Year: 1861

known in all civilized and human Jurisprudence,
to be introduced so that a freeman in no case be
surrendered as slave? And might il not be
well at the same time TO provide by law for the
enforcement of that clause in the Constitution
which guarantees that the citizens of each State
shall be entitled to all the privileges and immu
mites Of citizens of the several States. | take
the official oath today with no mental rPserva-
tions and no purpose TO cOnstrue the Constitution
and the law by any private rules. and while do
not choose now to specify particular Acts of Con
gress as proper to be enforced, | do suggest that
il will be much safer, both in official and private
stations, to conform to and abide by all those
Acts which stand unrepealed, than TO violate
any of them, trusting to find security in having
held to be unconstitutional.


tits seventy-two years since the first inaugura
tion of "A President under our national COnsttu-
tiOn. During that period fifteen different and
greatly distinguished citizens have, in succession,
administered the Executive. That branch of the
Government they have conducted through many
perils, generally with great success. now enter
upon the same task for the brief Constitutional
term of four years under great and peculiar diff
iculty. Disruption Of the Federal Union, here
tofOre only menaced, is now formally attempted.
] hold then, in contemplation of universal law
and the Constitution, the Union OF the States
perpetual Prepetuity is implied if not expressed,
in the fundamental law of all national Govern
ments. 1t is safe TO assert that the Government
proper had provision in its organic law for its
own preservation. Continue to execute all the
express provisions Of our National Constitution
and the Union will endure forever; it being
impossible TO destroy it except 10y some action
not provided for in the instrument itself. Again:
if the United States be not a Government proper,
hut association of States in the nature of
contract merely, can il as a contract be peaceably
nnmade unless by all the parties who made it {?
One party to contract may violate it. break, so
10 speak, but does it not require all to lawfully
rescind it?


Descending from the general principles, we
find the proposition that in legal contemplation
the Uuion is perpetual, confirmed by the history
itself, the Union is much older than the COnsttu-
tion. 1t formed in fact by the Articles of
Association, IN l77I; it was maturcd and contn
ucd by the Declaration of Independence, in l776;
1t was further matured on the faith Of all the
then thirteen States, expressly pghted and
engaged that it should be perpetual. By the
Articles of Confederation, in l77G, and finally in
l7S9 one of the declared objects for ordaining
and establishing of Constitution was to form
more perfect Union by all or part only of the
States. 1t follows from these views, that no
State upon its own mere motion can lawfully
get ont Of The Union; that resolves and ordinances
To 'hat effect are legally void, aud that acts of
violence within any State or States against the
authority Of the United States, are insurrcc-
tionarY or revolutionary, according to circum-
stances. ! therefore consider that in view of the
Constitution and laws the Union is unbrOken,
and to the extent of my ability shall take care
as the Constitution itself expressly enioins that
the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in
all the States. Doing this, deem it to be only
simple duty on my part, and shall perform it so
far as practicable, unless my rightfu master, the
American people, shall Withhold the requisite
means or in some authoritative manner direct the
country. ! trust this will not be regarded as
menace, but only a declared purpose of the
Union that it will only defend and maintain the
Constitution itself In doing this there need be
shn1 VII oln md hall


none unless it be forced upon the National
authority. The power confded to mo will be
used to hold, occupy and possess the property
and places belonging TO the Government and
collect duties on imports; but beyond what may
he necessary for these objects, there will be no
using of force against or among people anywhere.
Where hostility to the United States in any in
terror locality shall be SO great and so universal
to prevent competent resident citizens from
holding Federal offices, there will be no attempt
to force obnoxious strangers among the people
that object. While the strict legal right may
exist in the Government to enforce the exercise
Of these Offices, the attempt to do would be so
irritating and so nearly impracticable withal
that deem it better to forego for time the use
Of such offices. The mails, unless repealed, will
continue to be furnished in all points of the
Union So far possible, the people every
where shall have that sense of perfect security
which is most favorable TO calm thought and re-
fection.


The course here indicated will be followed un-
less current events and experience shall show
modification or change to be proper and in every
case and eXigency my best discretion will be
exercised according to circumstances actually
existing and with view and hope of peace
full solution Of the national troubles and the res.
toration of the fraternal sympathies and afIec-
tiOns. That there are persons in one section or
another who seek to destroy the Union at all
events and are glad Of any pretcxt to do il,
will neither affirm or deny, but if there be such,
] need address words. To those, however
who rely on the Union, may | speak, before
entering on so grave a matter as the destruction
Of our national fabric, with all its benefits its
hopes. Would it be worse to ascertain previous
ly, why we do and will hazard so desperate a
step while there is any possibility that any por.
tion of ills You fly from have no real existence
VIII you, while the certain ills you fly to are
greater than all the real ones you fly from risk
The commission OF so fearful a mistake? All
profess to be content in the Union, if all const-
tutional rights can be maintained Is it true
then, that any right plainly written in the Con
sttution has been denied? think not. Happily
the human mind is so constituted that no party
can reach to the audacity of doing this thing
II you can offer a single instance in which a
plainly written provision of the Constitution has
ever been denied if, by the mere force of mum
hers Majority shall deprive minority of any
clearly written constitutional right, it might, in
moral point of vew justify such IA decision 1t
certainly would, if such right were a vital one:
but such is not our case. All the vital RIGHTS of
mnorites and individuals were so plainly as
eumcd by thcorizing alternatives and legislative
guarantees and propositions in the Constitution
that controversy never arises concerning them
but no organic law can be framed with proyis
ion specifically applicable to every question
which may occur in practical administration
No foresight can anticipate, nor any document
OF reasonable length contain express provisions
for all possible questions Shall fugitives from
labor be surrendered up by national or State au-
ihority? The Constitution does not expressly
say May Congress prohibit slavery in the Terri
tories? The Constitution does not expressly
say. Must Congress protect slavery in the Ter
ritoros? The Constitution does not expressly
say. From questions of this class spring all our
controversies, and we divide upon them into ma