Concerning fugitive slaves, the inaugural discourse cites the text of the federal Constitution, which decides the question for the present; but he does not ignore the fact that this constitutional decision is as well executed as it can be, “the moral sense of the people lending only an imperfect support to the law.”

As to the Territories, Mr. Lincoln declares clearly that the minority must submit to the majority, under penalty of falling into complete anarchy.  Neither does he hesitate on the subject of the decisions of the Supreme Court; these decrees, in his eyes, are merely special decisions rendered in particular cases, and detracting nothing from the right which the Confederation possesses to regulate its institutions and its policy.

All this is very firm, without being provoking.  The limit of concessions is marked out, and a conciliatory spirit is maintained.  It is above all in disclosing his line of conduct towards the rebellious States, that Mr. Lincoln happily resolves the problem of abandoning none of the rights of the Confederation, while manifesting the most pacific disposition, and leaving to others the odium of aggression.  His doctrine on this point may be summed up in this wise:  in the first place, the separation is unconstitutional, it should be, it will be combated, nothing on earth can bring the President to accede to the destruction of the Union; in the second place, he will not be the aggressor, he will endeavor to shun a war which exposes the South to fearful perils; in the third place, he will fulfill the duty of preserving federal property and collecting federal taxes in the South.  In other terms, he will employ the means which should have been employed on the first day, and which would have then been more efficacious.  He will attempt the establishment of a maritime blockade, in order to reduce the rebellion of the whites without provoking the insurrection of the negroes.  Already, the vessels of war have been recalled from distant stations.  Alas!  I have little hope that the precautions dictated to Mr. Lincoln by prudence and humanity will bear their fruits.  The South raises an army and is about to attack Fort Sumter, knowing that it will thus expose itself to a formidable retribution.  Mr. Lincoln, in fact, has not left it in ignorance of this:  “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-citizens, in yours and not mine, is found the terrible question of civil war.  The Government will not attack you; you will have no conflict, if you are not the aggressors.  You have not, on your part, an oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government; whilst I, on my side, am about to take the most solemn oath to maintain, to protect and defend it.”