Year: 1861




The trainers of that constitution never
entertained an idea that secession could
find ioothold in this government, and,
consequently, made no provision respect
ing it. They did see and know that diff
ficnlties would arise, and made provision
for their adjustment through the mcdi-
um of the Supreme Court, and channel
by which the constitution could be amend
ed. These provisions are ample for the
redress of all grievances. 1t is impossi-
bic for us TO imagine how oppression can
ever obtain in this government what the
legally expressed will of the citizen thro'
the ballot box can not dispossess it of
If the commands and requirements Of that
instrument are obcyed the most subtle 10.
gician that ever attempted TO prove the
worse the better reason can not make u
case where armed and forcible resistance
to the constitution and the laws can be
justified for an instant. So, my country
men, the thousands of armed men on our
borders, today, claiming to be citizens of
another government, when this has not
released them from their allegiance, are
there as rebels; are there without cause !;
are there in defiance Of the rightful au-
thority Of the government, and in viola
ton of the oaths they have taken to up
hold and support the constitution of the
United States. Whatever their wrongs
and grievances may be land l think they
have cause Of complaint,) they have, by
every rule of morality, by every consid-
Grafton of love of country, and venera-
tion for the hallowed memories Of those
whose graves are thickly strewn over the
soil, whore they are now battling, chosen
a wicked and unwarrantable method of
redress, an unnecessary resort TO violence
when The proper channels of order and
government afford peaceful and rightful
means of security and protection. They
have rebelled against government whose
only crime has been that it has afforded
the most perfect and ample security to
life, liberty and property Of any that has
ever existed since the foundations Of the
world were laid Not in the constitution
ITSELF with which they had professed
themselves satisfied, nor, rs yet, in the
administration of tho government under
it, can their justification be found. And
if not here, where in all the universe of
God shall VIC look for it.. There is no
reason TO justify, but there are causes
which have led TO it.


The Declaration Of Independence AYERS
that all experience hath shown that man
kind are more disposed TO suffer while
evils are sufferable than to right them
selves by abolishing the forms to which
they are accustomed. But those who are
now in rebellion against us have no evils
through the enactment and enforcement
of law by the authority Of the United
States Of which TO complain. Their
rights, their interests and property, have,
so far rs the federal government could
act, been most religiously guarded.


Are we then TO conclude that eleven
States of this Union are bringing upon
themselves all the horrors of civil war,
and that, too, against forces more than
double their own, combined with resour-
ces that more than treble theirs, and a
contest with whom must, TO every person
of cool judgment, seem desperate if moi
hopeless. Are they doing this from mere
wantonness, from love of suffering, Of
danger and death, when there is nothing,
absolutely nothing, in martyrdom they
affect that can rebound to their honor,
while living, or plead for them when
dead. What is their motive and their
cue for action? Citizens, it is ambition
upon the part of their leaders, and hatred
and fear upon the part Of their adherents
hatred of tho Northern States and ap-
prehension Ct designs which they en-
terrain of interfering with the instltu-
ton of slavery in the several States.


For the ambition of their leaders VIC
are not responsible; but to the hatred
and fear of the people we have indirectly
and directly contributed. Indirectly by
a departure from tho policy of the faith
ers and a growing disregard Of coustitu'
tional obligations, not only respecting the
institution of slavery, but in the admin
istering and Interpretation of the power:
of the government to suit selfish and par.
tizan purposes. The constitution itsel
has been tortured and abused, and de.
signing men have under color of its au
thoity initiated system of action thai
has to a great extent impaired the conf
dcnce of the people in the government
All constitutions, all ordinances and laws
arc subject to abuse, and ours has proven
no exception to the general rule. Let u'
consider n few of the abuses that have
crept into our government.


Among the first VIC notice the couven
ton system, for the nomination of can
ddates. 1t is n system Of wire-pulling
a system of log-rolling, of political gam
bling, of maneuvering, of trading on anC
trading of, of engineering and machine
ry, where the honest, unbiased voice o
the people has as little opportunity of be
ing heard as if it had had no existence. Un
der its influence the charlatan and dema
popue are elevated TO office. and tn
! ~ .ot ,roe NTH 1tcotc