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that there is any express law for it； and nothing should ever be
implied as law which leads to unjust or absurd consequences。 The
nation purchased with money the countries out of which several of
these States were formed。 Is it just that they shall go off without
leave and without refunding？ The nation paid very large sums （in the
aggregate； I believe； nearly a hundred millions） to relieve Florida
of the aboriginal tribes。 Is it just that she shall now be off
without consent or without making any return？ The nation is now in
debt for money applied to the benefit of these so…called seceding
States in common with the rest。 Is it just either that creditors
shall go unpaid or the remaining States pay the whole？ A part of the
present national debt was contracted to pay the old debts of Texas。
Is it just that she shall leave and pay no part of this herself？
Again； if one State may secede； so may another； and when all shall
have seceded； none is left to pay the debts。 Is this quite just for
creditors？ Did we notify them of this sage view of ours when we
borrowed their money？ If we now recognize this doctrine by allowing
the seceders to go in peace； it is difficult to see what we can do if
others choose to go or to extort terms upon which they will promise
to remain。
The seceders insist that our Constitution admits of secession。 They
have assumed to make a national constitution of their own； in which
of necessity they have either discarded or retained the right of
secession as they insist it exists in ours。 If they have discarded
it； they thereby admit that on principle it ought not to be in ours。
If they have retained it； by their own construction of ours； they
show that to be consistent they must secede from one another whenever
they shall find it the easiest way of settling their debts； or
effecting any other selfish or unjust object。 The principle itself
is one of disintegration and upon which no government can possibly
endure。
If all the States save one should assert the power to drive that one
out of the Union； it is presumed the whole class of seceder
politicians would at once deny the power and denounce the act as the
greatest outrage upon State rights。 But suppose that precisely the
same act； instead of being called 〃driving the one out；〃 should be
called 〃the seceding of the others from that one；〃 it would be
exactly what the seceders claim to do； unless； indeed； they make the
point that the one； because it is a minority； may rightfully do what
the others； because they are a majority； may not rightfully do。
These politicians are subtle and profound on the rights of
minorities。 They are not partial to that power which made the
Constitution and speaks from the preamble calling itself 〃We； the
People。〃
It may well be questioned whether there is to…day a majority of the
legally qualified voters of any State except perhaps South Carolina
in favor of disunion。 There is much reason to believe that the Union
men are the majority in many； if not in every other one； of the so…
called seceded States。 The contrary has not been demonstrated in any
one of them。 It is ventured to affirm this even of Virginia and
Tennessee； for the result of an election held in military camps；
where the bayonets are all on one side of the question voted upon；
can scarcely be considered as demonstrating popular sentiment。 At
such an election； all that large class who are at once for the Union
and against coercion would be coerced to vote against the Union。
It may be affirmed without extravagance that the free institutions we
enjoy have developed the powers and improved the condition of our
whole people beyond any example in the world。 Of this we now have a
striking and an impressive illustration。 So large an army as the
government has now on foot was never before known without a soldier
in it but who has taken his place there of his own free choice。 But
more than this； there are many single regiments whose members； one
and another； possess full practical knowledge of all the arts；
sciences； professions； and whatever else； whether useful or elegant；
is known in the world； and there is scarcely one from which there
could not be selected a President； a Cabinet； a Congress； and perhaps
a court； abundantly competent to administer the government itself。
Nor do I say this is not true also in the army of our late friends；
now adversaries in this contest； but if it is； so much better the
reason why the government which has conferred such benefits on both
them and us should not be broken up。 Whoever in any section proposes
to abandon such a government would do well to consider in deference
to what principle it is that he does it； what better he is likely to
get in its stead； whether the substitute will give； or be intended to
give； so much of good to the people。 There are some foreshadowings
on this subject。 Our adversaries have adopted some declarations of
independence in which； unlike the good old one； penned by Jefferson；
they omit the words 〃all men are created equal。〃 Why？ They have
adopted a temporary national constitution； in the preamble of which；
unlike our good old one； signed by Washington； they omit 〃We； the
People；〃 and substitute； 〃We； the deputies of the sovereign and
independent States。〃 Why？ Why this deliberate pressing out of view
the rights of men and the authority of the people？
This is essentially a people's contest。 On the side of the Union it
is a struggle for maintaining in the world that form and substance of
government whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men to
lift artificial weights from all shoulders； to clear the paths of
laudable pursuit for all； to afford all an unfettered start； and a
fair chance in the race of life。 Yielding to partial and temporary
departures； from necessity； this is the leading object of the
government for whose existence we contend。
I am most happy to believe that the plain people understand and
appreciate this。 It is worthy of note that； while in this the
government's hour of trial large numbers of those in the army and
navy who have been favored with the offices have resigned and proved
false to the hand which had pampered them； not one common soldier or
common sailor is known to have deserted his flag。
Great honor is due to those officers who remained true； despite the
example of their treacherous associates； but the greatest honor； and
most important fact of all； is the unanimous firmness of the common
soldiers and common sailors。 To the last man； so far as known； they
have successfully resisted the traitorous efforts of those whose
commands； but an hour before； they obeyed as absolute law。 This is
the patriotic instinct of the plain people。 They understand； without
an argument； that the destroying of the government which was made by
Washington means no good to them。
Our popular government has often been called an experimen