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and I 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 reject propositions
originated by others not especially chosen for the purpose； and which
might not be precisely such as they would wish to either accept or
refuse。 I understand a proposed amendment to the Constitution which
amendment； however； I have not seenhas 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 provision to now be implied constitutional
law； I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable。
The chief magistrate derives all his authority 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 also if they 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 hands； and to
transmit it； unimpaired by him； to his successors。
Why should there not be a patient confidence 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 in the
right？ If the Almighty Ruler of nations； with his eternal truth and
justice； be on your side of the North； or on yours of the South； that
truth and that justice will surely prevail by the judgment of this
great tribunal of the American people。
By the frame of the government under which we live； this same people
have wisely given their public servants but little power for
mischief； and have； with equal wisdom； provided for the return of
that little to their own hands at very short intervals。 While the
people retain their virtue and vigilance； no administration； by any
extreme of wickedness or folly； can very seriously injure the
government in the short space of four years。
My countrymen； one and all； think calmly and well upon this whole
subject。 Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time。 If there be
an object to hurry any of you in hot haste to a step which you would
never take deliberately； that object will be frustrated by taking
time； but no good object can be frustrated by it。 Such of you as are
now dissatisfied still have the old Constitution unimpaired； and； on
the sensitive point； the laws of your own framing under it； while the
new administration will have no immediate power； if it would； to
change either。 If it were admitted that you who are dissatisfied
hold the right side in the dispute； there still is no single good
reason for precipitate action。 Intelligence； patriotism；
Christianity； and a firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsaken
this favored land； are still competent to adjust in the best way all
our present difficulty。
In your hands； my dissatisfied fellow…countrymen； and not in mine； is
the momentous issue of civil war。 The government will not assail
you。 You can have no conflict without being yourselves the
aggressors。 You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the
government； while I shall have the most solemn one to 〃preserve；
protect； and defend〃 it。
I am loath to close。 We are not enemies； but friends。 We must not
be enemies。 Though passion may have strained； it must not break； our
bonds of affection。 The mystic chords of memory； stretching from
every battle…field and patriot grave to every living heart and
hearthstone all over this broad land； will yet swell the chorus of
the Union when again touched； as surely they will be； by the better
angels of our nature。
REFUSAL OF SEWARD RESIGNATION
TO WM。 H。 SEWARD。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； March 4； 1861。
MY DEAR SIR：Your note of the 2d instant； asking to withdraw your
acceptance of my invitation to take charge of the State Department；
was duly received。 It is the subject of the most painful solicitude
with me； and I feel constrained to beg that you will countermand the
withdrawal。 The public interest； I think； demands that you should；
and my personal feelings are deeply enlisted in the same direction。
Please consider and answer by 9 A。M。 to…morrow。
Your obedient servant；
A。 LINCOLN。
REPLY TO THE PENNSYLVANIA DELEGATION；
WASHINGTON； MARCH 5； 1861
Mr。 CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PENNSYLVANIAN DELEGATION：As I
have so frequently said heretofore； when I have had occasion to
address the people of the Keystone； in my visits to that State； I can
now but repeat the assurance of my gratification at the support you
gave me at the election； and at the promise of a continuation of that
support which is now tendered to me。
Allusion has been made to the hope that you entertain that you have a
President and a government。 In respect to that I wish to say to you
that in the position I have assumed I wish to do more than I have
ever given reason to believe I would do。 I do not wish you to
believe that I assume to be any better than others who have gone
before me。 I prefer rather to have it understood that if we ever
have a government on the principles we profess； we should remember；
while we exercise our opinion； that others have also rights to the
exercise of their opinions； and that we should endeavor to allow
these rights； and act in such a manner as to create no bad feeling。
I hope we have a government and a President。 I hope； and wish it to
be understood； that there may he no allusion to unpleasant
differences。
We must remember that the people of all the States are entitled to
all the privileges and immunities of the citizens of the several
States。 We should bear this in mind； and act in such a way as to say
nothing insulting or irritating。 I would inculcate this idea； so
that we may not； like Pharisees； set ourselves up to be better than
other people。
Now； my friends； my public duties are pressing to…day； and will
prevent my giving more time to you。 Indeed； I should not have left
them now； but I could not well deny myself to so large and
respectable a body。
REPLY TO THE MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATION；
WASHINGTON； MARCH 5； 1861
I am thankful for this renewed assurance of kind feeling and
confidence； and the support of the old Bay State； in so far as you；
Mr。 Chairman； have expressed； in behalf of those whom you represent；
your sanction of what I have enunciated in my inaugural address。
This is very grateful to my feelings。 The object was one of great
delicacy； in presenting views at the opening of an administration
under t