Mill D ,;
t 313
S2 peir annum
IN ADVANCF.. -
f)N THE
CHARACTER IS AS IMPORTANT TO STATES AS IT IS TO INDIVIDUALS, AND THE GLORY OF : THE ONE IS THE COMMON PROPERTY OF THE OTHER.
WEST SIDE OF TRADE STREI
ET
I?. YATHS, Editor and Proprietor.
CHARLOTTE, N. C, TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1861.
SINTa VOLUME NOIBER 455.
THE
WESTM BEffiOGMT,
(2)PubIihed every Tuesday,Q)
BY
WILLIAM J. YATES,
KDITOK. AND PROPRIETOR.
O
If iaid in advance $2 00
i - - - - j
If paid within 3 months, 2 50
If paid after the expiration of the year, 3 00
g Anv person sending ns five kkw subscribers,
accompanied by the advance subscription C$10) will
receive a sixth "copy gratis f.,r one year.
jpi Sabscrilx rs and othor3 w ho may wish to semi
money to us, can io ?o by mail, at our rL-k.
si;r Transient advertisements must be paid for in
advance.
Ad vertisemcnts not marked on the manuscript
f..r a specific time, will be insetted until forbid, and
;h:red accordingly.
SAMUEL P. SMITH,
Altoi iK-y and Citii-Ii' sit I-:iv,
CHARLOTTE, N C,
Will attend promptly and ihlvjenthi to collecting and
remittitur ail claims intrusted to his care.
Special attention, given to the writing of Deeds, Con
veyances, During hours! of business, may be found in the
Coirt House, Ofiice No. 1, adjoining the clerk s oihee.
January HI. lKil
J. A. FOX,
Attorney zxt
CHARLOTTE, X. C.
GEXEKAL Vnj.LKCTISG AG EST.
OHire over the Drug Store, Irwin's corner.
January I, Is'tJI. tl
Win. J.
A T T O It 4 E Y
Kerr,
AT LAW,
CHARLOTTE, X. C,
Will practice in the County and Superior Courts of
Mecklenburg. Union and Cabarrus counties.
() fi. E in the Braivlcy building opposite Kerr's Hotel.
January 24,
KOBEliT GIBBON, 31. D..
vn it ri noi:it vr m jjiic nac
AN'!
- Irtciit's
is;i.
rower, CHAKLOTTE, X. C.
J.iuitarv,
11.
W. BECK WITH
Has constantly on hand
WATCHES, JEWELRY, PLATED WARE, 8cC,
Of the best English and American manufacturers.
Call and examine his stock before purchasing elsewhere.
Watch crystals put in for 25 cents each.
January, 18GI y
John T. Butler,
PRACTICAL
Watch and Clock .TIakcr, Jew
eller, tVc,
Opposite Kerr's Hotel, ChurU.Ue, X. V.
(Late with It. W. Beckwith.)
Fiue Wiitclies ( Ik & .I-v Iry,
of every description, Ilepaired aud Warranted for 12
in. in lis.
ct 1C, 18G0. tf
WILKINSON &. CO.,
DEALERS IN
Si I ve r & ii I a t eI Wa re
AND FANCY COOPS,
No. 5, Granite Range,
Opposite the Mansion House. CHARLOTTE, X. C.
Attention given to Repairing Watches and Jewelry.
September IS, 1SG0. y
New Supply of
"WATCH KS, JEWKLRY,
Solid Silver and Plaicd Ware.
The subscriber has lately purchased a very extensive
fupply of the above articles. His purchases being
made directly from the manufacturer, he is therefore
enabled to sell at a very small advance on cost, aud
persons may rest assured that all his articles are war
ranted to be what he represents them to be.
fifi. Watches and 'locks carefully repaired and will
receive my personal attention.
R. W. BECKWITH.
Xv. 27, 1SS0 tf
Charlotte V
Ou aud after the First
S. i ICailroad.
day of October, THROUGH
hM'RESS FREIGHT TRAINS will run Daily between
Charlotte and Charleston, without transshipment, thus
enabling freights to reach Charlotte in 5 days or less
from New York, and in one day from Charleston, and
vice rerta.
Also, THROUGH TICKETS will be sold from Char
lotte to Charleston at 8 50, and to New York, via
Charleston Steamers, at SIS, and vice rrr.ut. The mer
chants aud public are invited to try this cheap and
expeditions route for freights aud passengers.
A. 11 MARTIN,
Oct 2. ISGO. tf Geifl Ft. and Ticket Agent.
SITUATION W AITED
As Conductor on some Railroad Train, or as Aent at
some Depot, or as Mail Agent.
Testimonials of moral character. Southern principles
and close attention to business, can be given.
Address L. A. HELMS,
Winchester, Union co., X. C.
Jan. 8,1801. 3ra-rd
The Celebrated Female Pills.
These Pills do not cure all disease, but they are war
ranted to cure Lucoreah, or Whites thAt dreadful scourge
to female health, happiness and usefulness. They are
not patented and are no humbug, but are prepared by
a North Carolina physician of high standing and of
long experience in the treatment of femalediseases.
All that is necessary to convince you of their efficacy is
a fair trial. For particulars, see wrappers. Price l
per box. For sale at the DRUG STORES.
Jan 15. 1861
Superior Smut Machines,
at the Sijn of the Gulden rad-Lock.
COCHRANE & SAMPLE.
J. G.
FRUIT AND TREE STORE.
The subscriber has opened a fruit and Fruit-tree
store next door above the Rock Island Office, and
will keep on hand a well selected stock of Fruit Trees,
Grape Vines, Evergreens and Shrubbery, &c. Also,
Fruits of various kinds Apples, Oranges, Lemons,
?ine Apples, &c, &c. E. W. LYLES.
Dec. II, lb'GO. tf.
; Dissolution.
j The firm of FULLIXGS, SPRINGS & CO. was dis
j solved by limitation on the 1st January, 18G1.
stvle of FULLIXGS & SPRINGS, and thev hone, bv
integrity and strict attention to business, to merit the
j same patronape heretofore liberally bestowed by their I
j numerous friends and customers.
The present financial crisis and the uncertainty of j
. business, for the future compel us to shorten our time i
of credit trom twelve to six months
to prompt paying
customers none others need ask it.
All persons indebted to the old firm of Fullings,
Springs k Co., must come forward and make immediate
settlement, as it is absolutely necessary that the busi
ness be speedily closed up. 'A word to the wise is sufti
cient." Jan 15, 1861.
Quinn's Rheumatic Remedy
Has effected cures of Rheumatism that were considered
hopeless, certificates to prove which can be exhibited.
The suffering are invited to give the mediciuea trial.
Orders addressed to the undersigned at Charlotte wil
receive prompt attention. W. W. QUINX.
. April 10, ltW). Price 1 50 per bottle.
Hardware ! ! Hardware ! !
A, A. N. M. TAYLOR
IKSPECTl'ULLV informs his friends and the pub-a-
lie generally, that he has added to his extensive
stock of Stoves aud Tin Ware, a large and complete
sto-k of Hardware, consisting in part as follows:
Carpenters' Tools.
Circular, mill, crosscut, hand, ripper, paunel, prun
ing, grafting, tennon, back, compass, webb, and butch
er SAWS; l'races and bits, Draw Knives, Chissels,
Augers, Gimlets. Hammers, Hatchets, and Axes; Brick,
plastering, and pointing Trowels: Saw-setters, Screw
plates, Slocks and dies, Planes of all kinds, Spoke
shaves, Steel-blade bevel and try Squares; Spirit Levels
Pocket Levels, Spirit, level Vials, Boring machines,
Gougers, and in fact everthing a mechanic wants, in
great variety and at very low prices, at TAYLOR'S
Hardware Store and Tin-ware Depot, opposite the Man
sion House, Charlotte, N. C.
May 2!, 18 CO. tf
Blacksmith's Tools.
Such as Bellows, Anvils, Vices, hand and slide Ham
mers, Buttresses, Farriers' Knives. Screw-plates, Stocks
and aies. Blacksmith's I'incers and Tongs. Raspers and
Files of every kind. Cut horseshoe and cluich Xails,
Borax; Iron of all siv.es, both of northern and- country
manufacture; cast, plow, blister and spring Steel; &e..
for sale very cheap at
TAYLOR'S, opposite the Mansion House:
Ludlow's Celebrated Self-Sealing
Cans, of all the different sizes, at TAYLOR'S
Hardware Store, opposite Mansion House.
Agricultural Implements of all kinds.
Straw Cutters, Corn Shellers, Plows, Hoes, Shovels,
Spades, Forks, Axes, Picks. Mattocks, Grubbing Hoes,
Trace Chains, Wagon Chains, Log Chains, Pruning
and Hedge Shears, Pruning and budding Knives, gar
den Hoes and Rakes, wiih handles; Grain Cradles; grain,
grass and brier Scythes, Bush Hooks, Wagon boxes:
Hollow ware, such as pots, ovens and lids, skillits, spi
ders, stew-pans and kettles, Cauldrons from 20 to 120
gallon. each; Iron and brass Preserving Kettles, Sheep
Shears, Ac, at TAYLOR'S Hardware Depot, oppot-ite
the Mansion House.
Tin and Japanned Ware,
A large assortment; Block Tin, Block Zinc, Tin Plate,
Babbit metal, &c.
Stoves, the largest Stock, of all sizes, at
TAYLOR'S Hardware, Stove and
Tin ware Depot, opposite Mansion Honst
AXAWAY from the subscriber on the 1st October,
a mulatto boy named SOLOMON'. He is near six
feet high, about thirty years old, tolerably bright, rather
slim, and weighs about lu pounds. He has a down
look when spoken to. The end of the forefinger of his
left hand has been cut off, and a sharp hard knot has
grown on the nd of it. I think he is lurking about
Rocky River, in the lower end of Cabarrus county,
where he was raised. firS All persons are forewarned
not to harbor or assist him, under the penalty of the
law. I will pay the above reward for his delivery to
me, or his apprehension aud confinement in any jail so
I can get him. WILLIAM HAMILTON,
Negro Head Depot, Union Co., N. C.
April 9, 1800. tf
Beer Cattle Wanted.
Hi'iJust Cosh Prices pa id for Beeves and tShre).
I am still engaged in Butchering, and desire to pur
chase Beef Cattle and Sheep, for which I will pay the
hiehest market prices. Those having stock for sale
will find it to their advantage to give mo a call,
ouire at Dr. Taylor's Tan Yard.
In-
Aug. 21, 18G0. 26-tf
J. L. STOUT.
NOTICE.
Taken up and committed to the Jail of Mecklenburg
county, on the 8th clay of September, 1860, a Negro
boy about 18 or 20 years of age, (black,) about 5 feet 6
or8 inches high, ile says bts name is JIM, and that
he belongs to John Worthy of Gaston county: that his
master moved to Texas early last Spring, at which j
time he ran away from him. Jim appears very dull: '
can scarcely communicate anything about his master ;
or home with any intelligence. He has a scar on his :
right fore finger." made by a cutting knife. The owner j
is requested to come forward, prove property, pay ex
penses, and take said boy away, otherwise he will be j
disposed of according to law.
Oct. 9, 18G0. tf E. C. GRIER, Sheriff.
MY G O. O D S
LADIES' CLOAKS and BONNETS,
DRESS GOODS and EMBROIDERIES.
Carpets c&s JFL-mgrs.
A VERY LARGE ASSORTMENT OF
PLANTATION GOODS.
j The above will be found to compare in 5tyl .s and
i
j prices with any in the town. . '
FISHER & BURROUGHS
Nor 13, 1S50 tf
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Of President Lincoln,
Delivered March 4, 1861.
Fellow-Citizens of the United States : In
compliance with a custom as old as the Govern
ment itself, I appear before you to address you
briefly and to take in your presence the oath pre
scribed by the Constitution of the United States,
and to be taken by the President before he enters
on the execution of his office. I do not consider
! lt necessary, at present, lor me to
discuss those
j matters of administration about which there is no
special anxiety or excitement. Apprehension
seems to exist among the people of the Southern
States that, by the accession of a Republican Ad
ministration, their property and peace and personal
security are to be endangered. There has never
been any reasonable cause for such apprehension.
Indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary
has all tfie while existed, and been open to their
inspection. It is found in nearly all the public
speeches of hiai who now addresses you. I do but
quote from one of those speeches when I declare
that I have no purpose, directly, or indirectly, to
interfere with the institution of slavery in the
States where it now exists, and 1 believe I have no
lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to
do so. Those who nominated and elected me did
so with full knowledge that 1 had made this and
many other similar declarations, and had never re
canted them ; and, more than this, they placed in
the platform for my acceptance, as a law to them
selves and to me, the clear and emphatic tesolution
which I now read :
" Resolved, That the maintenance, inviolate, of
the rights of the States, and especially the right
of each State, to order and control its own domes
tic institutions according to its own judgment, ex
clusively, is essential to that balance of power on
which the perfection and endurance of our politi
cal fabric depend; and we denounce the lawless
invasion by armed force of the soil of any State or
Territory, no matter under what pretext, as among
the gravest of crimes."
I now reiterate these sentiments, and. ir. doing
so, I only press upon the public attention the most
conclusive evidence of which the case is suscepti
ble, that the property, peace and security of no
section are to bo in anywise endangered by the in
coming Administration. I add to that, all the
protection which, consistently with the Constitu
tion and the laws, can be given, will be cheerfully
given to all the States, when lawfully demanded,
lor whatever cause, as cheerfully to one section as
another.
There is much controversy about the delivering
up of fugitives from service or labor. The clause
1 now read is as plainly written in the Constitution
as any other of its provisions :
" No person held to service or labor in one State
under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall
in consequence of any law or regulation therein,
be discharged from such service or labor, but shall
be delivered up on claim of the party to whom
such service or labor may be due.
It is scarcely questionable that this provision was
intended by those who made it, for the reclaiming
of what we call fugitive slaves, and the intention
of the law given, is the law. All members of
Congress swear their support to the whole Consti
tution, to this provision as much as to any other.
io tne proposition, then, that slaves whose cases
come within the terms of this clause, shall be de
livered up, their oaths are unanimous. Now, if
they would make the effort in good temper, could
thev not with nearly equal unanimity ironic
and pass a law by means of which to keep good
that unanimous oath? There is some difference of
opinion whether this clause should be enforced by
national or by State authority; but surely that
difference is not a very material one; if the slave is
to be surrendered, it can be of but little conse
quence to him or to others by which authority it is
done; and should any one in any case be content
that his oath shall go unkept on a tnetely unsub
stantial controversy as to how it shall be kept '
Again, in any law upon this subject ought not all
the safeguards of liberty known in civilized and
humane jurisprudence to be introduced, so that a
free man may not be in any case surrendered as a
slave; and might it not be well, at the same time,
to provide by law for the enforcement of that
clause in the Constitution which guarantees that
" the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all
privileges and immunities of citizens in the sev-
eral States."
I take the official oath to-day with no mental
reservations and with no pu pose to construe the
Constitution or laws by any hypocritical rules ;
and while I do not choose now to specify particu
lar acts of Congress as proper to be enforced, I do
suggest that it will be much safer for all, both in
official and private stations to conform to and abide
by all thos acts which stand unrepealed, than to
violate any of them, trusting to find impunity in
having them held to be unconstitutional.
It is seventy-two years since the first inaugura
tion of a President under our National Constitu
tion. During that period, fifteen different and
greatly distinguished citizens have in succession
administered the Executive branch of the Govern
ment. They have conducted it through many
perils, and generally with great success. Yet, with
all this scope for precedent, I now enter upon the
i same task for the brief constitutional term of 4 yrs.
under great and peculiar difficulties. A disruption
of the Federal Union, heretofore menaced, is now
i formidably attempted. I ho!d that in contempla
: tion of universal law and of the Constitution, the
! union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is
' implied, if not expressed in the fundamental law
J of national Governments. It is safe to assert that
; no Government proper ever had a provision in its
organic law for its own termination Continue to
I execute all the express provisions of our national
Constitution, and the Union will endure forever;
i it beins impossible to destroy it except by some
action not provided for in the instrument itself.
Again, if the United States be not a Govern
ment proper, br.t an association of States in; the
nature of contract merely, can it, as a contract,
be practically unmade by less than all the par-
ties who made it: One party to a contract
j may violate ifi, break, it, so to speak, but
does it not require all to lawfully rescind it? De
' f-cendiog from these general principles, we find
this proposition, that in legal complication, the
Union is perpetual, confirmed by the history, of
the Union itself. The Union is much older than
the Constitution; it was formed in fact by the arti
cles of association in 1774. It was matured and
continued by the Declaration of Independence in
1776. j , , .
It was further matured, and the faith of all
these thirteen- States expressly pledged and engag
ed that it should be perpetual. The Articles of
Confederation in 1778, and finally in 1787, one of
the declated objects for ordaining and establish
ing lb Constitution was to form a more perfect
Union. But if destruction of the Union by one
or by a part only of the States be lawfully possi
ble, the Union is less perfect than before the
Constitution having lost the vital element of per
petuity. It follows from these views that no
State, upon its own mere motion, can lawfully go
out of the Union: that resolves and ordinances to
that eSect are legally void, and that acts of vio
lence within any Sute or States against the au
thority of the United States, are insurrectionary or
revolutionary, accordiug to circumstances. I,
therefoie, consider that, in view of the Constitu
tion and the laws, the Union is unbroken, and to
the extent of my ability, I shall take care, as the
Constitution itself expressly enjoins upou me, that
the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all
the States. Doing this, I deem to be only a sim
ple duty on my part, and I shall peiform it, so far
as practicable, uuless my rightful masters, the
American people, shall withhold the requisite
means, or, in some authorized manner, direct the
contrary. I trust this will not be regarded as a
menace, but as the declared purpose of the Union
that it will constitutionally defend and maintain
itself. In doing this, there need be no bloodshed
or violence, and there shall be none, unless it be
forced upon the national authority. The power
confided to me will be used to hold, occupy and
possess the property and places belonging to the
Government, and to collect the duties and imposts;
and beyond what may be necessary for these ob
jects, .here will be no invasion, no u.ing of force
against ov among the people anywhere. Where
hostility to the United States in any interior locali
ty shall be so great and so unusual as to prevent
competent resident citizens from holding the Fed
eral offices, there will be no attempt to force ob- j
noxious strangers among the people for that ob
ject. While the strict legal right may exist in
the Government to enforce the exercise of these
offices, the attempt to do so would be irrational,
and so uearly impracticable withal, that I deem it
better to forego for the time the uses of such of
fices. The mails, unless repelled, will continue to
oe turmsned in an parts ot the Union, bo lar as
possible, the people everywhere shall have that
senseof perfect security which is most favorable
to ccvol thought and reflection. The course, here
indicated will be followed, unless current events
and experience shall show a modification or change
to be proper; aud in every case and exigency, my
best discretion will be exercised according to cir
cumstances actually existing, and with a view and
a hope of a peaceful solution of the national trou
bles, and the restoration of fraternal sympathies
and affections. That there arc persons in one sec
tion or another who seek to destroy the Uuion at
all events, and are glad of any pretext to do it, I
will neither affirm or deny, but if there be such, I
need address no word to them. To those, however
who really love the Union, may I not speak be
fore entering upon so grave a matter as the de
struction of our national fabric, with all its benefits,
its memories, its hopes? Would it not be wise to
ascertain precisely why we do it? Will you hazard
so desperate a step while there is any possibility
that any portion of the ills you fly from have no
real existence? Will you, while the certain ills
you fly to are greater than all the real ones you fly
from, will you risk the commission of so fearful a
mistake? All profess to be content in the Union,
if all constitutional rights can be maintained. Is
it true, then, that any right, plainly written in the
Constitution, has been denied? I think not.
Happily, the human mind is so constituted, that
no power can reach to the audacity of doing this.
Think, if you can, of a single instance, in which
a plainly written provision of the Constitution has
ever been denied? If by the mere force of numbers
a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly
written constitutional right, it might in a moral point
of view, justify a revolution. It certainly would,
if such a right were a vital one. But such is not
our case. All the vital rights of minorities and of
indivivuals are so plainly assured to tjiem by af
firmations and negations, guarantees and prohibi
tions, in the Constitution, that controversies never
arise concerning them. J5ut no organic law can
ever be framed with a provision specifically ap
plicable to every question which may occur in
practical administration, imo toresight can an
ticipate, nor any document of reasonable length
contaiu express provisions for all possible ques
tions. Shall fugitives from labor be surrendered
by national or by State authority? The Constitu
tion does not expressly say. May Congress prohibit
slavery in the Territories? The Constitution does
not expressly say. Must Congress protect slavery
in the Territories? The Constitution does not
expressly say. rrom questions or tnis class
spring all our constitutional controversies, and
we divide upon them into majorities and nun on-
ties. It the minority will not acquiesce, the
majority must, or the Government must cease.
There is no olher alternative for continuing the
Government than acquiescence on one side or the
other. If a minority in such case will secede ra
ther than acquiesce, they make a precedent which
in turn will divide and ruin them; for a minority
of their own will secede from them whenever a ma
jority refuses to be controlled by such minority.
For instance, why may not any portion of a new
Confederacy, a year or two hence, arbitrarily se
cede again, precisely as portions of the present
Union now claim to secede from it? All who
cherish disunion sentiments, are now being educa
ted to the exact temper of doing this.
Is there such perfect identity of interests among
the States to compose a new Union to produce
harmony only, and prevent renewed secession 7 j ,andt are 8tilI cotapeteat to djost all our present dif
Plainly the central idea of secession is the essence Acuities.
of anarchy. A majority held in restraint by la your hands, my dissatisfied friends and coontry
constttutional checks and limitations, and always men, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil
changing easily with deliberate changes of popular --lh?VT
. . . J .. .-.t , . r . nave no conflict without being yourselves the aggre-
opmiots and sentiments, is the only true sovereign 6ors Toa hare no oath registered In heaven to de-
of a free people. Whoever rejects it. does, of - 8troy the Government, while I shall have the most sol
necessity, fly to anarchy or despotism. Unanimity emn one to preserve, protect aad defend it. I am loth
is impossible. The rule of a minority, as a peraia-
nent arrangement, is wholly inadmissible; so that.
raioftinT ik. , - "" -
rejecting the majority principle . Jchy or
despotism in some form, is all that is left. 1 do not
forget the position' assumed by some, that con-
stitutionul questions are to be decided by the
Supreme Court. Nor do I deny that suchxlecisions
must be binding m any case upon the
case upon tne parties to
a suit.
As to the object of that suit, while they
. . a . i
are also entitled to very high respect and considera-
tion in all parallel cases by all other departments j tary of the Interior, made an address tr bis friends
tf the Government; and while it is obviously j and neighbors in Mississippi in Tegard to the ao
possible that such decision may be erroneous in j tion of Mr Buchanan's cabinet in regard to seees
any given case, still the evil effect following its J sion. He said that there was no serious trouble in
being limited to that particular case, with the j the cabinet until it was known that Mr Lincoln
chance that it may be over-ruled and never become was elected: then arose a discussion upon the
a precedent for other cases, can better be borne
than could the evils of a different practice. At
the same time, the candid citizen must confess
that, if the policy of the Government upon vital
questions affecting the whole people is to be
irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme
Court, the instant they are made in ordinary
litigation between parties in personal actions, the
people will have ceased to be their own rulers,
having to that extent practically resigned their
Government into the hands of that eminent
tribunal. Nor is there,. in this view, any assault
upon the court and judges. It is a duty from
which they may not shrink to decide cases of
property brought before them, and it is no fault
of theirs if others seek to turn their decisions to
political purposes. One section of our country
believes slavery is right and ought to be extended,
while the other believes that it is wrong and oujiht
not to be extended. This is the only substantial
dispute.
As to the fugitive slave clause of the Constitu
tion and the law for the suppression of the foreign
slave trade, (as near as any law can ever be in a
community where the moral sense of the people
imperfectly supports the law itself,) the great body
of people abide by the dry legal obligations in both
cases, and a lew break over each. I think these
cannot be perfectly cured, and it would be worse
in both cases, after the separation of the sections,
than before. The foreign slave trade is now im
perfetly suppressed, and would be ultimately re
vived without restriction in one section, while fu
gitive slaves, now only partially surrendered, would
not be surrendered at all by the other. Physical
ly speaking, we cannot separate we cannot re
move our respective sections from each other, nor
build an impassable wall between them. A hus
band and a wife may be divorced, and so out of
the presence and beyond the reach of each other,
but the different parts of our country cannot do
this. They cannot but remain face to face, and
intercourse either amicable or hostile, must contin
ue between them. Is it possible, then, to make
that intercourse more advantageous or more satis
factory after separation than before? Can aliens
make treaties easier than friends can make laws?
Can treaties be more faithfully enforced between
aliens, than laws can among friends? Suppose
you go to war, you cannot fight alw ays, and when,
alter much loss on both sides, and no gain on either,
you cease fighting, the identical old questions, as
to terms of intercourse are again upon you.
This country, with its institutions, belongs to the
people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall
grow weary of the existing government, they can
exercise the Constitutional right to amend it, or
the levolutionary right to dismember or overthrow
it. I cannot be ignorant of the fact that many
worthy and patriotic citizens are desirous of hav
ing the national Constitution amended. While I
make no recommendation of amendment, I fully
recognize the rightful authority of the people over
the whole subject, to be exercised in either of the
modes presented in the instrument itself, and 1
should, under existing circumstances, favor rather
than oppose a fair opportunity being afforded the
people to act upon it. I will venture to add that
to me the convention mode seems preferable, in
that it allows amendments to originate with the
people themselves, instead of only permitting them
to take or repeal propositions originated by others
not especially chosen for the purpose, and which
might not be precisely such as they would wish to
accept or refuse. I understand a proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, which amendment how
ever, I have not seen, has passed Congress, to the
effect that the Federal Government shall never
interfere with the domestic institutions of the
States, including that of persons held to service.
To avoid misconstruction of what I have said, I
depart from my purpose not to speak of particular
amendments, so far as to say that, holding such a pro
vision now to be the implied construction of the law, 1
have no objection io its being made express and irre
vocable. The Chief Magistrate derives all his authori
ty from the people, and they have conferred none upon
him to fix terms for the separation of the States. The
people themselves can do this if thev choose, but the
Executive, as such, has nothing to do with it; his duty
is to administer the present Government as it came to
his bands, and to transmit it unimpaired by bim to his
successbr. Why should there not be a patient confi
dence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there
any better or equal hope in the world? In our present
differences is either party without faith of being right?
May the Almighty ruler of nations, with his eternal
truth, be on your side of the North and on yours of the
South. That trnth, and that justice, will sureby pre
vail by the judgment of this great tribunal, the Ameri
can people. By the form of Government under which
we live, this same people have wisely given their pub
lic servants but little power for mischief, and have with
equal wisdom provided for the return of that little to
their own hands at short intervals. VY bile the people
retain their virtoe and vigilance, no Administration,
by auy extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seri
ously injure ihe Government in the short space of four
years. My countrymen, one and all, I a.-k yon to think
calmly and well upon this whole subject. Nothing
valuable can be lost by taking time. If tbert be an
object to hurry any of you in hot haste to a step which
yoa wonld never take deliberately, that object will be
frustrated by taking time ; bnt no good object can be
frustrated by it. Such of you as are dissatisfied, still
have the old Constitution unimpaired, and on the sen
sitive point the laws of your own framing under it,
while the new administration will hare no remedy if it
should change either. If it were admitted that yen
who are dissatisfied bold the right side in the dispute,
there is no single good reason for precipitate action.
Intelligence, patriotism. Christianity, and warm reli
ance on iiim who baa never yet forsaken this favored
o ceae to believe that we are oft enemies bnt friends,
w tn,1t not be " - Thonfirh pnslon may hiita
drained, it must not break our bonds ivf affection. Tn
mvslic cord9 0f memory, metchin from every batt1:
nd ml patriofs grT! to every lovinjr heart And
hearthstone all over this broad lnd, will yet swell tha
choru of the Union when again touched, as surely
j ,he-r wU1 be h.T the be,ler nSe, toar natore.
Ex Secretary Thompson's Statement. -A.
j few days ntro, Jlr Jacob It. Thompfon, late Secre
rights and powers of the general and Stats govern
ments. On the right of a State to secede the cabi
net split at once ; but on the right of the general
government to coerce a rebel, all agreed in the
negative. Thompson held strongly to the right to
secede, but kept his place in the hope, as he says,
of preserving peace. He agreed with the Presi
dent that it was his duty to enforce the laws and
hold public property; but held that the army and
navy could only be used as a posse to aid the civil
authority, and as all the civil executive officers in
South Carolina had resigned, there could be no
attempt to uphold the laws. He also remarks:
"As I was writing my resignation, tent a des
patch to Judge Lnngstreet that the Star oj the
West teas coming with reinforcements. The troops
were thus put on their guard, and when the Star
of the West arrived she received a warm welcome
from booming cannon, and soon beat a retreat. I.
was rejoiced the vessel was not sunk, but I was
still more rejoiced that the concealed trick, first
conceived by Gen. Scott, and adopted by Secretary
Holt, but countermanded by the Prcsideut when
too late, proved a failure."
From the Richmond Dispatch.
A Great Triumph! Straight Route, from Rich
mond to the heart of North Carotinat
Our readers will see by the subjoined interest
ing communication, that the North Carolina Legis
lature, at its late session, has passed the measure
in which Richmond is so profoundly interested,
but which has been so long- and so bitterly op
posed, granting a charter to connect, by a short
line of railroad not exceeding fitfty miles, the
great Noith Carolina Central lluilroad with the
Richmond and I);invil!e Railroad. It is impossi
ble to over-estimate the importance of this im
provement. It opens to Richmond, by the short
est, the most eligible, and the least expensive
route, the garden fcpot of North Carolina, and of
the whole South; and by means of its connection
with other Southern roads, it will present the
straightest route throughout the whole Southern
country, and secure the whole travel of the South
to Richmond.
Mtfesas. Editors: Allow me to call your atten
tion to a charter granted by the North Carolina
Legislature during its late session, to connect by a
short line of railroad, the North Carolina Itailroad
with the Richmond and Danville Railroad, at or
near Barksdale's Depot, on the Danville road.
This new road is to begin at the Company's Shops
the central point on the North Carolina Rail
road, and now a beautiful little village thence it
takes its route to Yanceyville, thence to Milton,
and then to Barksdale's Depot. By reference to
the map, it will be seen that this is a perfectly
straight line, thus affording the privilege so long
sought and so earnestly desired by both the peo
ple of Caswell and adjoining counties, and by the ,
citizens of Richmond, of connecting by a short
and practicable line of railway, the two railroads
above mentioned. Hitherto this connection hag
been most urgently pressed in the North Carolina
Legislature, but has been constantly and- steadily
resisted by every possible means, and invariably
voted down. Now we have a charter for the short
est, the most eligible, and last, but not least, tho
least expensive route Most of the way from the
('ompany's shops to Barksdale's it will run upon a
ridge, and need not in its entire length exceed 40
miles of railway actually to be constructed.
Signs in the Heavens. On Tuesday after
noon, the 26th ult., about 3 o'clock, one .of those
rare celestial phenomena, a parhelion, or mock sans,
was seen by many persons here, and we obserre
was also seen at High Point, 100 miles west of this
place. There was a mock sun North and another
South of the sun, of equal size, but smaller than
the sun. The usual accompaniment of a white
circle passing through the mock suns was also risi
ble. ' '
On the same evening about 9 o'clock, the moon
presented the strange appearance of a pale light
cross passing thiough it and extending in four
directions some half a degree beyond its outer rim.
These phenomena are of course owing to soma
peculiar condition of the atmosphere. Fay. Oh.
President Lincoln is described as a long, lank,
bony, awkward, ill-natured, hard-favored, plain
spoken man, with a head that indicates original
sense, and a month betraying humor, irresolution
and a love of the good things of life. His neck
is inordinately long, having.froni two to ten more
joints i?i it than any other neck according to the
sworn statements of reliable anatomists. When
the Peace Congress called ou him, it was observed
that his greeting of Judge Summers was very
cordial. "I have hearn a good deal about you
occasionally, Judge," said be to him. Col Doni
phan was next presented. " You are some tall
man, Kurnel," quoth Mr Lincoln. Next came
Wm. C Rives, to whom Mr Abraham remarked,
with some astonishment: "You're not half so tall a
man as I thought you wag." This rather stag
gered Mr Rives, which being quickly perceived by
Mr Lincoln, he made up for his brusqoenew by
adding, "but I suppose it is made up io intellect.
It would seem that Uncle Abe was taking the
dimension of the Peace Commissioners.
Sad Acciddnt. Mr Emanuel Fisher met with
a serious accident on Tuesday list at Winston, N.
C-, wbile engaged in firing a cannon, in honor of
the nuptials of a happy couple. He had one arm
fractured, wrist dislocated, and received other
injuries. - - -- """ - "
There have been forty -three resignations io the
United States army since South Carolina seceded.