gBJLJiJUJ.1
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT
BLOOMSBURG , PA.
BATUIIDAY MORNINO. MARCH 9, 1881
Editorial Circular.
To day wo cnlcr upon tie FiriEKiin
XuJlU. of our Kditoiial Labors, in Blooms
burg, and open the lotnty-ViftU Volume
of the "Columbia Demockat." Daring
nil that period of time, it lus boon our
uttom, and pleasure to address our pa
trons in a brief Editorial Circular. Wo
know of no good reason why wo should not
again report progress ,and tho tender of
our abiding gratitudo for past favors and
fuluro prospects.
We arc profoundly grateful for the lib
eral patronage, through tho partiality of
kind and constant friends, that has been
unceasingly conferred upon this timo lion
or6d institution. Our subscription list and
offioo business, since we 'ocated here, havo
moro than doubled, llencwed cffoiti,
shall not bo wanting on our part in com
ing time, to merit a continuance of publio
eonfidenco and increasing patronage,
And now, dear friends and patrons, as
an evidencp of our determination to en
hahco tho valua of the old Columbia Dcm
ocrat, and niako it still raoro worthy of
your generous confidencc,wo havo engaged
tho assistance of Col. John' G. Freeze, as
Local KJitdr. .Col. Freeze is a gentleman
of high literary, ability, and is favurably
known in this community. In "Union
thore is strength ,'" and under the new nr
rangam&nt, wc trust we shall be ablo to
mako tho Columbia Democrat, as a Fam
ily Journal, the first in point of Literary
Importance, as it has ever been in sound
tUuiocratjc'principlcs, tho leading Gazct
tocr in Northern Pennsylvania.
8Sy-Want of spaoe compels us to post
pono any remarks on tlio Inaugural of
Mr. Lincoln, thi3 week. Wo shall dis
sect and cxamino it at our lenuro in our
next; and if wo do not show it to bo tho
most impudent, and crude, and silly com
posed document wo have bad Einco Gen,
Taylor wroto that wo "wero at peaco with
l the world' and the rest f mankind,thcn
wc aro slightly mistakon.
86T The Special Court on tho 2d March
was attonded by a very, large delegation of
our Locust and lloaringcrcck friends. In
fact, tho Court sat moro especially for
.ihn causa ntsamn rsihnr-imnnrUntJuuv.rt.iflr
tho River.
Suicide op the Mubdeuer John
Catlteait, who was to have boen hung in
Clearfield, Pa , on the 12th of April, for
tho Murder of his wifo in last July,dofeat
ed tho ends of justice, recently by bang
ing himself in jail.
j , j , .
Cueasv & Co., of Light Street, keep a
full Storo and fashionable Goods, sell
cheap, treat their customers politely and
always give them tho best of bargains.
Col. Kline, one of our members of tho
Legislature, treated us very kindly, when
on a recent visit to Harrisburg, for which
ho has our thanks.
Wb are undor lasting obligations to our
excellent young friend, Master W. G.
Baowxa, Messenger to tho Senate, for
numerous publio documents.
Barney Helax, confined in tho Lv-
coming county Jail, for tho murder of his
wife, last week cut his nasty throat, in
Jail and died like a pig.
Jlo.n. F. Bju.nd of the Stato Senato and
Mr. Representative Osterhout, havo
cur thanks fo polito' attentions.
rv a n
-tun oiiin vju.we.ntion. un our
first page will be found tho Resolutions
adopted at tho Demoeratio Stato Conven
tion. Thoy represent tho position of tho
Demoeratio party of Pennsylvania, aro
eminently appropriate to their object, aad
wo aro confident will meet the approbation
of the Democracy of this county. Tho
Domoorats of Columbia havo always bo
lioved that tho Government of tho United
States possesses, within the limits of the
Constitution, supremo authority. Tho
equal right of the States in tho Territories
has always been and still is a part of tho
politioal crqcd of Columbia county Demo
crats; and they havo always been in favor
of enforcing all laws mado under tho Con
stitution of the United States, not except
ing the Fugitiro Slavo Law,, It is but
just therefore that thoy should expect and
bo prepared to enforce in others, obedience
to tlus, ,as well as all other constitutional
Jaws. They hayo declared themselves as
one man for compromise and concilation
in tho present stato of affairs, and posi.
.tivcly against coercion,- especially whilo
unconstitutional laws exist upon our Statute
Books. We do not we ono lino in any of
the resolutions, that any Democrat may
not fully endorse, and webolicre that tho
aciiou 01 mo vjuimmiwo win meet tno jt
approval of a no longer divided, but uni.
100. jjcuiocreuB panjr. ou asyi mo net-
'SV Edoaational communication, ncxt.
c?k-
kditkd by i.t;vi i TATfvritormr.Ton.
REMARKS
DR. CHARLES II. HILL,
OF MONTGOMERY COUNT!'.
DeUriied In tho Honio oflltproientitlToi, Tcb, 1461
O.N THE DILL ENTITLED
"All Act to Change tho uamo of the
aunnury anu uric iinuronii compa
ny, anil lo facilitate the Cemplcfion
of a Kallroau it om Sunbury to Eric."
Tho bill being on second reading.
Mr. Hill, moved to amend by striking
from the third line of tho second section
tho words "ono million" and insert tho
words "four hundred thousand" and in
tho fourth lino tho word "fivo" and insert
"im."
Mr. Hill. I offer these .nlncndmcnlfl
Mr. Speaker, for tho purposo of perfecting
this bill, and I think they should bo
adopted for three very strong reasons.
Tho first is, that I oonsidcr that tho sum
named in tho amendment is sufficient for
the completion of this road. My second
reason is, that it is tho intcrost of this
Sunbury and Eric Railroad Company to
issue, or to be authorized to issue, no
mcro bonds than aro absolutely necessary
for tho completion of tho object. My third
reason is, that such a provision as this is
proper with regard to tho security of the
State, and tho safety of tho claim which
tho Stato now holds upon this company.
In taking up tho report of tho company,
I find that of this road, there are 140
miles oomplctcd nnd 142 whioh remain
uncompleted. Of theso 142 miles, wo see
by tho samo report, that 27 miles arc in
an ungraded condition.
Now, I desire to call attention to an
cstimato which I havo inado. I havo
taken tho most liberal view that can be
taken upon the mattor ; and I havo mado
an cstimato of the cost of the grading and
tho laying of tho track. I havo taken my
date from a gentleman who stands high as
an engineer, and who is in the eonfidenco
of this company. I have mado tho csti
mate, in the most favorable light, believing
that it is moro than will bo necessary for
tho completion of this road. I find, sir
that for tho purposo of laying tho track of
142 miles, 0,500 per milo is considered a
largo amount. It is certainly a very fair
cstimato per milo for tho cost of laying tho
track. By calculation, it willboobservcd
that, according to this rate, it will tako
S923,000 for tho purpose of laying tho
track on that portion of tho road on which
it is not now laid. Of tho 27 miles yet
ungraded, tho company inform us, (and I
have been also so informed by gentlemen
who havo travelled over this road and
know it well,) that thcio is no considerable
expense for excavation or grading. It is
STerago estimate for grading, "is 812,500
per nine, it is supposed by those who
are conversant with tho subject, that tho
grading will not cost that inuob. Then
sir, the sum for grading tLis unfinished
part of the road will be 8337,000. Tho
total, for grading and laying the track of
all, the, road on which track is not now
laid will be 81,2G0,500.
Now, if this is a fair cstimato, (and if it
is not, it is open to be controverted or
denied,) if 81,260,500 is sufficient forHbis
purpose, why in tho namo of common
sense, why, in tho name of justice, do this
coaipany ask of us to authorizo them to
issue bonds for fivo millions of dollars ?
hat, sir, this is not all. Tho Company
in their last report havo told us, that thoy
nave a balance ot availablo funds to tho
amount of 8070,480 41. They also havo,
in addition to that balanco, seven per
cent, bonus and preferred debt script
amounting to S375,200, making in all in
tncir hands an amount which may be con.
verted into cash of 81,01o,GS0 41,, which
may bo devoted to tho completion of their
road. Now, sir, add that 81,018,000 to
tho Sd.000,000 which I havo proposed to
allow them by this amendment, and thov
then havo in their hands 83,045,GS9 41
for tho purposo of completing tho road ;
whilo, if my cstimato bo corroct, (and I
challengo gentleman to controvert it,) the
completion of tho road tho finishing of
the grading and tho laying of tho track
will amount to only SI, 200,500.
I am awaro, sir, that tho exposition of
figures, may be considered a matter of dry
detail; but I havo given this exposition
becauso figures do not and cannot lio,and
because I desire gentlemen to vote under
standing.
it may be alleged there aro certain
other incidental expenses necessary for
tbo purpose of equipping tho road. I
grant this to be so ; but I say all the
additional expenses which may bo consid
ered necessary for tho equipment of the
road and placing it in running order, can
bo met by the amount of funds which will
bo secured by my amendment. Indeed,
thero will bo a surplus in their hands.
That surplus, I havo 'mado, by my csti.
mate, to bo nearly two millions of dollars,
51,785.180, '
No, Mr. Spofkcr, if this argument is
correct, (and 1 maintain that it is,) I think
tliat it would be a most rumons polioy to
allow that company to issuo bonds to tho
amount of fivo millions of dollars, to' tako
priority of tho Stato claim, I can soo no
reason why such a thing can bo aske'd.
is certainly not necessary for tho com
plelion of tho road : and, in my view, it
W0Ulrt bo disadvantageous both to tho
tha caso
My second argument, Mr. Speaker, is,
that it is not for the intcr6st of this
pany that thoy shall bo authorircd tolssuo
moro bonds than aro absolutely necessary
for' the nurnose of tho completion of tho
road.
4 . I
If these fivo million
bonds arc to bo huckstered about among
tho stock-jobbers and brokars, and to bo
as a mortgages upon this road, I maintain)
sir, that thoy will bo of much lsss valuo
than .if tho mortgago consisted of two
millions, instead of five. If fivo million
dollars' worth of bonds bo 'issued, I main
tain and bclicvo, Mr. Spoakcr, that instead
of selling them upon tho market at twenty
per cent, which they now claim will havo
to bo tho sacrifice, they will not sell them
for half price. Bonds issued to tho
amount of fivo million dollars by that
company will not command in the market,
at this timo, fifty per cent of what is upon
their face. They will bo sold, sir, and
profit will bo mado somowhore. This
Stato will not reap tho profit; the tax
payors willjnot reap upon the. profit ; tho
company tho bona fide coinpauy will not
reap the profit J hence, sir, I consider,
that for the sako of tho company, this
issuo should not bo allowed to bo mado.
In tho third place, Mr. Speaker, I argue
that this amendmout whioh I offer, should
bo adopted for tho "security of the State
aud tho safety of tho bonds, which tho
Stato now holds in that company. I main
tain, Mr. Speaker, aud I gay it with
earnestness with a full confidence that
what I am saying will be found to bo true,
and I desire it to lo placed upon tho
record, that in after years, its truth way
bo tested that if this bill should pas3, as
it is now before us, tho claims which the
Stato now has upon that company, will
not pay ono dollar ; that if this bill passes
as it is now upon our tables, tbo State,
from all her valuablo. canals, which cost
our people moro thau twenty millions of
dollars and from tho bonds which she now
holds against that company of three mil
lions fivo hundred thousaud dollars, will
never realize ono dollar; and the men
who vote for this bill will give their aid in
extinguishing all this claim which tho
State has against that company.
Why, Mr. Speaker, if these bonds of
fivo million dollars aro to take priority of
the State claim, and tho State comes in
with a second mortgago, who supposes for
an instant that the State would ever get a
dollar if these fivo millions of mortgago
bonds should bo foreclosed. On these
grounds then, sir, I urge upon this House,
and upon the friends of the company that
they adopt the. amendment which I havo
offered.
For another reason, Mr. Speaker,
any 'timo hereafter the two millions of dol
lars which I havo proposed giving to the
company, by this amendment, should b'
found insufficient, how easy it will be for
those who succeed us, when this question
shall bo lairly brought forward and under
stood by tho pcoplo of Pennsylvania, to
extend further aid ? Tho Legislature
could, at any timo hereafter, grant the
additional aid which might be needed.
For all these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge
upon tho House to adopt tho amendment
which I havo offered.
nr. U li T i ... ...
iur. .oau. jl navo listened with some
attention to tho statements of facts and
figures which the gentleman has offered.
I regard them from tho beginning as
wrong ; and the deductions and conclusions
therefrom are necessarily wrong. At tho
proper timo I will show ,that thoy aro
wrong. I call for tho question.
The question being taken, the yeas were
20, tho nays CO, so the question was deter
mined in the negative.
Mr. liill moved to amtnd the second
soction by adding after tho' word "raort
gago," in tho twentieth lino, tbofollo'ning i
"Bonus shall bo deposited with the
Stato Treasurer to be delivered to said
company irom time to time pari passu
with tho progress of tho work as ascertained
by tho returns and estimates of tho chief
engineer of tho said Company, and before
delivering any of tho said bonds to tho
Company, thero shall bo endorsed thereon
over tho signature of tho Governor, tho
words "mortgago bonds issued under tho
Act entitled 'an Act to chango the namo of
tho Sunbury and Eriri Railroad Company,
and to facilitate the completion of a rail
road from Sunbury to Erio."
"And no bonds issued by tho said Com.
pany under this Act eliall take priority
over tho claims of tho Stato without tho
endorsement of tho Governor as aforesaid :
rrovidci also, That the said endorsement
by the Governor shall not bo construed to
crcato any liability whatsoever1 on the part
of.tho Commonwealth to tho holder or
endorsers of said bonds, and where so
endorsed and delivered they shall be.
Mr. Hill. Although from tho voto
taken upon tho last question, this bill
appears to be set up as a finality which
inuitbo carried through, notwithstandins
any objections, however incontrovertible,'
or any proposed amendments, however I
suitabio or necessary, still 1 havo offered j that might havo beon roalizcd a year ago a
this amendment, sir, for tho purposo of furthor deduction must bo made of six bun
testing tho senso of tho House and setting dred thousand dollars, Cho amount added by
myself and others upon tho record. I de- tho supplementary Act to tia claims eujoy
airo to ascertain whether members aro ng preoedeuce to ho claim of tho Sta'o."
willing that tho people's money should bo It would appear bv this iha tm mr.n,Lr.
securo, or whether thoy will consent to oftho last Legislature, who last year voted
trust that money without security, in tho for this bill, virtually voted away six hun
bands of this company, which wo know and drcd thousand dollars, and it is now cast in
which the people know to havo been rais-j their teeth! They haw voted away jx'
com-'managed, its funds squandered and the
Stato cheated. I' wish to tost whether in
viow ol all'tlns knowledge, tho members
'of this Homo aro willinu to. discharge
I their duly .as Legislators, having upon
CJ- o
collars wo mi oijtucir suouiucrs tno rcsponsioiuty or pro
tccting tho pcoplo's interests, and ensuring
tho security of tho Stato. I wish by this
amendment lo tost whethor thoy arc
willing to givo up everything to strike
out all provision Jfor tho protection and
security of tho Stato, and place thd.money
of tho pcoplo into tho' hands of this com
pany, with absoluto power to wipo out tho
debt and cheat tho Stato entirely. For
this purposo, Mr. Speaker, not for the
purpose of baflling tho company, not for
tho purposo of intorposing any obstacles
to the completion of their road, but purely
and simply for tho purposo of protecting
tho Stato tho pcoplo of tho State and tho
people's money I offer ihU amendment.
It merely provides a method of insuring
that tho money raised under this bill shall
go to tho legitimate obj:cts which aro pro.
posed, the bonds being delivered as the
work proceeds. Now, I hope that gentlo'
men will tako this proposition into con
sideration. Lot them not shut their eyes
and their cars against overy proposition
which may bo presented for tho purposo of
amending this bill. Let them not deter
mine to carry it through, blindfolded, and
refuse this small protection to pcoplo nnd
the Stato, which my amendment provides.
I hope tho amendment will bo adopte'd.
The question being taken the yeas wero
25, nays 50 ; so tho quo&tion was deter
mined in tho negative.
Mr. Hill. Those of us who wero hero
at tho last session of tho Legislature, know
with what oarnostness and under tho very
whip that measure was passed how do-
sircablo it was represented to bo by tho
friends of that measure that this re ief of
8GOO,000, preferred scrip should be gran
ted; and, sir, when thoy had obtained
that, it was considered by them, and so
expressed, that they had obtained a great
matter.
Now, the gentleman from Erie, (Mr.
Ball,) declares that that was no advantage
to the company ; that instead -of giving
them bread, tho State gave them a stone.
Why, what did this company ask of the
State?
Mr. Ball. I rise to explain. I said
that the company asked reliof and they
got nothing; but, that this Legislature
gave to the contractors, who were not
asking for anything, a stone.
Mr. Hill. Thoy certainly gave, Mr.
Speaker, at tho suggestion of the company j
tho friends of tho company had tho bill in
cal--c -. tu cuiicct mo gentle
man again. Neither tho company nor tho
contractors, in tho first instance indicated,
1 1 t 1 M ... '
mucu icss asKeu lor, tbis measure. It had
its birth and parentage in the halls of tho
Legislature.
Mr. Hill. Tint is very true. It had
its birth hero. When tho bill was before
us, a section was sprung upon us giving to
this company authority to issue bonds to
an unlimited extent. If that invitation
had become a law, the company would
have had all that thoy desired ; the Stato
would havo been defrauded out of her
whole claim ; and we should havo had no
legislation for that company hero this year.
But, .Mr. Speaker, I had made myself
acquainted from tho very highest officers
of that oompauy, as to what theso claims
would amount (o, and the ultimatum was
said to bo 85U0,000; that would cover
every dollar that was duo tho contractors
or material men for work done or materials
furnished to that road. When this section
came up containing no limit designed, I
thought, as a snake to cheat and defraud
tho Stato I offered an amendment pro
viding for a limitation to 8500,000. It
was voted down and in lieu of that amend
ment, tho friends of tho bill inserted an
additional 8100,000.
I ask what that 5100,000 was fori I
havo been looking over tho report of that
company carefully, in order to seo what!
beoame of that SOOO100, aud this SlOO,.
000 which was not necessary to meet the
object therein expressed. I havo been un-
able to find out, sir, where it has gono ;
and, in tho alssuco of such information, I
sir, 1 am incliued to tho belief I am fully tUsolvcd, lhat.tbo maintenance invio
porsuadud that that extra 8100.000 dol-l'ate of"18 r'hta of tho Statos and cspo
lars was not converted or used for legitimate I L0:!?:":;1301 and
purposos. If it was so used, sir, it should
havo been so expressed in tho report of that
oompany. Wo want to know tho purposo to
Which that has been'appropnated.
Insiead of finding in ho report any ac
count of tho disposition of that 8000,000, 1
find a passage which struck mo with aston
ishment when I read it, because I consider
it, sir, a very insult to those gentlemen who
last year votodior hat mcasuro and advo
cated it, On pago fourtoon of tho report, I
read as follows :
"Whon it was extremely doubtful last
year whether tho State could securo moro
(ban ono million dollars by a sale of tho
road, it is certain now that from tlm ..,
. ,i 1 1 '-" ' - - "" ' ' ' '
i r z rr, .i , V .i'."7Vnm Tsice or labor, but shall bo be followed unless current cvcnti and ex
hundred thousand dollars ; tho SWo is ilia from such "'c " 'JX V,rlv lo whom nerienco shall show a modifioation or
much minus lacks that much of gettiug
tier just dues I I claim, sir, hat if (his bill
bo passed, giving thtt Company fivo mil
lions, fhey may next year throw into tho
teeth of gentleman now vofing for it, that
they have wiped out tho whole State claim.
AVo aro indebted for tho following ar
rangement and classification of tho voto to
tho Danvillo InUltiscnccr. It says
Democrats in Italics. All tho members
fromtho City of Philadelphia,' voted for
these' bills. Of tho Democrats from the
County, Messrs. Bymo, of Luzerne, But
lor, of Carbon, liilenborgor.of Northamp
ton, and OSteriioUt, o'f Wyoming, voted
for both. Messrs. Boyer, Rhoads, and
Smith, of Berks, Manifold, of York, ,nud
Kline, from Columbia, voted for Sunbu
ry and Erio, but not for tho repeal of tho
Tonnago Tax. Messrs, Broadlicad, of
Monroe, Donley, of Greene, Cope, of
Northampton, Dr. Hill, Dismant, and
Stoiieback, of Montgomery, Lichtenwall
nor, of Lehigh, Reilf, of York, Myers, of
Adams, and Heck, of Dauphin, voted
against both bills.
SuNnuRY and Erie
Yeas Messrs Abbott, Acker, Ander
son, Armstrong, Ashcoin, Austin, Ball,
Barnsley, Bartholomew, Bisol, Blair, lloij
cr, Dressier, Brewster, Uutler, (Carbon,),
Butler, (Crawford,) Byrne, Caldtecll, Col
lius, Cowan, Craig, Douglas, Ui'JitlJixa
can, Dttnlup JZiUcnbcrgcr , (Jascill, Gra
ham, Ilappcr, Harvey, Hayes, Ilillniau,
Hood, Hotius, Huhn, Kline, Koch, Law
rence, l.tissnring,, Lowthcr AT Donouglt,
M'Gonigal, MuuijoUt, Marshall, Mooro,
Morrison, Mullen, Obcr, Ostrrhotit, Pierce
Preston, Pughe, llumlall, Rci!y,iioait,
Ridgway, Robinson, Roller, Sehrock,
S.dtzcr, Shafer, Shoppard,iSiiti, (liorks)
Smith, (Philadelphia,) Stcbman, Strang,
Teller, Thomas, Walker, Wiiito, Wildey
and Davis, Upcnknr 72. 18 Dtiiu. 51
Republicans.
Nays Messrs, Alexander, Bixler,
Blanchard, Bliss, Ilio lltcail, Burns, Clark,
Cope, Oismajit, Donrfy, Elliott, Frazicr,
Gibboney, Goehring, Ileek, llill, Irvin,
LichlentvaUner, Myers, Patterson, Reiff,
Stoncback, Taylor, Tracy, Williams aud
Wilson 20.
Politically; cighteon Democrats voted
for the bill and ton against it. The oth
ers voting wero all Republicans.
Above, our readers will find the vote on
tho bill before mcntionod. If we aro not
greatly mistaken, a good many of them
who voted in favor of it will havo an ac
count to settle with tho tax payers of their
rcspoetive Districts, upon their return home.
Wo are very confident that, so far as this
District is concerned, a very large major,
ity of tho peoplo aro decidedly nnd un
compromisingly opposed to this act. Wo
shall hereafter tako occasion to express
our own views in relation to this subject,
INAUGURAL
O F
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
Filfow Citizens of the United Stntes :
In compliance with a custom as old as tho
Government itself, I appear before you to
address you briefly, and to tako in your
presence tho o.Uh prescribed by the Con
stitution of tho United States to be taken
by the President before ho enters on the
execution of his office.
I do not consider it necessary at pres
ent for mo to discuss those matters of ad
ministration about which there is no spo
cial anxiety or excitement.
RIGHTS OF THE STATES.
Apprehension seems to exist amoni; ths
, accession of a Ronublican adminUirT,.;
meir property anu tucir peace aud per
sonal security aro to bo endangered.
I here has never been any reasonablo
causo.for such apprehension. Indeed the
most ample evidence to tho contrary has
,auiua wuue existed, and been open to
ineir inspection ; it is jouuu m usarly all
tho published speeches of him who now
addresses you.
I do but quoto from one of those speeches
when I declare that I havo no purposo
directly or indireotly to interfero with tho
institution ot slavery m the States where
it exists. I beliovo I havo no lawful right
to do so, and I havo no inclination to do
so. Those who nominated and olected me
did eo with the full knowledgo that I had
mado this aud many similar declarations
anu uad never recanted them, and moro
than this, they placet in tho platform for
my acceptance, as a law to themselves
and to me, the clear and emphatic rcso-
lution which I now read
cording to its own judgment exclusively,
is essential to that balanco of power on
which the perfection and endurance nf
our political fabric depend, and wo J.
i,;,..i,. 1-..1 'i. " ,
force. Of tho soil of anv Stain or " I
no Mih, n,W wV, .. " Z y I
no matter under what pretext, as anion,
iuu gravest oi crimes.
I now reiterate theso sentiments, and
in doing so I only press upon tlio publio
attentiou tho most concluivo evidence of
which tho case is susceptible that the nron.
ortv, peace aud security of no section aro
to bo in anywiso endangered by tho now
incoming Administration.
I add, too, that-all tho protoction. which
consistently with tho constitution and tho
laws can bo given, will bo cheerfully giv
en to all tho States, when lawtullyJdeman.
ded, for whatever cause, as cheerfully to
one section as to another.
I'UOITIVE SLAVES.
Thero is" much controversy about tho
delivering, of fugitives from service, or la
bor. Tho clauso I now read is as plainly
written in tho Constitution as any other of
its provisions ;
"No porson held to service or lnhor in
ono Stato under tho laws thereof escaping
into another, shall, in conscquenoo of any
law or regulation therein, bo discharged
" , . ' ,i ,w i,i ,i i
DUtii a ' ; - . - . . .
It is scarcely questioned that this pro-
r "
v sionwas intended by ihofo wno mum
it for tho reclaiming of what we call fugi-
live sravcs,and tho intention of tho lawgiV.
nr in tlm v
All niuuiuuia ui uuutiw.
sunnoit to the whole Constitution to this
'-! i. . t ,, ntl.nr.
All niomber3 of Conerc swear tnoir
To tho proposition then that slaves
whose cases como within the terms of this
clause and shall be delivered up, their
oaths aro unanimous. Now,if they would
make tho effort in good temper, could they
not with nearly equal unanimity frame and
pass a law by moans of which to keep
good that unanimous oath. There is some
differenco of opinion whether this clauso
sbould bo enforced by National or otato
authority, but surely that difference is
not a very material one. If tho slaves is
rt Vn ciivrntir1nvf1 it Pfltl lifl nf lint, flf little
consequence to him or to others, by which
authority it is done, and should any ono
in any ca?o bo content that his oath shall
bo unkept on a merely unsubstantial con-
troversy as to how it shall bo Kept.
Again, in any law upon this subject
ought not all tlio safeguards of liberty
known in civilizod and humane junspru
denco to be introduced so that a freeman
may not bo in any case surrendered as a
slave. And might it not bo well at tho
same time to provide by law for the en
forcement of that clauso in tho Constitution
which guarautoes that tho citizens of each
State shall bo entitled to all the prousious
and immunities of citizens in tho several
States.
I tako tho official oath to day, with no
mental reservations and with no purposo
to construe tho Constitution or laws by
any hypercritical rules, aud while I donot
choose now to specify particular acts -of
Congress as proper to bo enforced. I do
suggest that it will bo muuh safer for all,
both in official nnd private slptioui, to
conform to aud abide by all thoic acts
which stand unrepealed, than to violate
any of thorn, trusting to find impunity in
having them held to bo unconstitutional.
It is sercuty-two years since tho first
inauguration of a President under our
National Constitution, during that period
fifteen different and greatly distinguished
citizem have, in succession, administered
tho Executive branch of the Government.
Thoy have conducted it through many
perils and generally with great success,
yet with all this scopo for precedent I now
enter upon the same task for the brief
i Constitutional term of four years under
crcat and peculiar difficulty. A disrup
tion of the Federal Union, heretofore only
menaced, is now formidably attempted.
1 hold that in contemplation ot universal
law and of tho Constitution tho Union ol
those States is perpetual ; perpetuity ii
implied H not expressed in the tundameu
tal law of all national governments.
It is safe to assert that governmcut,
properly ever had aprovi.ion in its or
game law for its own termination. Con-
tiuuo to excludo all tho express provisions
of our National Constitution and the Uniou
will endure forever, it being impossible to
i j- r.' ...I.
vidod for in the instrument itself. Aram.
if the United States bo not a government
proper, uui an association ot States in the
nature oi contract merely, can it as a coy
tract bo peaceably unmado by less than
all tho parties who mado. One party to a
u.ay no;ato it, ureal: it so to
speak', but docs it not require all to law,
fullv rescind it I
Descending from these ecnor.il nrinn!
plc3 we find the proposition that in legal
cuiiicmpiaiion tno union is perpetually
confirmed by tho history of tho Union it
self. Tho Union Is much older than the
constitution. It was formed in fact by
tho Articles of Association in 1771. It
was matured and continued by tho Deo-
laralion of Independence in 177G. It
was further matured and tho faith of all
tno tnen thirteen fctatcs expressly plighted
and engaged that it should bo perpetual
by tho articles of confederation in 177d.
And finally, in 1767 ono of the declar
ed objects for ordaining and establishing
tho Constitution was to form a more per
fect Union, but if destruction of tho Union
by ono or bv a part onlv of tl.n SitA v
awfully posMble, tho Union is less than
ueioro, thu tonititution having lost tho
vital element of Dornctuitv! if. Ml. I
thoso views that no Stato upon its mm
mure motion can lawfully get out of the
Union ; that resolves and ordinnnnna (
that effect aro legally void; and that
acts of violence within any State or States
against the authority of tho United States
are insurrectionary or rnvnlntin,,.,,.,. .
Gording to circumstances.
I therefore consider th
Constitutiou and laws, tho Union is un.
broken, and to tho extent of my ability
shall tako care, as the Constitution itie
expressly enjoins on mo, tho laws of tho
Union bo faithfully exceuted in nil n, I
States. Doinc this. I deem tn k.n,,!,-
Bimpla duty on my part, and I shall par-
riXf!iMm,!fr 03 l,n,c'lcab! my,
r S1 PL1??'0' 'he American people. 1
sua i witutiold requisite means or in some '
I trnrt luT d'(rC,Ct tl10 CTtrar--
1 trust hi, ,11 not bo regarded as a
w...vlj. Mint il Hill coniiriiimn It ,1
T ' " mntt. .lt30't. a"S this.
itinu anu maintain itsa f in .loin
M.miiiilll ut
lucre ueoaoa no bloocWiod or
dohqd
"T wo ? 110111
"Pontno National authority. Tho
.i. w.s ---" oreeu
confided to ma will be used to hold .occupy
anil nnccM lirt i i
lonmn,, to (l,n fi..V".
x mv ijiijjuitjr uuu juacca U0-
,l.; V l -"", 'iu to collect
duties and imports, but beyond what may
bo necessary ior thesj objects there viil
bC 110 invasion, no USin2 of foreo annin.t
lately shall bo so great and so "universal
as to prevent competent resident citizens
trom holding federal offices, thero will bo
ng attempt to foreo obnoxious strangers
among the peoplo that object whilo "tho
strict lcf-al right mav exist in dm
t to enforce tho excrciso of theso of-
fiecs; tho attempt to do To ,7o i. '
irritatinir and so nc.,rlv m;:::7:..T.iV
irritating mid so nearly i.npraeticablo,
. -J "M'tHVUUuyiUi
that sense of ne'rfect rW "u 1 . 1 "!
most favorable to calm thoughts and r -
flcclion. The course hero ind eatcj Jm
aro
hero indicated will
chance to bo nropcr.atid in.cvery case and
, i . ... 1 ' .. III I .. . .
- n i ... ,. .
exigency my "fsi ui crciion ... u
ciscu ..v
existing, and with a view aud a hope of a
peaceful solution of the Ration! troubles,
"id mo restoration oi mwrun
of fraternal
tines anu nucci ou.
That thtrc aro pcr-
. -
sons m ono section or another who seek to
ilnstrnv Iho Union at all events, aud aro
glad 01 any pretext io uu , .....
affirm or deny ; but if there bo suuh, 1
need address no worn, to tuoso, u0wTr,
who really love the Union. May 1 not
speak betbro entering upon so grave a
mattor as the destruction of our national
fabric, all its benefits, its momorioi, ana
hopes ; would it not be wise" to asoertaiir
precisely what aro duo J will you haaanl
so ucsperato a eiu im " j
possibility that any portion of tho ills you
tly from have no real cxistenc ; will you,
whiln the certain ills vou fiv to are creator
'than all the real ones you ity lrom ; will
'you risk tho commission of so fearful a
mistake ? All profess to be content in tha
.Union if all cotofitulioual right-i can ba
maintained, is it irue, uui, iu
'right plainly written in the Constitution
'has been denied ! I think not. Happily
tlio Human ilium is au tuusuiuww
party can reach to tho audacity of doing
this. Think if you can of a singlo in
stance in which a plainly written provision
of the Coiutituiioii has ever been dciiiud.
If by the mere force of numbers a majori
ty should deprivo a minority of any clear
ly written Constitutional light it might, iu
a moral point of viow, justify a revolutiou;,
it certainly would if such a right wero a
vital ono. But such is not our case. All
tho vital rights of minorities and of indi
viduals aro so plainly assured to them, by
affirmations and negations, guarantees aud
prohibitions in tho Constitution, that con
troversies never arise concsriiiug them ;
but no organic law can bo framed with it
provision specifically applicable to every
question which may occur in practical
administration. No foresight can antici
pate, nor any document of reasonablo
length, contain express provisions for nil
possible questions. Shall fugitives from
labor be surrendered by national or Stata
authority ? Tho Constitution does not
expressly say. May Congress prohibit
.slavery in tho territories! Tho Constitu
tion docs not expressly say t Must Con
gress protect slavery in the territories ?
l'ho Constitution does not expressly say.
From, questions of this class spring all our
Constitutional controversies, nnd wo di
vide upon them into majorities and minor
ities. If the minority will not aequiesoe,
tho majority must,or the government must
o;asa.
Thero is no other altaruative for con
tinuing tho government but acquiosoeuca ,
on the ono sido or the other. If n niiuor
ity in such caso will secede rather than
acquiesce, they make a precedent whioh iu
turn will divide or ruin them, for a minor
ity of their own will secede from thsta
whenever a majority refuses to bo con
trolled by such a minority. For iustaneo,
why may not any portiou of a new con
federacy a year or two hence, arbitrarily
ecvmlo-nKniiljr jucciatlj as portions of tho
present Union now claim to secede from
it. All who cherish disunion eeiitimoiitrt
aro now being educated to the dxact tem
per of doing this. Ij thero such porfect
identity of interests among the State t
compose a new Union as to produce har
mony only, and prevent renewed sooe
sjonl Plainly the central idea of scee.
sion U tho essence of anarchy, a majority
held in restraint by constitutional checks
and limitations and always changing oasi
ly with tho deliberate changes of popalar
opinions and sentiments is tho only truo
sovereignty of a free people. Whoever ro.
jects it, dons of necessity fly to anarchy or
to despotism. Unanimity is impossible.
Tho rulo of a minority as a warrant ar
rangnment is wholly inadmissablo. So
that rejecting tho majority principlo, an
archy and despotism in somo form, is all
that is left. I do not forget tho position
assumed by some that constitutional ques
tions aro to bo decided by tho Supremo
Court, nor do I deny that such decisions
must bo binding in any caso upon the
parties to a suit as to tho object of that
suit while thoy aro also entitled to vory
high respect aud consideration in all par
allel cases by all other Departments of tho
government and whilo it is obviously
possiblo that sueh decision may bo erro
neous in any civen case, still the it!I ,.f.
feet following it, being limited tothat par.
ticular caso, with Iho eluuoe that it may
be otfcrruled and never becomo a prece
dent for others, aud better bo borno than
could the evils of a different practice.
At tho same timo tho candid citizen
must confess that if tho polioy of the nov-
orniucnt upon vital questions affcoting tho
whole peoplo is to bo irrevocably fixsd by
decisions of the Supremo Court, tho in
stant they aro mado in ordinary litigation
between parties in personal actions, tho
peoplo will havo ceased to bo their own
rulers, having tothat extent nracticsllr
igncd their government into tho hands
of that eminent tribunal.; nor i n,, Jr.
M' view any assault upon tho Court V
tL JudSi 't is a duly from which the,
way not shrink to decide cases pronorlv
brought beforo them and it is no fault of
mcirs n otuers seek to turn their decisions
to political purposes. Ono section of our
country believes slavery is right, and
ought to bo extended ; whilo tho othor
behoves it is wrong, and ought not to b
extended. This is the only substaatinl
n" 'Sh.tc Clauso ot tno
""stitution and tho law for ttio suppres-
ion of the foreign slar trade ara each
as well enforced jruaps as any Jaw cm
CVOr bn in n cjmmi.nilv rolinrn ik. 1
tho law itself : the ere at bodv of thn nm".
pie abido by tho dry logal obligation id
both cases and a few break over in oach :1
JUis L tiling cannot bo perfectly pured,au(L
it num.. uh wqrsp in pott casos atter 11)8
separation of tho sections than before.
Tbo foreign slavo trade, ngw imperfectly
" m . uo Wciy rei.vcE
J " , , ,- ,'..'" '. . . VJ
' d
a" I,. "" m.ono !e !on. wl
fugitive slaves now onlv part a v's
lUl'lllVtl litn.l'PH Tintf ft Til it nal .. 1
all by1
7, " P5 ? tollmen then.
... I
A husband and wifo may be divoroed ami
Z 2 of W" lmLle diT,or,oed Bml
.' -pr.cTc. a!oJ tbo roach
Sfo.M, i "7 T.'!u" 100
-.-v,, l(i0 muiTcqt pans gf