Year: 1862

ish the institution, as their tastos or their
interests may prompt, and no ono Is au-
thorized TO question the right, or limit
its enjoyment Aud no one has more
clearly affirmed that right than you have.


Your inaugural address does you great
honor in this respect, and inspired the
country with confidence in your fairness
and respect for the law. Onr States are
in the enjoyment Of that right. We do
not feel called on to defend the institu
tion, or To affirm il is one which ought
TO be cherished; perhaps, If we were to
make the attempt, we might find that
we may differ even among ourselves. 1t
is enough for our purpose TO know that
it is a right; and, so knowing, we do not
see why We should now he expected to
Weld il. We had contributed our full
share to relieve the country at this ter.
rible crisis we had done as much ss had
been required of others, in like circum-
stances; and we did not sec why sacrifices
should be expected Of us from which
others, 10 more loyal, were exempt
Nor could we see what good the nation
would derive from il. Such a sacrifice
submitted to 10y us would uot have
strengthened the arm of this governmrnt
or weakened that of tho enemy. 1t was
not necessary as pledge of our loyalty,
for that had been manifested beyond
reasonable doubt, in every form aud at
every place possible. There was not the
romotest probability that the States we
represent would Join in the rebellion, nor
is there now; or Of their electing to go
with the southern section in the event Of
the recognition of the independence oil
any part Of the disaifccted region. Our
States are fixed unalterably in their res
olutions to alhcre 10 aud support the
Union; they see no safety for themselves
and no hope for constitutional liberty but
by it's preservation. They will under
no circumstances consent to its dissolu-
tion, and we do them no more than us
tice when we assure you that while the
war is conducted to prevent that deplor.
able catastrophe, they will sustain it as
long as they can muster man or COM
nand dollar. Nor will they ever con.
sent, in any eXent, to unite with the
Southern Confcderacy. The bitter fruits
of the peculiar doctrines of that region
vii! forever prevent them from placing
their security aud happiness in the GUS
tody of an association whish has incor-
porated in its organic law the seeds Of
its own destruction.


We cannot admit Mr. President, that
If We had voted for the resolution in the
emancipation message Of march last the
war would now be Substantially ended.
We are unable to see how our action
in this particular has given, or could
give, encouragement to the rebellion
The resolution has passed.; ;and if there be
virtue in it,it will be quite as ethcacous
as il we had voted for it. We have no
power TO bind our states in this respect
by our votes here; and whether we
had voted the one way or tho other,
they are in tho same condition of free
dom To accept or reject its PROVISIONS
No. sir; the war has not been prolonged
or hindered by our action on this or any
other measure. We must look for
other causes for that lamented fact. We
think there is not much difficulty, not
much uncertainty,in pointing out others
far more probable and potent in their
agencies to that end.


The rebellion derives its strength
from the union Of all classes in the in.
surgeut States; and while that union
lasts the war will never end until they
are utterly exhausted. We know that at
the inception Of these troubles southern
society was divided; and that large
portion, perhaps q majority, were oppos-
ed TO secession. Now the great class of
southern people are united. TO discov
or Why they are so we must glance at
southern society. and notice the classes
into which il has been divided, and which
still distinguishes it. They are in arms,
but not for the same object; they are
moved TO q common end, but by differ
snt and even inconsistent reasons. The
leaders, which comprehends what was
previously known as the States rights
party, and is much the lesser class seek
TO break down national independence
aud set up State denominations. With
them it is war against nationality. The
other class is fighting, it is supposed, to
maintain and preserve its rights Of do
mestic safety which it has been made to
believe are assailed by this government
This latter class are disunionists per Sc;
they are 40 only because they have been
made to believe that this administration
is inimical to their rights, and is making
war on their domestic institutions. AS
long at these two classes act together
they will never assent to peace. The
policy, then, TO be pursured, is obvious.
The former class will never be reconcl-
ed, but the latter may be. Remove
their apprehensions; satisfy them that no
harm is intended to- them and their insti-
tutions; that this government is not max
ing war on their rights of property, but
10 simply defending it's legitimate author.
ity, and they will gladly return to their
allegiance as soon as the pressure Of mil
itsry dominion imposed by the Confcder-
ate authority is removed from them.


Twelve months ago both houses OF
Congress, adopting tho spirit OF your
message, then but recently sent in, de-
clared, with singular unanimity, the
objects Of the war, and the country in-
etsntly bounded to your side to assist you