Year: 1861




separation of the sections than before. The
foreign slave trade, now imperiectIy sup
pressed, would be imperfectly renewed
without restriction in one section, while fu
gitive slaves, now only partially surrendered
would not be surrendered at all by the other
Physically speaking, we can not seperate
we can not remove our respective sections
from each other, nor build an impossible
wall between them. A husband and wife
may be divorced and 60 out OF the presence
and beyond the reach OF each other, but
the different parts of our country cannot dc
this. They Cannot but remain lace to face
and intercourse, either amicable or hostile
must continue between them. Is it posi-
BILE, then, to make that intercourse more
advantageous or more satisfactory alter sep.
aratiOn than before? Can aliens make
treaties better than friends can make laws
Can treaties be more faithfully enforced be-
tween aliens than laws can among friends
Suppose you 60 to war, you can
not fight always, and when, after much
loss on both sides, and no gain on either
you cease lighting, the Identical questions
as to terms OF intercourse are again upon
you


This country with its Institutions, he ongs
to the people who inhabit it; whenever they
shall grow weary OF the existing govern
ment they can exercise their constitutional
rights iu amending, or through their revolu-
tlonary right to dismember or overthrow it.
| cannot be ignorant of the fact that many
worthy and patriotic citizens are desirous
that it should be amended.


While make no recommendation, [ full.
ly recognize the full authority OF the people
over the whole subject to he exercised in
either OF the modes presented in the Con-
stitution itself, and l should under existing
circumstances favor either of them offered.
A lair opportunity being offered the peo-
pie to act upon it. will venture to add,
that to me the Constitutional mode seems
preferable 10 that it demands amendment to
originate with the people themselves in>
stead OF only permitting them to take or re-
ject propositions originated by Others not es>
pecialy chosen for the purpose, and which
might not precicely suit as they would
wish Others to accepr or refuse.


understand a proposed amendment to
the constitution, which amendment, how
ever, have not seen, has passed Congress,
to the effect that the Federal Government
shall never interfere with the domestic in
stltutions of the states, including that OF
persons held to service. To avoid miscOn-
struction of what have said. depart from
my purpose not to speak OF particular
amendments, so far as to say that holding
such provision now TO be i'm, lied IN the
constitutional law,I hope 10 one will object
to its being made expressly irrevocable.


The Chief Magistrate derives all his
authority from the people, and they have
conferred none upon hlm TO Tx the basis
tor the separation or the states. The peo,
pie themselves can also do this if they
choose, but the executive as such has moth
ing to do with it. His Guty is TO adminis-
ter the present government as 1t came TO
bis hands. and to transmit it un-
lmpairei by him to his successor.


Why should there not be patient con
fidence in the ultimate justice o. the people
Is there any better Or equal tribunal in the
world Tor The settlement OF our present dlI'
ierences? Is either party without faith OF
being in the right? 1t the Almighty Ruler
of the Universe, with His eternal truth and
justice be on your side, you will surely pre-
vail by the judgment OF that great tribunal
the great American people. By the lorm
OF the government under which we live, this
same people have wisely given their public
servants but lit { power for mischief, and
have with equal wisdom provided for the
return of that little to their hands at very
short Intervals. While the people retain
their virtue and vigilance, no administra.
tion, by any extreme wickedness or folly,
can very seriously injure the government in
the short space OF iour years.


My countrymen, one and all, stand
Calmly and dwell upon this whole subject.
Nothing valuable can be lost by taking
time. If there can be any object to hurry
any OF you in hot haste to a step which you
never would have taken deliberately, that
object will be frustrated by taking time,
but no good object can be frustrated by it.


Such OF you as are now dissatisfied, still
have the old constitution unimpaired, and
on the sensitive point of the laws of your
owni framing under it, the new admins
tratiOn will have no immediate cause, if it
would, to change either. If it were ad-
mitted that those ofyou who are dissatisfied
hold the right side Of the dispute, there still
is not single reason for precipitate action.
Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a
firm reliance On Him who has never yet
forsaken this favored land, are still compe-
tent to adjust, in the best way, all our pres
ent difficulties.


In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow
countrymen and not mine, is the momen-
tous issne of civil war. The goverement
will not assail you You can have no con-
tiict without being yourselves the aggres-
sors. You have no oath registered in
Heaven to destroy this government, while
shall have the most solemn one to pre-
serve, protect, end defend it. l am 10th to
do 90. We are not enemies, but friends.