Year: 1861




the Constitution to recognize its validity by
acknowledging the independence of such
State. This left me no alternative, as the
Chief Executive officer, under the Constitu-
tion of the United States, but to collect the
public revenue and protect the public prop
erty, as far as this might be practicable un-
der the existing laws. This is still my pur-
pose. My province is to execute, not to
make, the laws. 1t belongs to Congress ex-
clusively to repeal, modify, or enlarge their
provisions to meet exigeneies as they occur.
1 possess no dispensing power. | certainly Y
had no right to make an aggressive war
upon any State, and | am perfectly satisfied
that the Constitution has wisely withheld
that power even from Congress. --.
But the right and the duty to use the mill
itary force defensively against those who re-
sist the Federal officers in the execution of
their legal functions, and against those who
! assail the property of the Federal Govern
| ment, is clear and undeniabie. But the dan
! geroHs and hostile attitude of the States to-
wards each other has already far transcend
ed and cast into the shade the ordinary Ex-
ecutive duties already provided for by law,
and has assumed such vast and alarming
proportions as to place the subject entirely
above and beyond the Executive control
The fact cannot be disguised that we are in
the midst of a great revolution. In all its
various bearings, therefore, | commend the
question TO Congress as the only human tri-
bunalunder Providence possessing the power
to meet the existing emergency. To them
exclusively belongs the power to declare
war, and authorize the employment of the
military force in all cases contemplated by
the Constitution, and they alone possess the
to f,aL ;ot,
might lead to war, and, to secure peace and
union to this distracted country. On them,
and on them alone, rests the responsibility.


The Union is sacred trust, left by our
revolutionary fathers to their descendants,
and never did any other people Inherit so
rich legacy. 1t has rendered US prosper
Gus in peace and triumphant in war. The
national flag has floated with glory over
every sea. Under its shadow American cit
liens have found protection and respec; in
all lands beneath the sun. If we descend to
considerations of purely material interest,
when, IN the history of all time, has con-
federacy been bound together with such
strong ties of mutual interest? Each por-
tlon OF it is dependent on all, aud all on
each portion, for prosperity aud domestic Sc
curity. A free trade throughout the whole
supplies the wants of one portion from the
productions OF another, and scatterS wealth
everywhere. The great planting aud farm
ing States require, and commercial naVgat-
ing States send their productions to domes-
tic and foreign markets, and furnish c. ma
val power to render their transportation Sc
cure against all hostile attacks. Should the
Union perish in the midst of the present ex-
citement, we have already had sad fore
taste OF the universal suffering which would
result from its destruction. The calamity
would be severe in every portion of the Un-
ion, and would be quite as great, to say the
least, in the Southern as in the Northern
States.


The greatest aggravation of the evil, and
that which would place US in a most unfa-
vorable light, both before the world and
pOsterity, is, as sm firmly convinced, that
the secession movement has been chiefly
based upon a misapprehension at the South
of the sentiments of the majority in several
of the Northern States. Let the question
be transfer from political assemblies to
the hallot-1ox, and the people them.elves
would speedily redress the serious erev-
ances which the South have suffered. But,
in Heavens name, let the trial be made be-
fore we plunge into an armed conflict upon
the mere assumption that there is no other
alternative. 1


Time is a great conservative power. Let
US pause at this momentous moment and
afford the people of both the North and
South an opportunity for reflection. WoRld
tina: South Carolina had been convinced of
this truth before her precipitated action
| therefore appeal through You, to the peo
pie of the country, to declare in their might
that /" the Union must and shall be preserv-
ed by all Constitutional means.


most earnestly recommend that you de-
vote yourselves exclusively to the question,
how this can be accomplished in peace. All
other questions, when compared with this,
sink into insignifcance. The present is no
time for paIliation. Action, prompt action,
is required. delay in Congress to pre-
scribe and recommend distinct and prac-
tical proposition for conciliation. may drive
us to a point from which it will be almost
impossible TO recede. A common ground
on which conciliation and harmony may
be produced is surely not unattainable.


The proposition to compromise, by letting
the North have exclusive control of the
Territory above certain line, and giving
Southern institutions protection below that
line, ought to receive universal approba-
ton. In itself, indeed it might not be en-
tirelY satisfactory but when the alternative
q
sides, and the destruction of the Union, it is
an imputation on the patriotism of Con-
gress, to assert that its members will hes-
tate for a moment.


Even now the danger is upon US. In sew
eralI States which have not seeded, the
forts, arsenals, and magazines, of the United
States have been seized. This is by far the
most serious step which has been taken
since the commencement of the troubles
The public property has long been left with
out garrisons and troops for its protection,
because no person doubted its security under
the flag of the country in all the States of
the Union. Besides, our small army has
scarcely been sufficient TO guard our remote
frontiers against Indian instIrsions. The
seizure of the property, from all appear
ances, has been purely aggressive, and not in
resistance TO any attempt to coerce a State
or States to remain in the Union.


At the beginning of these unhappy troub-
les, determined that no act of mine should
increase the excitement in either section of
the country. If the political conflict was to
end in civil war, it was my determined pur-
m f,,r