Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-03-05
VOLUME 9.

sibIe, the Onion is less than before the
! Consultation, having lost the vital element
of peFpetuity. IL follows from these
views, that no State, upon its own mere
( motion, can lawfully get ont of the Union;
that resolves and ordinances to that effect
are legally void, and TINT acts of violeure
| within any States, or State, against the
tauthOrtty Of the United States, are insur-
| EcctionHty or revolutionary, according to
circumstances. therefore consiiler that
in view of the Constitution and laws, the
Union IL unhrpkeni and 10 the extent of
my ability, shall take care, as the Consti-
/ tuIion itself expressly enjOins on me, that
the laws of the Union be faithfully exeru-
ted in NIL the States. In doing this,
dsem tito be only u simple duty on my
part, and shall perform Il, 30 far As prne-
licAble, unless]my rightfnll masters, the
American. people, shall withhold the re.
| quisite means, Opin some authoritative man.
uer, direct the contrary. trust this will
not be regarded as a menace, but only as
a declared purpose of Union that it will
COustitutionAlly defend aud maintain il.
self. Ia doing this, there ueed be no
4 IblOodshed or violence; aud there shall be
lnoue, unless forced upon the national au-
thority.
The power condaed to me will be used to
hold, Occupy and posses the property and
Eplaces belonging To the government; to
collect dutirs and imports. But beyond
| what may be necessary tor these objects
there will be no invasion-rO using Of
force against or among the people-Mny-
where. Where hostility to the United
States in any interior locality shall be so
great and so universal Us TO prevent COM
petent resident citizens from holding fed
eral OficeS, there Will be no attempt to
force obnoxious stalgerS among the peo-
! Hle thai object. While tho strict legal
| right may exist 10 the government to en-.
force the exercise of these Offices the at
tempt to do so would be irritating and so
nearly impraCticabIe with all that I deem
1t better TO forcgo for the time the uses of
such Offices. The mails unless repelled
will continue to be furnished Ia all points
of the Union so far as possible. The peo-
pie everywhere shall lave that sense of per
feet security which tue most favorable aud
calm thoughts and re6eciion can insure.
| The course herein Indicated will be follow
ed unless current events and experience
| shall show modification or change to be
proper, aud in every case and exigency my
best discretion will be exercised according
TO the circumstances actually existing, and
with a view and . hope Of peaceful solu-
tiOn of the national troubles, the restara.
tion of the lfraternsl sYmEathies and aiFec.
tions. That there are persons in one sec
tion or another who seek TO destroy tho
Union ut all events, and nre glad OF any
pretext to do it, 1 will neither affirm nor de.
ny, but If there be such need address no
word. To those however, who really love tue
Union may IfnOt' speak before entering
upon so grave n matter as the destruction
of our national fabric, With all its benefits
its memories and hopes, would it not be
wise to ascertain previously why we do.
Will you haznrd SO desperate a step while
there is any possibility that any portion of
the ills yop hy from have no real existence?
Will you while tue certAin ills you Gly to
| are greater than nil tAe real ones yon fly
from? Will you risk the commission Of so
fearful y mistilke2 All profess 10 DO con
tent in the Union, if all constitutional
rights can be maintained. Is II true then
that any right plainly written in the con-
siitution. has been denied. / think not
! Happily the human mind is so constituted
that no heart can reach to the uudAcity OF
doing this; think if you can of single in
stance in which n plainly written provision
| OF the constitution has ever been denied. If
| hyt mere force OF numbers, a majority shall
deprive minority of any clearly written
constitutional right. it might, in moral
point OF view, justify revolution, it cer-
/ eAhuAI hBuAh " auGu ~ ElkWk HhEE6 " FlOlu@
tioui but such is not our case All the
vital rights of minorities and of indiytdn-
ais are SO plainly Guaranteed TO them by
tue constitution, that controversies never
arise concerning them, but no organic law
Gan be formed with a provision specifically
applicable to every question which may
occur in practical administration. S4,fp
/ No foresight ctn anticipate, nor any
document of reasonable length contain ex-
/ press provisions for all possible questions:
shall fugitiTes from labor be Surrendered
by national or state authority, the consti-
4 tuition does not expressly. say: may Con-
l'gress prohibit slavery in the territories the
conututiou does not expressly say; must
congress protect slavery in the territories,
tue constitution does ROT expressly. say
tironl questions of this class spring all our
constitutional controversies, aud we divide
/ upon the majorities and minoFities. Ifthe-
4 minority viii not nqpiesGe Che majority
must or the gaYernment must cease -.
\ There Is no other alternative for con-
ttnning tile Government bnt acquiescence
on Que side or the other; or a minority in
such case will secede rather til acqui-
esce. They make a precedent which, in
/ turn, will divide and ruin them for a mi
nority of their own will secedr from then,
Whenever a majority refuses to be con-
troiled by such y minority. For instance,
why may not any portion of Il new con.
tederacyi a year or two hence, ARBITRARILY
secede again precisely as portions Of the
present Unipn.npW elaim'to secede from II,
all who cherish disunion sentiments nre
now being educated to the exact temper of
doing this.
\ lsthere.such perfect IndenIity in inter.
ests among the States to comprise new
union SO as TO produce harmony and TO
prevent renewed secession? Plainly the
l central idea OF secession is the essence Of
anarchy. majority held in restraint
by C3pstit iophl cheeks and tll,tatious.