Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-03-30

is left. | do not forget the position assumed by
some that the constitutional questions are to be
decided by the Supreme Court, nor do | deny
that such decisions must he binding, in any case.
mon the parties to a suit as TO the object OF that
snit. while they are also entitled TO very high
resnect and consideration. in a parallel case, by
all other departments Of the Government: and,
while il is obviously possible that such decisions
NAV he erroneous in any given cause, still, the
evil effect following il being limited to that Pc
cnliar case with The chance that it will be over
ruled. and never become Il precedent for other
cases. can better be borne than could the evils
Of different practice. At the same time the
randid citizens must confess that if the Govern
ment. upon vital questions affecting the whole
neople is to be irrevocably fixed by the decision
of the Supreme Court, the instant they are made
in ordinary litigation between parties in personal
action. the people will have ceased TO be their
own rulers having to that extent practically re-
signed their Government into the hands of that
tribunal Nor is there, in this view, any assault
npon the Court or Judges. 1t is duty from
which they may not shrink to decide cases prop
erly brought before them and 1t is no fault OF
theirs if Others seek TO turn their decisions To
nolitical purpOses. One section OF onr country
believes slavery is right, and ought to be extend
ed while the other believes that 1t is wrong and
onobt not TO be extended. This is the only sub
stantial dispute, for the fugitive slave clause of
tho Constitution and the laws for the suppression
of be foreign slave trade are just as well enforced
perhaps as they can ever be in community
whore the moral sense of the people supports the
law itself. The great body of the people abide
by the very legal obligations in both cases after
tho senaraton of the two sections. The foreign
slave trade, now imperfectly suppressed, would
be ultimately revived without restriction in one
section while fugitive slaves, now only partially
surrendered, would not be surrendered at all by
the other. Physically speaking, we cannot sepa-
] - tiya
each other nor build an impossible wall between
them. The husband and wife may be divorced,
and oo out of the presence or beyond the reach
of each other, but the different parts OF our
country cannot do this ; they cannot but remain
| face to face, and an intercourse, either amlcaole
or hostile, must continue between them' is IL
nossiblc. then, to make that interc curse more
advantooeous or more satisfactory after separat-
inc than before? Can aliens make treaties easier
tbon friends can make laws? Can treaties be
moro faithfully enforced between aliens than laws
among friends? Suppose you 90 to war, you
cannot fight always and when, after much loss
on both sides, there is no gain on either, you
cease to fght-the old identical questions as to
terms of intercourse are again upon you. This
countrv with its institutions belongs to the people
who inbabit it whenever they shall grow weary
| of the existing Government they can exercise
their constitutional right Of amending it, or their
revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow
IT, We cannot be ignorant OF the TACT mat many
worthy natrotic citizens are deslrous OF having
the National Constitution amended. Whlle
make no recommendation Of amendments, lully
rocoonize the rich tful authority of the people
over the whole subject to be exercised III elther
of tbo modes prescribed in the instrument itself,
and shonld under existing circumstances laVor,
rather than oppose fair opportunity being Of
fercd the people to act upon IL; wiz venture
to add that the Constitution made seems prefera-
ble inasmuch as it allows the amendments to
originate with the people themselves instead
only of permitting them to take or reject prop
ositon originated by others, not specially chosen
for the purpose and which might not be prefer
red. Such as they would wish to either refuse
or reject. .....
which amendment however, have not seen has passed
Congress the effect that the Federal "oNernmcht Sa
never interfere with the domestic institutions OF States
ncudino that Of persons held to service To avoid mis-
concepon of what have said depart from my purpose
n spook of particular amendments, so far as to say that
boiing imucd constitutional views have MO objection
to its being made express and ireyocabe The Chle Mag
cstrae derives all his authority from the people ana they
b,yc conferred none upon him to fix forms for the sepaa
tion of the states The people themselves can 40 ls al
so if they choose but the Executive as such mas hotnS
TO do with it, His duty IS to administer anu 'e
Government it to his hand and 10 transmit H.
unim paired by him. to his successor Why should there
not patient confidence in the ultimate justice oi ie
neupeY Is better equal hope IN the world IN
nr difficulties? Is either party without iat be
ing in sight of the Almighty ruler OF nations WIN ms e
ternal truth and justice every side ms same people
has wisely gycn their public servants Out niue power lof
mischief and have with equal wisdom provided for the re
fun Of that little to their hands at very snort inter
walls while the people retain their virtue and vigilance
M dminstraon in extreme OF wckcdness OF olly
can yer seriousy inure the Government in the short pc
Rod of fonr wears Ny counrymcn, one and an think Ia
vorabv and well upon the whole subject Nothing Nalua
be can be lost by taking time If there be an OBJECT To
hurry any of in hot haste to step winch you would
never take deliberately that object Will be frustrated W
taxi time but good object can be frustrated OY IT,
such of Won as are now dissatisfied still have the old Con
stituton unmpaed and the sensitive point the laws
r
tion will have immediate power, if 1T would 10 change
either If II admitted that you who are dissatisfied
should he on the right side in the dispute, there stu no
snce good rea precipate action Intelligence pa
trotism Christianity and firm reliance on Him VINO has
never vet orsaken his favored land still competent TO
adjust i'm the best way. all present dimculteS In
your hands my dissatisfied c0untrymen, and not IN mne
is tbe momentous issue of civil The Government
will not asail YOU You have conflict without be
ing Yourselves the aggressorS You have no oath regis
tered in Heaven destroy the Government, while shall
have the most solemn to preserve protect and defend it,
am 10th to close We not enemies but friends. We
must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained
il must not sever the bonds of affection The mystic chords
of memory stretching from every battle field and patriots
gven to every loving heart and hearthstone all over TINS
broad land will vet swell the chorus of the Union when
again touched surely they will be the better angels
|