Year: 1861

must also lead to COLLISION OF arms. Al
ter we declared our independence of Great
Britain nobody supposed the Colonies
would pay taxes. In fact they refused to
pay before the declaration of ofindependence
He repeated that if the Presidents policy
would be carried out there must inevitably
be war


SPEECH OF MR.. DOUGLAS.


Mr.. Douglas said he could not consent
that the Senator's remarks should go out
unanswered He had read the inaugural
carefully, with a view of understanding
what the policy of the Administration is
to be, as therein indicated. 1t is charac-
terized by great ability and with great dis
tinctness on certain points. A critical
anal ysis is necessary to arrive at the true
construction. He had partially made an
analysis, and had come to the conclusion
that it was peace rather than war mes
sage. He had examined it candidly and
critically, and he thought there was no
foundation for different opinion. On the
contrary, there is distinct pledge that the
policy of the Administration shall be con-
Quoted exclusively with reference to
peaceful solution Of our national Difficult
ties. 1t is true the President indicates
certain line of policy, so to be conducted
as to lead to peaceful solution, but it was
not as explicit as he (Nlr. Douglas) desired.
He then quoted from the inaugural in sup
port of his positions, saying that unless the
means be furnished the President cannot
execute the laws He thought tbs Presi-
dent in his remarks on the subject was re-
ferring to future action Of Congress giving
power to enforce obedience to them.


The President must have been aware
that in 1882 law was passed to enable
General Jackson to enforce the revenue
laws in the port of Charleston. The act
expired in two years. Was it to be sup
posed that Mr.. Lincoln thought he had
more power without than General jackson
had with the aid of legislation? He re-
peated that when the President pledges
himself to collect the revenue and enforce
the laws, unless Congress withhold the requi-
site means, is he not TO be understood that
his act is dependent on the further course
of Congress.


He thought that was the proper con-
struction OF the inaugural, fer the Presi-
dent says he shall perform his duty so far
as practicable, unless his rightful masters,
the American people, shall withhold the
requisite means or in some authoritative
manner direct to the contrary


Ihe President further says:


'The power confded to me will be used
to hold and occupy and possess the proper
ty and places belonging to the Government,
and to collect the duties on imports, but
beyond what may be necessary for these OBJ
jeets, there will be no invasion, no using
of force against or among the people any
where


The President does not say he will take
and hold, occupy and possess them. This
was equiyocal language, but he did not
condemn the President for it. Beyond
what may be necessary for these objects,
there will be no irritation, no using of
force anywhere. 1t is the duty of the
President to enforce the revenue laws. 1t
is his duty to enforce the other laws. 1t
cannot be justified that the revenue laws
be enforced, and all other laws which af-
ford protection as compensation for taxes
shall not be enforced.


He thought that there were two forms
in which they could find solution Of these
doubts. The President says: Where
hostility to the United States, in any inte-
rior locality, shall be so great and so uni
versal as to prevent competent resident cit
izens from holding the Federal offices,
there will be no attempt to force obnoxious
strangers among the people for that OBJ
ject.' The President draws a distinction
between the exterior and interior. IF he
has power in one case, he has in the other.
If it is has duty in one case to enforce the
laws, it is his duty in the other. There
was no provision of law which authorizes
a distinction in this respect between places
in the interior and on the seaboard.


This brought him to the construction of
another clause-the most important of all,
and the key to the entire policy; but he
was rejoiced when he read it. He invited
attention to it, as showing conclusively that
the President is pledged to policy which
looks to peaceful solution of our difficult
ties, and against all others. He says -
The course here indicated will be follow
gu, unless current events anu 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 peaceful solu-
tion of the national troubles, and the res
,toration of fraternal sympathies and aFec-
tions.' In other words, the President says
if the collection of the revenue will lead
to peaceful solution, then it will be col
lected. If the abandonment of the col
lection will have that effect, then it will be
abandoned So of the forts and arsenals
in the seeding States. He will recap
ture or not recapture them, and will rein