LCT
JAMES BUCHANAN,
!r ::m "F iiH". 1 xm.i' st.ii:
nil. I.NAII. AM' Ilnl SK
I . i . i.hnKt tin' v, n
. tin' o'lltltn li: ItCIl
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.1 d'.-c !it lit I.--IV P CX-
d the I iii -li . t the Mat -, j
ol all tin hi "in-s. ic i
1 . i :! !i l! I
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. U l- It
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v...v.( ,. Il,
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1 ..e l-.i- cite t
1: ti, , i l lilt- a;;- ! it- it.t- I In li e !
;!, i a ; .. I- wilt' tin- : -In li o -d iv
: .;.!!. iu M tt La- at l : tii I to. Hi
.'- ; .1 is c.l, . t.. 1 I.- .-.l. I ciii i i li. I - t t j
! - - I , .. -t. al- UoW "HI l( .eallir-t CO i I ,( II' I , !
. Ill,, t:l;i has ill! W - I. ; o MUiil Ulead. .1 by j
( ., ! .1 !. I I I, IS I 11 lit . V, It In ll ll-'-'iii' IT' - I
. '.i ai J -isties Lav le-ll l.Ii;.l. I htr j
; : j i i - t-ii ui.il ujtt ii i.'i. w mi- tl my 'iitit vy-
i: ! tli-: Hi W iiupclidtln: dalil:-!. I Lis !, k i
t L iy lit.tn th- Linn n 1 1 put '.
: .iiur- nr the t 1 1 it.1 i d I- 'i latin t.. , ,
-. i : -ia . . i v tiom the J v-i i it 1 1' n -r tiom th.; !
1 it- ( I tllU. tetit SiahS to (Ut. it the u
:i ol th.- Ptuitivc M ivc law. All ft any j
t... -c evil-might lave teen . f.-Iiiicl ly'tli.-j
sit ii wiibout d ill-" l to t :,c 1.' .:"tt. ( is either- :
i. iv- Uvn.i in the tli:it 1:pm-,(M.! r -fleet i n j
a: i- li .1 - i ni'lcll ti 111 tin-- i.l"C!iH tto.n j
tiii' 1 1. ! ill it tli- im.--.tiit uii'l ii'l' iit a ,itn-!
1 -li n I II.'- 1 iv. iy (ifluil tM'.iil.Dtlt liic
yiili ii'i !: j'jir(. r :i (i ntuiy. Ijns at
I i,;t(j I'ln ir.col i:s w il-iiii ii.lJ j. in iijwiii tilt
- lit--, ai.'t in J tli-iii w. tii Vinc lritii.i
'if ii nc a t-.n-c t-i s.cinitv ti4i
' , i ! aii ui i ti.e t.iiuiiy aitir. Tiii-
. t f.:r ' .i lj- in-- h triv. ll v t t
!i-i.nis ft f.nil-- i i i s ii 1 1 t'tiii. Mai.y ft
i , -i tt.i.-i:jli..ut l.v S -ii lm n tlr s at tiiulit
. I: . ! i v ;. it iniiv I- : l.l Ik i - It ui l tl I
'-.i I' J-r t:ic u i nit 1. Mi.uil.l tulh ap
, , 1 1.: ! 'ii.-ijc .1 im..t, whct:i r real rr
. ii y, 1 an ! iiitciirify it-. It unlit it
. I i.l. tii.- ma-,- s(. ti.- Njiitli: in ii-4.i,!e.
1 --.i.i--ti Hill I" ; -mil' nit vit tii)
..It-prL-
i r, i- t!,c i.i-t law t ti it ii ic. iitmI Ijis i
:.i I in th.- I;, ut ot ti.an I y tiis ,,-at.r
---t pu: ii.t : a:,. I no p- liticat uni n.
i r i .i,t wiilj l.-.-itis -iruJ lent htt. in
.ii r : . ' 1:1 1 " 't'tii.iu. il tin lie-
"" - - t. 1, ti l. r iIm- ii-iiN4 an.l
1 1 i;! I. i': ti,.- pun. - to i. Iial-itu
! i, 1. - Iy -... n .. ,Urt or later
' rii ha I '11:0:1 iuut it - H-v.-rcl.
c-t.i .ti -a llt.t tlii.-il.ital l.a.
I .uiiii i ; an i my pr.ncr to iui ia tint
I p tv the Ci.ii-lilutimi an. I the
ii : .;li"ut uil p'l.-i atioiis.
! '. i.- tiii. - 'i.-arniiij; in tiiiK-, ai.'i muhvc
'l-.ii-'-r. It ciiiiiiit h.- iKnifl that,
! tW:-Mv y-ar. the a-jtation at thu
i ' rt ivcy in the S.mtli, has lni n
L: ' hi 1-I"' pi t han-Ii ili.-, :uil in
i:";.v (ioiihitt-J -tonivc
-;. "it th.- Jj. 1:1th. if a r!miu t.-r to i v-
pi-i-.n i.f tii- flxv, ; an I, in the l.u
l !(n i.il Ji.;k'-n, -l.i f-titaiilato them
! t!'.;i, ami pr.;(! icc fltt. h.jrroiis -f
,l " '1 hi aiialion h.t- cv-i fcii.cc
mm. :--! hy th- ptil.lic p..-, .y the pro
- f Mat. an.l (Min.ty -,iiv. nli, ii.-, ami
ut " tmoi.s an- h a.nvs. 'J he time
1-1- f h i-h-mi mviipic.I iini..,!..nt pxt.-h-t:
- ii.-v.-r .-Ti.iii.L'Mihj t ; apv ilr iu
1- t in. ! other l inn-, en i, ir distiti
I :i'it.-. h-t'ii H-nt Juilh (."will this
II ! 1 :. pi.-a.i I ma Ica-t over th-
I"
'i-V V'.'
:t. tin:
' d it
r nieriran p-n- i U
M.iicr ipifftion toiever, and h
i- -t i.
.:.t:v.
, . .t .j ii .ii iu i ii is m-ir.uTeii
iill,
al..
d ih All th .t U
; ni.i .oi.ipni ti.,..,hi ct, and all f,.r
.i I. if m.iu- States hive ever contclulcd, is
'tHlone, and p amitud to m mage their
- "own-, 1,1 ,r ,awj w Aj
i,:T'"'tli,T- 'l-.v ah,,,.., a.ere-
.-.'.. ... kmc aii.l th iv rlj f,-r th.
t ' ...-iiir. Mil H I
i ; i...
N'h me i.-.t more r, sponsible,
,,;:,l;,i;''''''i'.iifl,ti:.niti,
'M.t.itnnMrt l;uu itT m J:iazii.
ir f, t... , ii -it iii. tii- i..,i
liie. I ndi uieiilv nli- u in, .,,t
.'- h yondthe i-.-werofauy Presi- j
fitter what nuv te hisou.i ..iii;...i
' to lc-tore
1" : ; ami h uii.ony
'! JiiuiU -I and it - i
" ' 1 "- l- his lower
. m.der out
LltiStitU-
i iWr, 1; at,
f r--loi ;.t
'ne can nnomplmh but lit
Ml, i ll SU' ll
a momentous
; ti.is b.in mo t,M b-rve that the clc-
- ii.- oi our leiiuw-ritiz
ns to tin- i f
( i MOfSUot Of it-:, ft ;,ti.d
t I
. ... .iwtig me ( m ,
I'liii i.s in.ii. '
i.iv iri,. n I
tie ti.n b ,H H.vtl j , i : 1,
1 . ... i
pall
" It 11 . ' 'X''rr''
. -v11l '""vtitutK.li.
of powcts licit
Ihe late itr-si-
h:iS been bel 1 in
. eon .
then ii express provi.vions.
1-tr .v tl ' J'istifya levolutloo
.......... , 'j'-u,IJ riIi ' ""t a m ijoiity, of th.. ; injure I States, aller having
I-:;,,, f( ' V nna tia'iMnit atid atiii ctinslitiitionai means to obtain
-.! ,.',y,il, i'1'1 probably never jnstifi-d in revolutionary re
: . .'e-i !.!JI l. i T,i' r l" j'liiy a resort io the Government of th L nioii.
i.i.-. i . .. ' 1 mricv. the Federal Govern- I have purposed r confine! nn
u .luiuvi.iu-. I iill OR. I n-iuiii
jirl'u, a reanl ftir tlio Cuimtilution, all tv
iii're thnt we t-li.ill wait for p nie overt un)
lani:iioui icL mi H e put 1 1" tli, I'n Hi. lent
th rt lrtort! resorting to Mich a n iii4--y
It id mid, how vt r, that tin: ahtcniJcnts !
the l'K.--uki.t i I ii ivu Lieu biillicioLl to jus
tity thu tcairi ot Ihc Seith that he Kill attempt
to invade theii coustjtutiotial lights. Hut are
lKh ttpi'rchtiious ot ' font indent danger in the
tutuieMifticifut to jui-tily thu immiiltate deb
truclion f the noMot tyst in of government
ever devistd by mortals:' Fioin the very na
ture (t his c thee, audit.- huh r spoiisibiiitics,
he must ntccssarly Ik conservative. J he stern
duty ot adminihl. iin th.' v.ist and eoinplirated
(ouecniM of thin (i.veininent alloidn in itself a
iiatantcc that he will not attempt any viola
tion 01 a cU-ar eoliti,ltiotal ruhl. A tier all,
he In n,.iu th in ii..- rhicl x. rii i v i ( tliivr
ofl:e (i. cn.iutnl. Hi. protimc is not to
in ike, i.iit to x tuti. the laws ; and it is a re
imuk ihY la. t in tun histoid, ilia, nntivith
htandin the repeat, d 1 11". 1 1 - oi the ami hvery
patty.mo siiiRle act has .-r jussd oni;n ss,
unless w. may ps:Hy ecpt the Sli.s niri
t'onipoiuise.impiiiit ir in the li-litest desire,
the rights of the N.nth to their property in
hlaves. And it may also Iu ohsetvtd, ju tuinc;
tioin puseiit indii alioiirt, that no o.il.i!ily
it oi the 1 asae;,' tit hh li an a t, hy a ma
j .tiu id h. th IIoum s, cither in the pi.sent or
II. e li-At t ohle:s Sut-lv, Under tluwiir-
miiM llieis, we oiuht to le rehtiailit d troin
pn rent a- ii ti hy :h pi.ccpt of Him who spake
as never mm k oke, that ' Biitti. i nt unto the
.lay is the evil tln rtof." The d iy of evil may
never rout., uid. s we shall rashly hiini; it
njHiu i-ur-ei v s.
It is alieuedas onecm-in for inline liaht t
.s-i.ui tint the S nitiicrn States are denied
c pi il lights wilh the other States in the rom
nioii l.iiitoii.it lt I y what atithority are
thei-e il.nitd' Not hy Congress, which has
m ver pai-seil, and I UIn ve never will ;i-s, any
a. t to exettidr I.ivt iy fiom lhcte 'ieriitoiic:
an 1 t tail it v 11.it hy the Supreme i'oiiit, which
h is soh innly dr. ided th it f luvcs are projH-ity,
and. like all other piopetty, their owners have
a tiht to t iLe- tli -iii into the common leiri
t-'iics, hii t I14-I 1 tliein theio und r the piotec
tii'li ot the t'oitit uiion.
Solar, tin 11, us Coiiuitss is conci tried, the
ot.jri (ion is ii"t to !tnthiiii; they have alieady
d , hut to what th. v may do h. realtcr. It
w 'I ciu-li t e a-imiit. d that ti.is apprehension
.1 iiti!t.-..Li ,-ei is no mo.l leas n (oi an iiuiue
diate dirvoliitioii of tin I iji-Mi. It is tiue that
ti e t.-iiit'.rial !e::i-l iture of Kan-a-, on the l! ; I
t rehni-iiy. 1 , pii-f.-d in irre it h a te an act.
i.verthe vi-i ii the tov. rrior. deelarini; th it
d ii- i "is and fhal! !, lor.-vi r prohihited in
tl.i I 1 litori " Such an ai t. It m -v.-r. pltinly
i-d it inir the lights ol piopelty secilli-d hi the
n-,tiir,ii, n, wilt t-uiely U' de hired void I-v
i th- ii.dirian wiieicvei it thai 1 he presented in
' a h - il t.nni
1 ! t,ty time dav-i after 11. v inaiuural ioti the
' Siif r. tn (' ant ot the I nit.-l S'attri Kolemiily
a fpiil-.d that this h.w- i did not t t in a t-i-'
I lih-iial h-Ki-hituie. V. t mm h has hi cii the
1 ! ',i( t i. -'i - t m pi 1 1 1 tli t im s that tin- coi rc t-
j ot thi- d. -i-i.-n ha; h.-. 11 t xt iimv ly im
' pu-Mii d het'ou- tin people, and the 1 j lit stion has
iv. ii iw to aiiirty p. .lit n il roi.il:. ts thn.Ui:h
ut the tom.tiy. ihis who have apji.at.'d
I -Ul thir. judullH'll ot our huhe-t cM)Stittl-
n.i.al tiihunal to itopular a' inhHes would.
jit tl.cy luiild, invt a ieiiitoii.il hri-l dure
I - ih "W r t ann ui tin-M int MhU of rroji-
ertv. l'hi- p ucr ( oni:r. f-s is cxpres-Iy (or
;h:.lhn hy tin- Fecial 'oii.-itiliithni to vx
n -:-e. Kv.-ty Stale le-i-1 d ut t; in the
: I nion i- t'.rt i-ll. n hy its own toiiMituti n
f to .x.Tiie ir. It 'ai.tn-t h.- cxettised in
j any State except 1 y the? people in tht ir hL'h
; c.-t sovereign eapauty when tiainimj or amend
I in; their Slate -mstitutit.n. In likem mn.T,
jit 4 an finiy tic i x rti-ed Iy the p.. pic ot a'Ir
litoiy represented in a coiiveiitioii of delecattt)
, t. r tlie put pose ot tiamiiu a Cotiytitutioti pre
! arat.ry toadmii.-n as a State intothe I'nioii.
Then, and not until th-n, aie tiny invest-d
with power t d-tide tho question wli.-thir
-l ively shall or idi ill not exist within th ir
limits. This isanat of s..v..i4 ii;n anthoiity,
and ii t ol sntoidit.ate teititotid h ialation.
Wcro it otherwise, t"un indeil would the
cjuality of the St.ite- in t lie Ten iloii. s 1 de-ti-ved,
atid tins lights of prop. rtv in !aves
w.'nl 1 .!. . nd, not upon the eaiar.uih-i s ot the
n-iitution, hut uj-on liir shmii ir luajoiiti
ot" an iiiesj.n-ih.'e t. intoriat Ic-ifcl.iture. Sueh
a di etiitie, fiom its intiiusic iinoniidness, an
i! t lon inll'.n nee any -insi-Iciahle p;rtion o
our j p!e. nun h less eui it attord a yM.i u a
s'.n f-r a dissoluti.-n ol the I'uiou.
'J'he incst julpahlc violations ot constitution
al duty win h hive yet heeii commitied coni-t
iu the a tsof diifermt Stiit legislatures to d
f.at lh execution ot tin ftmitive flavp lav
It oimht tu lijf reUicmlH-re!, hi.wvvcr, that fr
th-e a ts, neither O.r.irn ss imr any President
can ju l! y I h-Id r. sp-.nsihle. llavint; lieen
piA-ed in violation ol the r-cdcr.il ( 'oiistitutioii.
they an theief re null and void. All thu
rnuits, Uitli State and National, l-forc u hnm
th.f rpiistiuii has ans.n, have ficni th.
oci;innin Me 1 irei iiu' iiimve slave law
to h.; r-.nistitntioiiil 1 h-' single cxct tioii
is inai oi a Mate court in isconstu
and thij Lis not only leii reversed hv the
per app ilit'i tiihunal, hut Una met with
tu h universal r pi.hiti"n that then; cm h
no dinner lioni it MM'neri .lent. T he validi
ty id this law h it. 1-i-tu ?t.ihlishd ov-r and
over auain hy the Supicme oiirt of the Liuted
St it.-s with pettect unauiinitv. It is fotindrd
upon an exprcs-i provision of the Constitution
rupiinn;? that fugitive slav. s who si ipe from
serviie in one Statu to hiiftther f-hall Ik "d li
eid up ' to their m:L-t. is. Without this i r.
visi n it isa well known hit nieal fact that the
C nstiiutioii it.-ctt could never have U- nadopt
ed i y the Convention. hi one form or other
under the ats of 17:.! ami IS.'iO, both heing
ptili-tHntiiliy the Kiine, the fugitive slave law
hns 1h-. ii the law of the ind hum the daH id
U .uhiuton until the nr s. iit inoia nt. Here
then, a clear tase U preseiited, iu which it wii
the duty of the next President, oh it has
- . n my own. to a t with viiror in t-xet iitiiiL'
mis sunn tne law af.iiiifct tlie c(r.ii-. t inr
tw-uU vt State IcuMidatnres. Should he fail in
the peiformunceol thishih duty, lit-will then
iiave liiauitefiteil a ilisicat! ol the oii-titu
ti'Ui and laws, to the meat injury of the juropte
oi marly oue-Iialt ot the States of the I nion
L'ut are wo to presume in advance that he will
thus violate his duty ? 'This would he at war
Willi cv( ry pinmpie ul justice aud of hrtun
ch anty. t n-i wait h.r the overt net. 'Jhe
fuu'iliv lave law has heeen cariicd into execu
tion ill c cry Coiiti-sted case hiiice thecolnuieme
tnent i f the present administration ; though
tteii, it is trt Im reretlc.1, with jrreat "'"I
""'"nveiiicmo to tlie master, anl with ronsid-
crablo cxjiense to the government. It its
tru?t that the State l.-gisl atures will repeal their
uuc institutional ami ol noxious cnat tmctiLs.
Cnb-ssthis shall be done without uuiicecssarv
deiay. it is impossible for any htimau jiower to
Kl e ine i ii ion.
1 he S.ittliem State?, standing' on the bads of
the Constitution, have a right to demand this
at of justice tn in tho Stabs ot the North.
Should it Im refused, then the Constitution, to
which all the Statts ate parties, will have been
willhtlly violated by oik; ih.rtion of th-ni in a
iT'i i.-ioU essential to the domestic scuritv ard
ippiness of the remainder. Iu that event the
first used all peace-
IctUees,
sisUmce
Y remark j to
iioiiAiv reMstaiK-e. becau.-u it I as lietn
claimed within the list two yrars that any
Statu, whenever this sliall be its soven-ign will
and pleasure, may seivde from ttie Union, in
a. cor,kmce with Ihe Constitution, and without
nny vi.datioii of tho constitutional rights of
the other rutiul- rs of tho Confederacy, That
as ciich U'came partii-s to the Union hy the
vote of its own people assembled in Conven
tion, no any one i I them m.iy retire from the
Union in a ?irai!at manner by the vote ot such a
n invention.
In oulei to juttiiy S' ceioii ts a otiSlitutiott
al iiiiily. ii iiJiht on the piinciple that the
1. d'ral tioveitimeiit is a mere voluntary asto
liati ji of StaUii, to Lie diaolvelat pleasuie by
any one ot the coulractimj; puilitK. If thU he
so, the Coufedetuiy itt a rope of sand, to be
penetrated and dirslved by the fust adverse
wave of public opinion iu any of the States.
In this manueruur thirty-three States may re
fotve themselves into us many ietty, jarrini;,
anl hostile r. publics, each one retirin; from
the l iiioii, without rcsKn-ii ililyt win nev r
any sudden cxclteuunt minlit iuiH-l them to
such a course Hy this proiog a ( rd'-n miht
bd entirely broken inio tram-nts in a few
weiks, which cot our h,ref;ithciti main cait.
of toil, privation, and blood lo estab'i-h.
Sut h a printiple is wholly incoiiH-t. nt with
the history a well aft the character of tin- I Vd
era! Constitution. After it wad fiauied, with
the greatest deliheiation and care, it wan sub
niitted to coiivi-iitiong of the people of the
several States lor ratification. Its provi.-iuii
were discuts. I at length in thesis bodied, com -p
tied of the tirt im u of the country. Itrt op
pi D 'titi cuiteridd that it conteiied owerrf
up4in the Keler.il tiovi nunetit dam:, rnus t the
liihtsot the States, whiht itsadvoat. main
tamed that under a fair ronstru tiuu of the
iiihtiumeiit theie was no touudatioti for such i
appieheusioiiH. In that mighty strulc be-'
twecn the first intellects of this or any olht r
country, it never occur iel to any individual,
either anions its opponents or advocate, to
aswit, or even to intimate, that their etlorU
wrc all vain lal or, U cause tho inomeut that
any Male it u luitelt avncve-l t-lia miuht
s'icile irum llie i nmn. V hat a crusbin ar
gument wimld this have proved against tlios
lic dicadcd tliat the liglibi ot the States
would U iiidangered hy the Constitution. '1 he
t:u(h is, that it was not until many yiais aftr
Hit; origin of the Federal Ciovciuuit nt that
hiKh a propositi' ti was tirst lulvauce!. It was
t licit met ami refuted by ttie conclusive argu
ments of (iene al Ja kson, who in his meiv.ige
of h'.th January, ,, tiniisu.ittiiig the nulli
f) ing oitlinance ot Smtti Carolina to Congress,
employs the following Ungual; : 1 tie light
ot the people ot a single State to absolve them
selves at will, mid without the consent ot the
other Stat s, from their most solemn obliga
tions, and haz ird the lilierty nnd happiuct-s of
ll:.- millions composing this t'nion, cannot be
acknowledged. Such authority is believed to
be utteily i4-jiti-naiit l-otti to ttie principles!
upon win h the lieneral i tovernmctit is coiiati
tuttd and ti the object which it was exprn-sly
formed to attain."
It is uot pretended that any cl uise in in tin
th' Constitution gives tounteii nice to sin h a
theory. It is altogether founded upon infer
ence, not from any language contain d in the
iu-trumetit itself, but from tin; sovereign char
acter ot the several Stibs by which it wap
rat hi d. Hut is it bciid the p jvi r of a State,
like an indivi.lval, to ield a portion ot its
so r igu liiht to secure the remainder ? In
th-' I u.guai'e of Mr. Mad iron, who has leen
called tin hither of the Constituti at : "ll was
formed by the Statis that is, by the people in
eai h of the States, acting in their h'ghest sov
er. ign capacity; and f'imel const tjuentlv by
ttie t-amc aulhoiily whit h fornud ttie State
constitution."
" Nor is the (lovernnient of the I'nitid
Slat.-t, created by ttie Constitution, less a Gov
ernment in the Makt a use of the term, within
the sphere of ilsjowcrs, than the governments
created by the constitutions of the StU.s are,
within their several spheres. It is, like them,
oriatiized into legislative, executive, and ju
dbiary depai tmetits. It operates, like them,
dirctly on pcTMns aud things ; ami, like them
it has at command a pi ysnal tone for execu
ting thu jioivi rs committed to it.
It w;ia int. tided to bo perpetuated, and not
to in; annulled at the pleasuie of any one of ttie
contracting parties. The old artichs of con
feb ration were entitled "Articles of ont h r
a' ion and Perpetual I'nioii Iictween the States;"
and by tiie lain article it is ex plenty declared
that "the articles of this ConicdTntion shall '
ii mviohil.lv oiiservcl hy every state, and ttie
Union t-hall lie perp- tual." The prennble to )
tiie Constitutieii ot the Unit.-! StuU s, having !
express reference to llie nrti les of ( onfctera
tion, recites that it was established "in order
to hum a more picibct I nion. Aud y.-t it is
Contended that this "more Kifect Luiiii" do-s
iiot include the essential ntttibtite f p r-,
petuity.
Put that the I nion w:is designed to be per-
M-tual app ais conclusively from the nature aud
cxieiii oi me pi were conu-rroi ny me ionsiitu-1
th in on the Pe l rat Government. '1 uese pow- j
ets emtirace tne very niguot atti unites ot i.a-
tional sovereignty. 'I hey dace both the swonl
and the pitise umlcr its control. Congrtss has
powvr to make war, and to make peace; to raise
and snpLort atmies and navhs, aud to conclude
treaties with foreign governments. It is in-
vet-ted with the tower to com money, aim to (
regulate the value there. f, and to regulate I
commerce with foreign nations, and among the t
s-veral Slates. It is not necepsary to enniner- I
ate the other high powers which have been con- J
ferret1 ujwin the Federal Government. In order
to tarry the enumerated towers into cllect, Con- j to be collected, as here tofore, at the custom
gress possesses the exclusive right to lay and - house iu Charleston; aud .-hotild the collector
collect duties on imports, and in common wilh
the States to lay and collect all other taxes.
Put the Constitution litis not only conferred
these high powers upon Congress, but it has
adopted effectual means to restrain the States
fr in interfering with their exercise. For that
puriKise it has, in strong prohibitory language,
expressly declared that "no State shall enter
into any treaty, all in nee or cou federation; grant
lette rs of mariue and reprisal ; coin money ;
emit bills of credit ; make anything but gold
ami silver coin a tender in payment of debts;
pass any bill of attainder ez fust facto law, or
law impairing the ot ligation of contracts."
Moreover, "without the consent of Congress, no
State shad lay any imjosts or duties on any
imjKirtsor exports, except what may be abso
lutely necessary for executing its inspection
laws;" and, il they exceed this amoant, the
ex tens shull lie long to the United States.
And "no State shall, without the consent of
Omgnss, lay any duty of tonnage; keep
troojis, or fclnps ot war, in time ot peace ; enter
into any agreement or compact with another,
State, or with a foreign power; or engage in
war, unless actually invaded, or in Midi imni
ueut danger as will not admit of delay."
In order still further to secure the uninter
rupted exercise of these high powers against
State iutetK'.si(in, it is provided "that this
Constitution and Die laws of tho United Slates
which shall lie made in pursuance thereof ; and
all treaties made, or which shall he maue, nn
ier the authority of the United States, shall bo
the supreme law of the land ; and the judges
iu every State shall be bound thereby, anything
in the Constitution or laws of nny State to tho
contrary notwithstanding
the solemn sanction of religion his been
superadded to the obligations ot cliicial duty.
ami oil senators and representatives of the
Liuted states, all members ot State legislatures.
ami all executive and judicial officers, "both cf
tho United Stabs and ol the n-veral States,
shall Im; bound by oath or btlirmation to sup
tort this Constitution."
J ii order t carry into eti-ct these powvrs.
the Constitution has established a perfect Gov
ernment in all its forms. Legislative, Execu
tive, and Judicial ; anel this Government, tu
the extent of its powers, acts directly upon the
individual citizens of every State;, ami exe
cutes its own decrees by the agency of its own
officers. In this reflect it dilleis entirely from
the Government under the old Confederation,
wnicli wan confined to making rcijuisitions on
the States in their sovereign character. Tide
lett it iu the discretion i f ea h whetht r bxdiey
or to r. fufe, and they often declined to comply
wsth ruch requinitin-. It thus became tucib
sary, for the puiioH.' of removing this barrier,
and 'in oiiler to form a more perfect Cni-.n,"
toestai hrli a tiovrtiiiu. nt which could at di
rectly uiou the people, and execute its ou
Uws without the intei mediate agency ot the
Stated. rlnis has b en ae iiiplilnd by the
Constitution of the Cuite t States.
In uhort, the tJovernment inat d by the
Constitution, and d. riving its aiithoiity Iroin
the Fovereii,'ii people ot inch of tin; s'Vetal
Statert, ban r. cis Iy theyauie ri'ht t i xetcii-e
its jiowi r over the people f all tln-i-e Stat, s, iu
the enumerate ! r ises, thit cacti i ne of thcin
ptssis-es ov.-r sul j-tts hot d, h 4ted to the
Luited Staled but "ie.-crvd to the Slates, ren
pectivcly, or to the people.'
To the extent ot I he d hvah d powers the
Ci iititiition t the I nit. . I M .i-r, ir- us miiih a
p:irt ol the cotistiltiti -n ot a. u ,s;,iic, and is
i.s binding u;nti its peiph-, as tt.oujli it had
i-ceu textually insi rii 1 tin i. in.
'J his (ioveiiilnclit, lie i. I..; , -t. a ieal and
jKiwerhil tiovcinmcnt. invet.d v. tin all the at
iiihntes o s ivereiiniy ovr the special sub
bets to uliit h iU authority t tin!s. Its tia
iticts nt . i inlcinl d to iiuplatit in its Uis.in
i he s. N ot its own ) struct ton, nor were they
at it- u- .tioii l- tiilty ol I he absut iity of piovid
in f.r i;.- own di-..-. littion. li ta.s not intciid. d
by iU tunc is lo be . c his"hvs t-ilnit'of a
virion, w tit-ii. a' the loin ti of the em h inter,
would vani.-h i; to thin aii, leil a Milet intial
and mighty uhii , capable of lesintin the slow
I dtiay ot tune and oi d. i in the toImol ic't tj.
jludctd, w. It may ihe j ah a-i pitiiots of that
I day have iuduUI lat ihit a Keieinui(Ut of
i sucti high jewels uiijj,t i .!aie itn rs ivcd
i rights ot llie Stat s, ai d wi -!y ihd th. v a b pt
the rule t a stitci c-.mti u- n . i i i th.f-e u-
eis to preictit the danger ! P. . I tl.. v t:i I not
fear, nor had they any rc.ts,.u to ii.ia. inc. that
the Constitution would ever be It.t. i f d
as to enable any State, by he( c.u.ni anl
without the coi.i.-tit ot her i-iMei .t .t. (.. .1- -charge
lo r pv.iplc houi all or an ol Im ii I . d
eial obligations.
It may Ik- a-Led, then, :ti- the- p.t.pl.- . f the
Stibs without ri-dicss agaiu.-t the tv ratty and
opjiresrioti (.f llie Feli rat ihivt-iiitnt-nt !y n
unans. I hi i ight ot n si tanee on the pait i t
the governi! ag.iin.st ihe oppi-ii.u of tlo-ii
governments caiinct be detii.-1. t .-i(s imle
peutb ntly of ad constitutions, and lias been
cxer. it-id ut iill iteriods of lb; w..t!d's histoiy
L'uder it old govetntn- nt.- h ive been detmycd,
and ti w oiks have taken their lice, it )
emlHitlied in sttong nml i xptt s language in
our own Jicelaiatioii of hid. peiiden.-e. P.ut
the distinction must ever be ob.-ci v d, lint this
is revolution ngiinst an ir-tabli-h: i Govcrn-nn-nt,
and not a voluntary sci-.smoii from it
by virtue ot uu iuheii nt i onlittttion;.l riuht.
Iu ht'It, let us I.Hik the d iiil.'. r fiiily in llie
face. Sect-gfinii is m iih r more n r h ss than
ii-v.'lutiti It m.iy or il m y imt b ju-titii
ble r'Voluti.n, but .-lill il i- i.-v.luti n.
W h it, in ttie mean cine-, is the r. pon-iiiditi
and true p.-Miinn tf the I'xecutive' lb
is ItMit.d Iy fob-inn o..th U tore lod and
th- (onutiy "to take tare thattiie 1 ,ws
lie faithlully exe tit.-il," and fn in (his oblim
tioti he caniittt te :il ovl hy atiy human
power. P it what if lb- p n ai:.a:.i ' of ihis
duly, iu wlnile or in p a i, Ji I. . u r. n 1. rel
impiacticahb hvev-n oi.-j ul i-;, h-- cou d
have exercieil no c -t.t i.: ' i tti. pies-
ene moment, is tiu ta-e U.io iii ut lie- State
id Soiitlt Ciiolina, so far a-? lit- liusif ttie
I'ntted Slabs to sciutcthe a. liuiirst : a ' L u of
jitice bymein-.t th-Ftd-ial J i.di. i u v i.re
comcrne-J. All lb- 1. d-r d t.in .-is wit i i it
limits, tliroiigh wlios- hj. n. y al.-m th.e laws
cm be carried into -xe uti.'ii, have ult.';"!y re
bigni.l. We no long, r have a di.-tiixt ju.L'e, a
difjtriet attorney, or a m.it-h.d, in S a:lli aio
liua. In fact, the whole m him iy ol th'- 1'. d
ei ul (iovernmt tit, nee s-aty f-r the di.-trihu'iou
ot remedial justii e nm ng ihe jh pi-, has b. n
demolished ; an 1 tt wood b ditu-"ilt, i! fit
lUlpotSflhle, to replace it.
'Ihe only nits of C.nr-. -i-t on ti,.: fiatuti
lux k. Is aiin up ui this i-nt it, .-,re those
the Hth l-'.-biuary, WS, n-: ! M.ndi, lsu;
lhtse nulhotie the Pr -t-i h nr, after he sh M
have nsccttaiiicl that the in ti.-hal with hisiv
cvmua.U! is iin..OH to execute i iil i r luminal
pnn-. ss in any p u tii itl.tr -, to c df forth tli
unliti.i and employ tne atit.y and n ivy to aid
Imu m p- rhTming this service, bavin - limt I v
Pioclam itioti c. mm.tndcd ihe ituigents "n
Ji-perse ami retire pe,ealilv to then r. speeliv
iilM.les, within a hunted time" This dutv
ninnot by p is.-ibilily be p rforined in a State
whete no judicial authoiity exists to bsue pri-
"'., nd where thete is m marshal to execute
! it, and when, cvci if thete were m l, ,,n
cer, uie enme jiopui.iiion wiuni c.-nstitute nne
Solid combination to re-it him.
! l tiu iare eriumeiaiton of tlu -e nro t-iniis
prove bow inadequate th. y a re without fut th r
, legislation to overcome a united op;iition iu
a t-iugle State, not to speak of other Sta'.-s w li
may place themselves in a similar attitude. -
Congress alone has (tower to deride w hello r
the pnscnt laws mn or cannot b ; amended
as to carry out m ire c ih-cttially the objects of
the Constitution
The same iiiMiperable obstacles do not ll
the way of executing the laws lor the cod vt ion
of the customs. 'Ihe revenue still continues
.unfortunately lesion, a su cessor may be up
i m! 1 1 ted to iterlorm this duty
'Then in regard to the projierty of tho United
Slates in South Carolina, ihis has been pur
chased for a fair equivalent, "by the consent of
the legislature of the State," "lor the erection
of forts, magazines, arsi nals, c and over
these the authority "to exerci-e cxvliif-ive legis
iatiou" has I teen expressly giantcd by the Con
stitution to tougress. It is not In lievid that
nny attettpt will te made to expel the I nited
States from this proieity by force; but if iu
this 1 should prove to be mistaken, the ('Hirer
in command of the forts has ncvivt d orders to
art strictly on the defensive. Iu such a contin
gency, the responsibility for consequences
would rightfully rest upon the hi a Is of tho As
sail ants.
Apart from the execution of the 1 iws, so far
as this may be practicable, tin Executive has
no authority t decidawhat thall be the rela
tion betwiTry the Federal Government and
Semtu (Jfcjlifav. 1I bus been invested with no
surTi rWcTetTctn. If e jMsseBFes no power to
change tho rt lationfe hcietoforecxUting between
them, much less to acknowledge the independ
ence of that Stab1. This would be to invest a
oieie Executive officer with the sower of r
co nisi ii g the dissolution of the Confederacy
among our thirtv-threi soveieign Stab s. It
bears no resemblance to the recognition of a
foreign dt facto government, involving no su h
rrs(omtihility. Any attempt to do this would,
on his part, be a nnktd act of usurpation. It
ii, tin it-fore, my duty to submit to Cougress
t lie whole question iu all its liearim's. ihe
cimrse of events is bo rapidly hastening for
waid, that the emergency may won arit-e, when
you may bccilb-d upon to decide the, momen
tous question whether you po?pcss tho power,
by force of arms, to cc in pel a State to remain
iu the Uni'-n. I should feel mytelf recreant to
my duty were I not to express aii opinion on
this important subject.
The question fairly state d is: Has the Consti
tution deh'gatcd toColigressthe power tocoerce
a State into euhmif-shm which is attempting to
withdraw or has actuary withdrawn tiom the
C nfedeta; y ? If answered in the aliirmative,
it must be on tho principle that the power has
bien coiitt rretl upon (Nmgr4ss to declare ami to
make war against a Stale. After much serious
reflection I have arrived at the conclusion that
no such power has been dele gated to Cogress or
to any other department of the Federal Govern ,
rucnt. It is manifest, upon an inspection of the
Constitution, that this is Dot among the specific
and eiiumc-iated powers granted to Congress;
ami it is equally apparent that its exercise is
nut Hetoaary and proper for carrying into ex
e ution" any one of lhee powers So far from
this tower having been d. -legate! to Congress,
it was exprewdy refiiM.fl by the Convention
which fiamed the Countitution.
It uppt-ui, fiom iheproceHiiiiigsof that body,
that on the liUt of May, 177 tho clause "au
thorizing an ex. rtion of the force of the whole
agaiiiet a delinquent Slate" came up for con
?i fetation. Mr. Madistn op (used it iu brief
but Hiwerful speech, from which 1 shall extract
but a siiiude sentence, lie observed : "The use
of force Hgainst a State would look more like a
do t imtion of war than an infliction of punish
ment ; and wciild pridubly be considered by
the party atta-k-d us a dissolution of all pre
vioiis com; acts by which It might te bound.
I pou his moti iii ttie clause was unanimounly
p.lp. lo!, a id w;is never again I believe pre
seiitid Son altcrwarJs, ou the Hth June,
177, when inridrulajly adverting to the sub
ject, he said: "Any Government for thet United
Stat-s, tonticd i n the supposed pnicticability
of it-ing b-nv auaiit the unconstitution d pro
leediiigs e f the Slabs, would prove asvisioi.a
iy an I fallae ioiis as the (joverntnent of Con
gtes," evitbntly meaning the then existing
I'ongovs etf thic old Confederation.
Without descending to particulars, it may be;
saf. Iy as?. -itc 1, that the power t make war
luaiusl a Stab is at vat ii nee with the whole
pi i it and ihlctitof the Constitution. Supjtcnie
if h a war rdiotild result in the conquest of a
Stat, how an we to govern it alterwards?
Mi ill war hold it as a province, and govern it
by despotic p iwer Iu the natuicv of things
we could I.ot, by physical force, conttol the
wi lof the tcople ami couiinl them to elect
senat rs and reprtwntatives to Congret-s, and
to (.eifortii all ihe other duties depending upon
tti ir own volition, ami required from the tree
citizens of a tree Slab ns a constituent member
cd ttie Coiifeelera y.
Put, it possessed of this tower, would it be
wise to ex. r ise it under existing circumstati
c.s . 'ihe otjeet would doubtless be to pre
s t v - the Union. War would not only present
Ihe tno-t elt.-etiial means of destroying it; but
w. u!d hani-ti all h.H; of its peaceable recon
htiii ta u. P'fidts, in the fraternal contlict a
v .s-t aiiK-ur.t cf 1 lKtl and tie-asure would be
e, in d-d. rendering futur.t n-cotKiliation be
ttie, (. Cm: stiites iaiH'S.-ibIe. Iii the mean
tint -, who . in (oietell what would be the suf
f. ti:.L aial privuti n of the p?ol during its
xi-ti nt.e '
Tiie fa. h, that our Utdoa rests upon public
oj iii t n nnd can never lie cemented by the
bl-.od . f its citiz-tis s!nd ia civil war. If it
can te t live in die ath ctions of the people, it
muct oin- elav ei i-h. Coi.gr ss possrskes
in .iiy means of pr.M-iving it b conciliation ;
but the RWrd was not placed iu theti hands to
preserve it by lorce.
Put may 1 be t-ennilLd s Ktnnly to invoke
my count it men to j.iuse arid detiUrate, lie
hue tin y tletermine to destroy this, the gtand-e-t
temple which has ever bet-n dedicated to
human herd. 'in since tht world lieiran It has
U- ii tonsil i 4;r 1 by the blood of our fathers,
by the irloiies of the past, and by the hopes ot
the lutuie. 'Ihe Union hus already made us
the mo t procjicrous. and, ero long, w.H, li
pr. s i v d, r. nder us ttm most power! id nation
on th- f le e t f the tatth. In every foreign re
gion of the g'ohe the title of Aiuciicau citiz.n
is h Id in th.- highest respect, ami when tiro
ixtun.ed in a fr.inru land it cans. s tho huirt
ot our countrymen to potdl wilh hntst pride.
Surely when we reach the brink of the vawn-
it.g abyss, we shall recoil with horrr from the
ia-t fatal plum:-. Py such a elread cataS ro
ptic the hopes of the friends of freedom
thioughoiiL the woil would b-i destn'ye!, and
a loin: tii-lit - f tl.sjsotUiu would enshroud the
nations, our example f. r more thau eighty
le.irswoull n. t only be lost; but would be
.U.t.--t as a com lnsive proof that mvn is unfit
t r s U government.
It is not every wron nay, it is not every
ur.-vn.us wr.ing wlittli can justify a resort t
smhafcatful ul'uruativo This ought tti tie
the List desperate remedy of a despairing rit
ph. alter every C'tbt r constitntioual nuans cd
conciliation had been exhausted. We shoubl
te.ll ct that uiuhr this free government there
is an incessant ebb and fi w iu public opni- n
1 he slaverv question, like everything human.
will have its dav. 1 tirmly lietiove that it has
alieady rca-lied and passed the culminating
P int. Put if, in the mi-1st of tho existing
-it-iih nt. the Union shall .eiisli, the evil may
tlwii U-coiuo irretiarable. Congresj can con
tiibute much to avut it by proposing and re-
rotiiiui iKliti.' to the legislatures ot the several
Stat s thu rniieily for exteting evils, which the
Con.-tititti'.n has its If pruvitbd for it own pre-
servatton. I his lias been tried at ilhiercnt cnti
cat H-tiotls of cur hif-tory, ami always with
eminent success. It is to bo ft.und in the fifth
article providing for its own amendment.
Uittb r this ailit le amendments have beeu ro
p se 1 by two thiols of bath Houses of C. ngrcss
ami hive been ' rati lied by the Legislature
ot three fourths ol the several Status," and
co:.s-qut iitly become parts of the Constitution.
To this process the country is indebted for the
clause piuhduttng ( oiiifress from passing any
law respet ting the establishment of religion, or
abridging th lreelom of speech or of the
press, or of the rtht of tetiliuu. lo this we
ate also indebted lor the Pill of Ilights which
scrims the people against any abuse of power
by the Federal Government. Such were th
apprehensions justly entertained by the friends
ot Slates lights at that period as to hive ren
dered it t xtreim.lv doubtful whether the Con
st it ul ion ci uld have long survived without these
amet.iliui nts.
Agaiu, the Constitution was aiuenjed by the
piiinu piiM-ss after the election ot President
Jetbrsou by the Ih.usd of lpresenttt ves, in
February, lsoj. This amendtutnt was tender
ed necessary to prevent a recurrence of the
daiucrs which had seriously threatened the
existence ot the Government during the pt n-
el.-ncv of that election. The article for its own
amendment was iuteudid to secure the amicable
adjustment of conflicting constitutional ques-
tii'tishke ttie present, which might arise be
tween the governments of the States and that
of the United States. 'This nppar from con
temporaneous bifdoiy.
In this coniic'Clioii, I shall merely cull atten
tion to a few sentences in Mr. Madison's justly-
celebrated report, in 17VJ, to the legislature of ,
Virginia Iu this he ably and conclusively
defended the resolutions of the preceding
legislature against the strictures ot several
other S'ate legislatures. These were mainly
founded upon ttie protect of the irginta legis-1
lature against the "Allen and Sedition Acts,"
as "pal liable aud alarming infractions of the'
Constitution." In pointing out the peaceful
and constitutional remedies, and he referred to ,
none ot lit r, to w hich the Stites were author 1 i
z. d to resoit, on such occasions, he concludes
by saying, "that the legislatures of the States!
might have mule a direct representation to
Congress with a view to obtaiu the rescinding
of the two olhjmive acts, or they might have
rer resented to their respective Senator in Con
gress their wish that two-thirds thereof would
propose an rxplauutory amendment to tueCon-,
stitulion, or two thirds of themselves, if nuch
had been thtir option, might, by an applica
tion to Congress, have ohlaiued a convention
for the Kline object."
This is the very course which 1 earnestly re
commend in order to obtnin an ''explanatory
amendment" t l tho Constitution on the the
snl ject slaveiry. This might originate with Con
press or the Slab; Legislatures, as may be deem-
I meat advisable to attain the object.
'J ho explanatory amendment might bo con-
lined to thetinal Rtdtlement of the true con
struction of the Constitution on three special
points :
l. An express recognition or urn iiu
property in slaves iu the States where it now
exists or may hereafter exiat.
Ihe duty of protecting this rmht tti all
the common territories thioughoiit their t r
ritoiial existence, and until tl. y tdill le at
mitteil as States into the l.ni n. wilh i t with
out slavery, as their c nntitutioi.s may pie-
sctibe.
A like recognition of the tiht id the
m.ifb-r to haver his slave, who h is heaped from
one Stub; to another, restored and "de ivered
up to him, and of the va'idity of the t tiL-itive
fclave law euu ted ft r this ptirM:-c, to-, thet
with a declaration that all stile laws imoutif v
or defeating this rigiit an; violatiia.. ol the
Countitution, ami aie cotwquentiv null and
void.
It may lie objected lh.it this lonstiii.ti n nt
the Coiistitutiuu hasttln a iv Us-n H-tth d hy tic;
Supreme Court of the United Mates, and what
inoie oucht to lie required. Ihe au-w-r is.
that a very large proportion ot tin- p opb t
the I'nitetl Stale's ill c intent the rr-cin s ot
tbi, decifiou, aud mrv r will nac to rn utt i
tion aud a. tin it its bindiut; ton-.- until I- irly
estkhlinbetl by ttie pfco(le o" lie- s-. rd Maies
in HiLir sovereign chat a tt r. Sm , an ! m i
toiv amendment would, it i b. i' v. d. ton -v. r
let ruinate the exietintr ttif.M-n-.ions ani i tote
peace atal harmony among the States
It ought nut to he d-uht!.l that sm !i an up-
p al to ttie ai hitrav ment e-t.it li-ln -d hv ihe
C iin-titution itself would le r.-c.-ive I wit a tivor
by all the States of the Confed -rarv. In anv
ev. nt it ought to Ik: tried in a spirit of c a ii
ll ition hetolc any ot tliost; Stab s i-hall aiab;
themselves from Ihe Union.
When I entered uttt.ii tli- tlutt- - ot th P,e-i
detitial otiice, ttie aspect ( neither our for
eign nor domes :ic affairs wa- at ad Mat iff t.ry.
e weie involve 1 lit danu'ei-His compile it ion
with several nations, an 1 two of our l- rutoii. s
weie iu a state of levolutiou again it tin- eiverti-m-.-nt.
A resbtratiou of thu Atficii d iv- tiad- bad
numerous ami powerful alvtrat.s. Uiiliwiul
mditary exieditiotis wen- ciuntenan ! hv
uiar.y of uur eitiz i.s, and w ir s'lhne 1, in de
fiance (d the etlotU of the Government, to i
Capr from our shores, for the p-up - "t tn ak
iu.' war upon the uuoiletidiu ; teopf i n i h
iMinug republics with whom w.; wi-i- at j
In addition to these and otto r -hiii i t i
exp. rn nc d a revubion in ui' ietnv a ims,
soon after my a I vent to power, ot ui, imp!- 1
sev.-nt aud ot ruinous coum q-n n. to a:i th-
great interests ot the countrv. h-.i w,- take
a retrospec t of what was then our c i.diti n,
and contrast this with its mat-ti il pr .fperity at
the time of the late Presidetitui ehttioti. m
have abundant reison to rtuin om iriat.-tni
thanks Ut tliat merciful Providence whu h has
n. ver forsaken us as a n.tti. ti in all ui p.-t
tiials
01" K FOPLTGX KLiLAlMN
c,ir mtiTiiN.
Our relations with Gr. at l':it are i f thu
most friendly character Since the comm. nce
tnetit of my almiiiistiati.u, the tu.i i it.::.-rous
qm-stions, ari.-inr frotuthn Iat. n and i Ui i
treaty and fr-;iii th iuht ot s at-h li.om -i ly
the Pritish guvi irincr.t, lu- h.-eti .-lini.-.i.iv
an 1 honorably adjured.
1 in! cliscoidant tolistlil tioii m fii i ;ulo:i
and Puwer trealy betwnu the two y .n.ru-
Iio nts, whkh ht dill- lelit p'-ri'"!s r the iii- i.s-
fih-n, bore a threat, ning as t. have r -ultt d
in a tmal settlement entire. sati-t ie: i t i ihis
Government. In iuv annual m.-.-.i.e 1 latorm-
td CuniC' that the Piit.-!i g v. n.ment wi:ii
ttie republics of Honduras and Nhai.u'iu, iu
pursuitine ot the unde ir-tanding h tu. u Ihe
two governments. It is n v. nhe.c t . t.n !. nt
ly expected that this iwhI w.uk w;il ne le a
cotupliahed." This conl'ld lit i in :.i!i tl li .s
sitsce been tultilb-d. Hci Piitan'n M c-iy on
eluded a treaty with llotiduias n '.li - - P h No
vember, lSo',, and with Nit.ai;uu i on ihe --th
August, liO. re lit.. plaiting the 5b f-uio pn
te.i torate. IW-sideS. by the h Tin r. t;.i b.y
Iththds aie teMgi.ir d a- a put I tn-- i. pnb c
of Hon luia-. It in iy b oi-.-ii- d it. it tin
si ipul.it ions f th- to a'i. - t.;. i .n in cv iy
im) tot tint paitieu!ar to the am tabu . i.:- . 1- pl
ed by the Senate ot tin Umled Sla'e- hi tin
treaty c include t at I. -.nd"ii ti t. - l.uiici
O. tober, 1S;. le-tWeeil the t w- V -l i; m. u 1-.
It will be r.col'e b- I that this ti ly u,l r. j I
el by the Pritt-.h g .vertui;.-nt be. ,iust- oi r- oi
jectioU to the jurt and iinp.-rt i;.t .i:m n ine nt
of the Senate to tin atti-1.- t-l iti: l' t . Pu .t n
and the other ilan Is in trie Pivot 11 n l,u w.
It must lie a s-ain e ot in ere nt'ai lion to
all chisi-cfl id our f.-llow-utiz- ns, nrd s; . . -ally
Ui those e-ngig'd in fo:-"un mm. i .- t i. the
claim on the put ot Great li.itam, h.ie Uv lo
visit and st arch Am r i .iti ok r h mt v. is on
the hijh sea iu tini" tf p-a' . Las h.-vn dt in
done 1. Ttiis xis l yf:r tlx- iinst ilno rous
qu.'stiem to the i- ice I tf.e two oimti i.- whi U
has existed sin-v the iar of 11- W htl-t
it remained ojvn. tin y iiiirht at any moment
have beeu precipitated into a war. 'J his w:is
ren!tTed maiiiteft by the ex.i-itrr itc 1 ttat ot
public fe-ling throHglmiit our entire country,
pioduced by tin foiiible Starth of American
merchant vessels by P.iitish ctui. ts tn the
enlist ot Cuba, in the spring of 1'. 'Ih. Ame
rican people hailed w.tii g ncr.d acc laim lie:
orders of the S'crct iry of the Navy to cur
nival force in ti c-Gulf of Mexico, "to piotett
all vessels of the United statts c iilh - hi-li
seas f r m search or b tiiitiou by the vs vls oi
war of any other nation.''
These orders mi.dit have pri-dii. . .1 iti imme
diate col I Uioii between the naval f. i- oi :he
two countries. This was mot foi tun i.-iy pre
vented by an appeal to ttie ju-tiee ol Great
Britain aud b the lw e-f nations ;is expoiititie I
by her own most eminent juri-t-.
The only question of any it.itrtatiee which
still remains open is the di.-putc 1 title between
tho two governments t the island ol S ia Juan,
in tho vicinity of Washington Teriitoiy. As
this question is still under negotiation, it is not
deemed ndvisilde at the pr s- nt mome nt t
make any other allusion to ttie subject.
Tho recitit vi-it ol the Prim e ot Wait s, in
private character, to the people c f ihis country.
has trove d to be a most auspn i-.its event. In
its consequences, it cam ot tail to iucr. ase t!io
kindred ami kindly feelings which 1 tin t may
ever actuate the government and p.-op'e of
Imth cjuntries in their political and social in
tercourse with each other.
ikaxce.
With France, our ancient and powerful allv.
our relations continue to Ik of the most friend
ly character. A decision has ree. ntly been
made by French judicial tribunal, with th
approbation ot the lmtcrial Government.
Inch cannot tail to foster the sentiments ol
mutual regard that have so long existed be
tween the two countries. UnU r the Fret eh
law no person can serve in theamii. sol France
unless he be a French citizen
Ihe law of Franco rece-'niii"iig the natural
right of expatriation, it follows as a nee. ssary
consequence that a Frenchmnu. by the f act t f
having become a citizen oi ihe l nite-i state's,
has changed his allegiance and has lo-t his na
tive character, lie e"annot, there fore, lie com
pelled to serve in the French armies in oie he
should return to his na'ive totintiv. dhcsj
principles wero annnunce! in ls.vj by ttie
French Mmiftrrot war, and in two late cases
have been confirmed by the Fn nch ji altciarv.
In these, two natives of France have been dis
charged from the Frrm h army, U-carse they
bad become Amencnn ciuz-ns. lo employ the
language of our pre-ent Minister to France.
who has rendered gooel ervice t n this etccaioti.
I do not think our t rench n ituralir'tl U How
citizens will hereafter experience much annoy
ance on tins sunj.'cr. i venture to retnt
that the time is not for distant when the older
continental powers will adttpt th rame wi-e
and just policr whkh hit d m s-t mm h hon t
to tne enlightened government of the Kmpen r
In any event, oar Government it Uoind to r
tect tho rights of onr natarilird citixs every
t. te vU