his
duty and his power only extended to a resist
ance to all marauders, to the driving back and
defeating all the approaches of mobs and unlaw-
full and unauthorized combinations of individ-
uals-with an ardent desire to preserve peace, to