Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-18
Mr.. Iincoln's Oath

The Chicago Tribune makes a lame attcmlf
20 prove that Nh LINCOLN did not violate
his oath OF Office when BE So The negroes
free. This Is not a question that we desire
4 argue. seeing that Mr. LNCoN WAS the best
oithenorlbern Republican leaders, and seeing
also that the northern people are a. body
glad that he abolished slavery. Nevertheless,
The fact cannot bo successfully denied that
he hsd sworn to protect the institution OF
slsvery.
The Tribunc's argument. when reduced
70 its lowest terms, Is that Mr.. LINCOLN
found two conflicting duties imposed upon
him by the Constitution. snd he could not
obey both OF them. Therefore be had to
choose between the two; and so chose to
disregard that section or those sections Of
the Constitution which made it MS duty 10
protect the Institution 81 slavery. The As
sumption Is not true. Mr.. LINCOLN could
have kept his oath to protect slavery, aud
also have put down the "rebelion.' u
is a reflection upon the manhood OF the
northern people to say That with their I'M
limited resources in men and money they
would baye been unable 20 conquer the poor
Confederates. whose resources in men and
money were not one tenth Of those Of the
United States Government.
Bnt il Mr.. LINCOLN had the right to choose
between two conflicting sections Of the Con-
stitution be had the right 10 choose 10 pro-
tcct slavery. suppose be had decided that
there were no war powers in the Constitu-
ton, the Constitution being exactly the same
in war As in peace and rs requirements ~
binding in war - IN peace, what would The
Tribune have SAID 10 that:
There was never greater blunder cou'-
mitied than Mr.. LINCOLN committed under
the advice Of hin ceupsellots when he began
the war upon the South. II he had allowed
free institutions 10 have n trial-ii be had let
The southern states aloue-the Union feeling
wa, so strong in all Of them that public
opinion would IN few years have compelled
the few seeded "errinc sisters 10 return
10 their allegiance to the Union. Virginia
was Union State by forty thousand ma
iorlty up to the time when Mr.. LINCOLN
made war upon the southern seeded states.
oh, no. Far better would IL have been for
Mr.. LISColN's reputation II be had resorted
only 10 peace-messurcs.
Will the Tribune ten ne Whist "the war
powers Of the Constitution are; Docs
that paper really hold that the Federal Con-
stitution is one thing IN time OF peace and
another thing in time Of war? Has the
President OF the United states the right 10
silence the Constitution and laws whenever
in his opinion war being lasraut, the "wel.
fare Of tie Union" may demand that they
shall be set aside for a time?
The TrihunGs argument assumes also that
tbesouthern people were "insurgents and
"rebels." The world las already decided
that question. In ratiiying the Federal
Constitution. Virginia reserved, not silently
nor by mere implication, but In express
terms, the right TO secede from the Union
whenever IN the opinion Of her people the
Constitution thus ratified was disregarded.
We quote once more the conditions upon
which Virginia entered The Union:
&" Iirpn'o-to MT; We, TIE delegates OF
the people Of Virginia, do. IN the
nsme and in behalf Of the people Of Virginia,
granted under the Constitution, being de-
rived from The people Of the United states.
may be resumed Nv them whensoever TIE
same shall he perverted TO their injury OF
oppression
We have never been able TO induce
northern paper to let It's readers see this eX-
tract from The Virginia ordinance ratiiying
the Federal Constitution.
Mr.. LINCOLN was perfectly willing TO keep
the negroes IN slavery provided be could do
that and also save the Union. He was ready
70 mske peace upon those terms. lie said
rs first object was TO save the Union. lie
would abolish slavery to save the Union or be
would protect slavery 10 save the Union.
There was no sentiment IN that declaration.
We ought 10 add that, Judging from his
character. we must in charity concede that
Mr.. LINCOLN had trained his conscience so
81 that be though. be could censcieutousy
abolish slavery. The officers Of the Iuqusi-
ton were most Of them conscientious men.