Year: 1861

uP'hlOh whether lheSe clauses should be en-


forced by national or State authority, bu


surely that difference is not very materia


one. II the slave is to be surrendered Il


can be of but little consequence to him OF


to others by what authority it is done; ant


should any one in any case be content tba,


his oath shall be unkept, on merely unsub


stantlal testimony as 10 how it shall be


kept? Again, in any law upon this sub
lect, ought not all the safeguards of liberty


known in all civilized and human iurisprn
Idence to be introduced, so that freeman


may in no case be surrendered as a slave.
and might it not be well at the same time
to provide by law for this enforcement OF
that clause in the Constitution which guar.
nntees 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 to-dhy with no men.
tai reservations and no purposes to construe
The Constitution and laws by any private
rules; and while | do not choose now TO
specify particular acts of Congress as prop
er to be enforced, do suggest that it will
be much safer, both 10 official and private
stations, to conform to and abide by all
those acts which stand uurepealed, than
to violate any of them, trusting to fnal Sc
curity in having them held to be unconsti-
tunional.


1t is seventy-two years since the FIRST in
augnration Of President under our Ma
tional Constitution. During that period
fifteen different aud greatly distinguished
citizens have in succession, administered
the Executive, that branch of the Govern
ment they have conducted through many
perls, generally with great success. now
enter upon the same task for. the brief con-
stitutionaI term of four years. under great
and peculiar difficulty. Disruption of the
Federal Union, heretofore only menaced, is
now formally attempted. l hold, then, in
contemplation Of universal law and the Con-
sitution, the Union of the States is per-
petual. Perpetuity is implied, if not ex
pressed, in the fundamental law of all ma.
tional governments. It is safe to assert
that the government proper had provision
in its organic law for its own preservation
Continne to execute all the express proyis-
ions Of our national constitution and the
Union will endure forever, it being impos-
sible to destroy it except by some action
not provided for in the instrument itself.
Again, If the United States be not gov
ernment proper, but an association of
States in the nature Of contract merely,
can it. as a contract, be peaeeably nnmade
unless by all the parties who made il? One
party to q contract may violate it-break
it, so to speak-but does it not require all
to lawfully rescind it?


Descending from these general princl
Piles, we find the proposition that in legal
contemplation the Union is perpetual, con-
Grned by the history itself The Union is
much older than the Constitution, it was
framed, in fact, by the articles Of associa-
ton, in l774. 1t was matured and con.
linued by the Declaration Of Independ-
ence in l776. 1t was further matured on
the faith Of oil the then thirteen States,
who expressly plighted and engaged that
it should be perpetual By the articles of
confederation in l776, and finally in 1889,
one Of the declared objects for ordainiDg
and establishing Consultation was TO form
q more perfect union by oil or part only
Of the States Possibly the union is less
than before the Constitution, having lost
the vital element of perpetuity.


1t follows from these views that no State
upon its own mere motion, can lawfully go
out Of the Union; that resolves and ordi-
nances TO that effect are legally void, and
that acts of violence within any State or
States are insurrectionary or revolutionary
according to circumstances. / 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 enjoins,
that the laws Of the Union be faithfully ex-
ecuted in all the States. Doing this, ]
deem it 20 be only simple duty on my part,
and shall perform it so far as practicable,
unless my rightfni master, the American
people, shall withhold the requisite means,
OF in some authoritative manner direct the
contrary. trust this will not be regarded
as q menace, but only as declared pur-
pose Of the Union that It will only defend
aud maintain the Constitution itself In
doing this, there need be no bloodshed or
violence, and there shall be none, unless
it be forced upon the national authority.


The power cOnfded to NE will be used
to hold, occupy and possess the property
and places belonging to the government,
and collect duties on imports; bat beyond
what may be necessary for these objec,s,
there will be no using Of force against or
among the people anywhere. Where hos
tility to the Uniied States in any interior
locality shall be SO great, and so universal
as 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 govern
ment to enforce the exercise Of those of.
ces, the attempt to do so would be irrita-
ting and so nearly impracticable withal,
that deem it better to forego for time
the use of such officers. The mails, unless
repeled, will eoutinue to be furnished in all


points Of the Uuion-so far as possible
the people everywhere, shall have thai
sense Of perfect security which is most fa


vorable to calm thoughts and reflection
The course here indicated will be followed
: uplnSs cnrrent events and exnerience shnl