Year: 1861

inent issues. With the proceedings of
Congress at its last session fresh in their
memories, a large majority of the people
Of Pennsylvania enrolled themselves in an
organization, which, in its declaration of
principles, promised, if successful, to be
faithful to their suffering interests and lan-
gushing industry. Protection to labor
was one of the great principles of its plat
form it was inscribed on its banners it
was advocated by its public journals and
throughout the canvass it was a leading
text Of the orators of the successful party.


This is a propitious movement to declare
that while the people Of Pennsylvania were
not indifferent to other vital issues Of the
canvass, they were demanding justice for
themselves in the recent election, and had
no design to interfere with or abridge the
rights Of the people of other States. The
the abrogation of the principle of protec-
tion from the revenue laws of the National
Government bankruptcy had crushed the
energies of MANY of our most enterprising
citizens; but no voice of disloyalty or trea-
son was heard, nor was an arm raised to
offer violence to the sacred fabric of our
National Union. Conscious of their rights
and their power, our people looked to the
ballot box alone as tie legal remedy for
existing evils,


In the present unhappy condition of the
country, it will be our duty to unite with
the people of the States which remain 10y
al to the Union, in any just and honorable
measures Of conciliation and fraternal
kindness. Let us invite them to join us in
the fullilment of all our obligations under
the Federal Constitution and laws. Then
we can cordially unite with them in claim
ing like obedience from those States W no are
just and moderate, without any sacrifice
Of right or self-respect the threatened dan
ger may be averted.


Ours is National Government. It has
within the sphere of its action all the at
tributes of sovereignty, and among these
are the right and duty of self preservation.
Ii is based upon compact to which all
the people of the United States are parties.
1t is the result of mutual concessions, which
were made for the purpose of securing re-
ciprocal benefits. 1t acts directly on the
people, and they owe it personal allegi-
ance. No part of the people, no State nor
combination of States, can voluntarily Sc
cede from the Union, nor absolve themselves
from their obligations to it. To permit a
State to withdraw at pleasure from the I'm.
ion, without the consent of the rest, is to
confess that our government is failure.
Pennsylvania can never acquiesce in such
vvnspii aoy, nvr assent 10 q uoctrlne
which involves the destruction of the gov.
ernment. If the government is to exist, ,all
the requirements of the Constitution must
be obeyed; and it must have power ade-
quaic to the enforcement of the supreme
law of the land in every State. 1t is the
first duty of the National authorities to stay
the progress of anarchy and enforce the
laws of Pennsylvania, with a united peo-
pie, will give them an honest, faithful and
active support. The people mean to pre-
serve the integrity of the National Union
at every hazard.


The Constitution which was originally
framed to promote the welfare of thirteen
States and four millions of people, in less
than three quarters of a century has en-
braccG thirty.three States and thirty mil
lions of inhabitants. Our territory has
been extended over new climates, inclu-
ding people with new interests and wants
and tie government has protected them all
Every thing requisite to the perpetuity OF
TIE Union and its expanding power, would
seem 70 have forseen and provided for by
the wisdom and sagacity Of the trainers oi
the Constitution.


It is all we desire or hope for, and all
that our fellow-countrymen who complain
can reasonably demand. 1t provides that
amendments may be proposed by Con-
gress and whenever the necessity to
amend shall occur, the people OF Penn
sylvania will give to the amendments
which Congress may propose, the careful
and deliberate consideration which their
Importance may demand. Change is not
always progress, and people who have
lived so long, and enjoyed so much pros
perity, who have SO many sacred memo
ries of the past, and such rich legacics tc
transmit to the future, should deliberate
long and seriously before they attempt tt
, alter any of the Fundamental principles o
, the great charter of our liberties.


1 assume the duties of this high ofiic,
r at the most trying period of our natiOna
a history. The public mind is agitated b!