The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-03-07
= States, including that of per-

institutions of the States, including that of per-
sons held to service.
10 avoid misconstruction of what have |
SAID, depart from my purpose, not to speak OF
particular amendments so far as to say that
holding such a provision to be now implied as
constitutional law, I have no objection to its
being made express and irrevochble.
A Chief Magistrate derives his authority from
the people, aud they have confirmed none upon
him to fix terms for the separation of the States.
The people themselves can do this also if Il ey
choose; but the executive as such has nothing TO
do with it. His duty is to administer the presente
Government as it comes to his hands, to trans
nit it unimpaired by him to his successor Why
should there not be patient confidence in the
ultimate justice of the people? Is there any
better or equal hope in the world? In our pres
ent differences, is either party without faith
Does not each believe that it is right Whether
| the Almighty Ruler of nations, with his eternal
truth and justice, be on side of the North,
or on yours of the South, that truth and that
justice will surely prevail by the judgment of
this great tribunaLthe American people.
By the frame of the Government under which
we live, this same people have wisely given
their public servants but little power for mis-
chief, and have with equal wisdom provided for
the return of that little to their own hands at
very short intervals. While the people retain
their virtue and vigilance no administration,
any extreme of wickedness or folly can very
seriously injure the good in the short space of
four years.
My countrymen, one and all, think calmly
and we'll on this whole suhject-nothing
valuable can be lost by taking time. If there
be an object to hurry any of you in hot haste to
a step which you would never have taken de-
liberately, that object will be frustrated by
taking time; but no good object be frustrat-
ed by it. Such Of you as are now dissatisfied,
will have the old Constitution unimpaired, and
the sensitive part of the laws are of your own
framing under it. While the new Administration
will have no immediate power, if it would, to
change either, if it were admitted that you who
are dissatisfied hold the right side in the dis
pute there still is no single good reason fer
precipitate action. Intelligence, patriotism,
! christianity, and firm reliance in Him who
still competent to adjust in the best way all our
present difficulties. In your hands, my dissat-
isfed countrymen, and not in mine, is the mon
strous issue of civil war. The Government will
not assail you-you can have no conflict without
being yourselves the aggressors. You have
no oath registered to heaven to destroy the Gov
l ernment, while l snail have the most solemn one
to preserve protect and defend it.
/ am 10th to close. We are not enemies bu
friends; we must not be enemies. Though pas
r sion may have strained it must not break oul
, bonds of affection. The mystic cords of mem
7 ory stretching from every battle field and pat
riot grave to every loving heart and hearth
stone all over this broad land will yet swell thu
chorus of the Union when again touched, al
surely as they will be. the better angels of ou1
r nature