Year: 1860

Congress. In its review of the state of the
country, the Message is conciliating and des-
pairing. Mr.. Buchanan attributes the present
threatening attitude of the Cotton States to
the persistent and Incorporate interference of
Northern men with the institution of slavery
which, he says, " has at length produced its
"malign influence on the slaves, and inspired
"them with vague notions of freedom; hence
ga sense of security no longer exists around
the family altar" at the South. To re-as-
sure the South and restore the od-time fra
ternal feeling which subsisted between the


two sections. the President urges the people
of the North to cultivate spirit of brotherly
amity and forbearance.


With great veneraton for the Union, Mr.


Buchanan deems the avowed motives for Sc
cession, insufficient. He thinks, inasmuch as
Mr.. Lincoln was constitutionally elected, the
South should calmly wait for some overt act
in violation of their constitutional rights, be-
fore they withdraw from the Confederacy He
denies that there is either in the spirit or let
ter of the Constitution, any provision for the
secession of State and the consequent dis
solution of the Union, He says:


have purposely confined my remarks to
revolutionary resistance, because it has been
claimed within the last few years that any
State, whenever it shall be her sovereign will
and pleasure, may secede from the Union in
accordance with the Constitution, and with
out any violation of the constitutional rights
of the other members of the Cenfederacy \
In order to justify secession as constitu-
tional remedy, it must be on the principle that
the Federal Government is mere voluntary
association of States, to be dissolvsd at pleas
ure by one of the contracting parties. If this
be SO, the Confederaey is rope of sand, and
to be penetrated and dissolved by the first ad-
verse wave of public opinion in any of the
States. In this manner our thirty three States
may resolve themselves into as many petty,
Jarring and hostile Republics, each one reti-
ring from the Union without responsibility
whenever any sudden excitement might impel
them to such a course. By this process a
Union might be entirely broken into fragments
in few weeks, which cost our forefathers
many years of toll, prlvation and blood to es-
stablish. Such principle is wholly inconsis-
tent with history, as it was framed with the
greatest deliberation and care, 1t was sub
mitted to Conventions of the people of the
several States for ratification. Its provisions
were discussed at length in these bodies, COM
posed of the first men of the country. Its op-
ponents contended that it conferred power on
the Federal Government dangerous to the
rights of the States, while its advocates main
tained that under fair construction of the in
strument there was no foundation for such ap-
prehensions. In that mighty struggle between
the first intellects of this or any other coun-
try, it never occurred to any Individual, either
among its opponents or its advocates, to as
sert, or even to intimate that their efforts were
all vain labor because the moment that any
State felt herself aggrieved, she might secede
from the Union. What crushing argument
would this have proved against those who
dreaded that the rights of the States would be
endangered by the Constitution.


Mr.. Buchanan confutes the argument that
the election of Mr.. Lincoln, or any particular
man, is, per Sc, sufficient cause for disso-
luton of the Union.


In order to justify resort to revolutionary
resistance, the Federal Government must be
guilty of deliberate, palpable and dangerous
exercise of powers not granted by the Consti-
tuition. The late Presidential election, how
ever, has been held in strict conformity with
its express provisions. How, then, can the
result justify revolution to destroy this very
Constitution? Reason, justice and regard for
the Constitution all require that we shall wait
for some overt and dangerous act on the part
OF the President elect before resorting to such
a remedy.


After arguing at length in favor of the per-
petuity of the Union, and the sovereign force
and general application to all the States, of
the powers delegated by the Constitution to
the Federal Government, the President says


1t may be asked, then q Are the people of
the States without redress against the tyranny
and oppression of the Federal Government
BY no means the right of resistance, on the
part OF the governed, against the oppression of
their Government, cannot be denied 1t exists
independent Of ali Constitutions, and has been
exercised at all periods of the worlds history.
Under it old Governments have been DESTROY
ed; and under it new ones have been replaced
1t is embodied in strong and express language
in our own Declaration of Independence; but
the distinction must ever be observed, that this
is revolution against established Govern
ment, and not voluntary secession from it by
virtue OF an inherent, constitutional right
In short, let US look the danger fairly in the
face; secession is nothing more nor less than
revolution. 1t may, or it may not be justi6-
able revolution, but still it is revolution
What, in the meantime, is the responsibility
and true position of the Executive, bound by
solemn oath before God and the country to
take care that the laws be faithfully executed
From this obligation he cannot be absolved by
any human power.


SOUTH CARoLINA.-But what if the perform
ance of this duty, In whole or in part, has been
rendered impracticable by events over which
he could have exercised no control Such, at |
the present moment, is the case throughout
the State of South Carolina. So tar as the
laws of the United States, to secure the ad-
ministration of justice, by means of the Fede-
raj Judiciary, are concerned, all the Federal
officers within its limits, through whose agency
alone those laws can be carried into execu- |
ton, have already resigned. We have no
longer District Judge, or District Attorney
IN South Carolina In fact, the whole ma
chinery of the Federal Government, necessary
tor the distribution of remedial justice among |
the people, has been demolished; and it would |
be difficult, if not impossible to replace it.


CAN FEDERAL COERCION BE APPLIED ?-T |
President is of opinion that in the event of the
secession of any State, there is no constitu- |
tional provision whereby Congress is author
lied in using force or shedding blood to bring