Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-04-17
From the N. Y. Post.
THE DUTY OF THE PRESIDENT.

60 cry out against the silence and appaT
ent inaction Of the Government Thes
writers represent with more or less faith
fulness the sentiment uppermost in tn
public mind. and there seems in this cas-
to be very urgent desire to have our ma
tional troubles decided in some way
Zone thing or other but quick"
the public shouts to the Administration.
/. Now, one or two alternatives which i
is thus attempted to enforce upon th
President is to make instant war upon tn,
rebels The other is to submit to them
acknowledge the independence of a "South
ern Confederacy," and make lastinJ
peace of it. These are the two "p0licies,
one Of which it is supposed he must adopt
and journalists make haste to accuse hin
of having noipolicy, because evidently he
does not lean, so far as can be seen, t.
either of these. sai 5a -
There seems to us in all this serious
misapprehension of the duties and power;
of the head of the Federal Government
In monarchy the sovereign not only
represents but is the State. Form him
proceeds all authority. He is the foun-
tain of all honor. In his name the laws
are made and executed. His are the ar
mics, the navies, the colonies, the domin-
ions In his name law-breakers are Pros
ecuted. To attack the State is personal
offense against the crown. Rebellion is to
"take up arms against our Sovereign Lord
the King High treason, even in con-
stitutional monarchy like Great Britain,
is, in legal phrase. to conspire against the
crown; and loyal man is one who doth
faithful and true allegiance bear to our
Sovereign Lord the King
The King. therefore, is the rallying
point; and about him all true men are
gathered. To attack the State is to at
tack his person. and it is Immediately re-
sented as personal offense.
But in Republic all this is changed
Here the people are supreme. In their
name, and by their delegates, the Govern
ment was formed, and the laws were made
and executed. I'VE the people of the Un-
tied States ordained and established the
Constitution; and as the Government was
created by the general consent of the pee-
pie, it is maintained by their general con-
sent, and can be changed Cor abrogated,
for that is also changer only by them
The President of the United States has
no authority to change the form of the Gov
ernment. Neither has he authority to say
it shall be preserved. He is not the State;
he is not the viii of the people, but only
the doer of that will. In fact. he is little
more than the moderator of the assembled
nation.
If therefore. the Nation-acting in
constitutional manner-should assemble
by its delegates. and BY them declare this
Union dissolved. it is clear that the Presi-
dent would have no right or authority to
put his will against such action.
But it must be remembered that he is
the executive officer; and. holding that Of
fec, it is his first and highest duty to see
that whatever is done for any purpose
especially for so important a purpose as the
dissolution of the Government-is in ac-
cordance with the regulations of the Con-
stitution. which is, until legally abrogated,
1.-The supreme law of the land; anything
in the Constitution or laws of any State to
the contrary Notwithstanding"
There is no doubt that when a majority
of the people of this country are in favor
of breaking up this Government they have
perfect right to do it
But they have no right to do this in
any other way than that prescribed by the
Constitution However great the major
ity in favor of such a measure, the act of
dissolution must be performed in such le-
gal manner as the Constitution prescribes.
This can only be done after fair and tenn
perate discussion, in fair and unobstruc-
ted election. by the people, of delegates to
a national convention. The decision of
such convention is final From it there
is no appeal But without it, any pro-
ceedings on the part of the people of one
or any number of States, intended to des-
troy the Union, are simple rebellion and
criminal usurpation of power, whether cal
led secession or insurrectiOn, conspiracy or
cooperation, does not matter.
Such a movement, however formidable,
it is the bounden duty of the President to
put down, at all hazards and at any ex-
pense He cannot coerce the public will.
But he is traitor tc his countrymen if he
permits the Government which the people
of this country have established to be des-
troyed, and the laws which they have de-
clared supreme to be changed, in any other
than legal manner. He has no right to
maintain the Government against the will
of the people: but as the head of the ma
ton he ought to see that whatever the na-
ton does is done peaceably, regularly and
constitutionally, in such manner that the
will not only of the majority but of the
minority is heard and respected.
This is the ground on which Mr.. Lin
coin placed himself more distinctly in his
Inaugural Message Standing here, and
with this clear conception of the duty be-
fore him, he could not do differently than
he has. He has doubtless acted on the
fullest information in the present crisis
A certain latitude must be permitted him;
no good is obtained by urging him to
measures of the wisdom or folly of which
he must be the best and only judge. Mr..
Lincoln is believed to be an honest clear
headed man. 1t is certainly not his part
to preciPitate the country into a needless
and enbittering war. The stronger any
republican Government feels, the longer
viii it adhere to a policy of wise non IN
terve,ation 6etpeen the traitors and the
people. But it will never consent to the
unconstitutional dismembermento fthe Gov
ernment; and if the rebels are imprudent
enough to force upon Dir. Lincoln the al
tentative of wareor submission to their
treasonable acts, they leave him, as an
honest man and dstiful citizen. no choice
a