The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-03-07

Y i luttN l'
had provision in its organic law for it's
own termination. Continue to execute
all the express provisions Of our Nation
al Constitution, and the Union will EN-
dure for ever, it being impossible to
destroy it. except by some action not
provided for in the instrument itself
Aoain. if the U,itel States be not a
government proper, but as an associa
ton OF States in the nature OF acontract
merely. can it. as i contract. be peaca-
bly unmade by less than all the parties
who made il? One party to a contract may
violate it-break it, 50 to speak-hut does II
not require all to lawfully rescind it? De-
scsndine from these general principles, We
fin the proposition that in legal conntempls-
ton the Union is perpstual confirmed BY the
h;..erv cf The Union itself. The Union 10
much older than the Constitution. u was
formed, in fact. by the articles OF association
IN ,--4 Il VA. matured and continued BY
the pc,.. Of lndsp'nce in l776. 1t was further
maturea, and the faith Of all the her thir-
teen States expressly plightcd and engaged
that it should be perpetual, by the articles OF
confederation in l77s; and fraily in l'S9,
one Of the declared objects fer ordainins and
establishing the Constitution was TO form a
more perfect Union. If secession BY one, or
a part only Of the States, be lawfully possible,
the Union is less binding than before the
Constitution, having lost the vita, element Of
perretu;.v. It follows from these views that
no State. upon its ewn mere motion, can law
fully get cut Of tile Union that resolves ant
ordinances 10 that effect arc legally void, and
hat acts Of violence within any State or
States against the authority Of the United
States, are insurrectionarv or revolutionary,
according to circumstances. therefore con-
slider tina, in view Of the Constitution and
laws. the Union is unbroken, and to the cx-
tent Of my ability, I shall take care, as the
Constitution itself expressly e~nicins on me,
that The laws Of, the Union be faithfully exc
cuted in ali the sta.cs. Doing this, l deem II
to be only a simple duty on my part, and !
shall perform it, SO far Is practicable, unless
nv rightful masters the American people.
shall withhold the requisite means, or in some
authoritative manner direct the contrary. i
trust this will not be regarded as . menace,
but only IS the declared purpose Of the Ur ion,
that it will constitutionaliy defend and main
tain itself. In doing this there need be no
blood shed or violence, and there shall be none.
unless it be forced upon the national authority.
The power con6ded ts me will be used to hold,
occupy and possess the property and places
belonging to the Government; TO collect du.
ties and imports: but beyond what may be
necessary for these objects, there will be no
invasions, no using of force against or among
people anywhere. Where hostility TO the
United States in any interior locality shaH De
so great and 20 universal rs to prevent compe-
Ten, resident citizens from holding federal Of
fees, there will be no attempt to force ohnox-
ions strangers among the people that object.
While the strict legal right may exist IN the
government to enforce the exercise Of these
Offices. the attempts to do SO would 10 so irri-
tating, and 50 nearly i,npracticabty withal.
that | deem it better to forego for . time the
use, of such Offices. The mails unless re-
rellcd viii continue to be furnished in all
point, Of the Union, % far as possible, The
people everywhere shall have that sense Of
perfect security which is most favorable for
calm thoughts and reflection. The course
here indicated will be followed, unless cur
rent events and experience shall show o mod
iada,icn or change TO be proper, and in every
case and exigency my very best discretion
will lie always exercised according to the
circumstances actually existing, and with a
view and a hore;ef a peaceful solution Of the
national troubles, the restoration Of the fra
ternal sympathy and affection. That there
are persons in one section or another who
seek to destroy the Union Mt all events, and
who are glad Of any rretext to do it, will
neither affirm nor deny; but if there be such,
I need address no words Ito them.l TO those,
however, who really love the Union, may
not speak ? Before entering on 50 grave q
matter as the destruction Of our national fab
rio with all its benefits, its memories and
hopes, would it not be wise to ascertain pre-
vieusly what it is you propose to1 do? Will
You hazard Sc desperate q step while there is
any possibility TINT any portion Of the ills
you fy frsm have nc real existence? Will
you, while the certain ills you flee to are
greater than all the real ones you fly from
will you risk the commission Of SO fearful a
mistake? All profess to be content 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? think not. Happily the human
mind is 30 constituted that no party can
reach the audacity Of doing this. Think, if
you can, Of q single instance in which a
plainly written provision Of the Constitution
has ever been denied. Ifby the mere force Of
members a majority shall deprive . minority
Of any clearly written constitutional right,
in a moral point Of view, it would justify rev
%olu,ion. 1t certainly would, il such right was
= vital one. But such is not our case. The
vital rights Of minorities and Of individuals
are as plainly assured to them by afirmations
and negations, by guarantees and prohibit
ions in the Constitution that controversies