Year: 1861

change to be proper; and in every case
and exigency, my best discretion will
be exercised according to circumstan-
ces actually existing, with view and a
hope of a peaceful solution of the ma
tional troubles and the restoration of
the fraternal sympathics and affections.
That there are persons in one section
or another who seek to destroy the Un-
ion at all events, and are glad of any
prctcxt to do it, l will neither affirm
nor deny: but if there be any such I
need address no words to them. 70
those. however, who rely on the Union,
NAV speak. Before entering upon so
grave matter rs the destruction of our
national fabric with all its benefits and
it, hopes would it not be best previ-
ously to ascertain why we do and will
hazard so desperate step, while there
is any possibility that any portion of
ills YOU fly from have no existence?
Will YOU, while the certain ills you fly
to are greater than all the real ones
YOU fiv from, risk the commission of so
fearful II mistake!


All profess to be content in the Un-
ion if all Constitutional rights can be
maintained. Is it true then, that any
right in the Constitution has been de-
MED? think not. Happily the hu-
man mind is so constituted that no
party can reach to the auGacity of do
ing this thing. If you can offer SIM
gle instance in which a plainly written
provision of the Constitution has even
been denied, if by the mere force of
numbers majority shall deprive mi
morty of any clearly written Constitu-
tional rights, it mi ght in moral point
ofview, Justify such decision. 1t cer-
tainly would if such Il right were vi
tai one, but such is not our case; all
the vital rights of minorities and indi-
viduals were so plainly assured by the
orizing alternatives and Legislative
guarantees and propositions in the Con-
stitution, that controversy never arose
concerning them: but no organic law
can be framed with Il provision speciti-
cally applicable to every question which
may occur in practical administration.
30 foresight can anticipate, nor any
document of reasonable length contain
express provisions for all possible qucs-
tions.


Shall fugitives from labor be surrcn-
dcrcd up by nationa! or State author
itv? The Constitution does not OK
prcssly say. May Congress prohibit
slavery in the Territories? The Con-
sttution does not expressly say. Must
Congress protect slavery in the Territo-
rics? The Constitution does not eX-
prcssly say. From questions of this
class spring all our controversies, and
we divide upon them into majoritics
and minortics. If the majority must
rule, or the government must cease.
There is no other alternative for contn-
uiny the government but by acquies-
ccncc on the one side or the other. If
Il minority in such case will seccdc
rather than acquicscc, they make Il
precedent which in turn will divide and
ruin them. For instance: why may
not portion of Il new contederacy a
wear or two hence, arbitrarily secede
again precisely as portions of the pres
cnt Union claim to sccedc from it =! All
who cherish disunion sentiments, arc
now being educated to the exact temper
of doin. all this. Is there such perfect
identity in the interests of the States to
compose a new Union, as to produce
harmony only, and prevent renewed
secession? Plainly, the central idea OF
secession is monarchy. A majority
held in restraint by constitutional
checks and limitations, and always
changing easily with deliberate changes
of popular opinions and sentiments, is
the only true sovereign of free people.
Whoever rejects it docs of necessity
fly to anarchy and dcspotism. Una
nimity is impossible. The will OF a
majority as IL permanent arrangement
is wholly inadmissable; SO that reject:
ing the majority principle, anarchy and
dcspotism in some form is all that Is
left. do not forget the position as.
sumcd by some that Constitutional
questions arc to be decided by the Su-
premc Court, nor do | deny that such
decisions must be binding upon the
parties to suit Us to the object OF the
suit, while they arc also entitled to
every respect and consideration in a
parallel case, by all other departments
of the Government; and while 1t is
obviously possible that such decisions
may be erroneous in any given cause,
still, the effect following it being linn
tied to that peculiar case, with the
chance that it will be overruled and
never become precedent for other ca