Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/257

LINCOLN zens from holding the federal offices, there will be no attempt to force obnoxious strangers among the people for that object. While the strict legal right may exist in the government to enforce the exercise of these offices, the attempt to do so would be so irritating, and so nearly impracticable withal, that I deem it bet- ter to forego, for the time, the uses of such offices. The mails, unless repelled, will continue to be furnished in all parts of the Union. So far as possible, the people everyT'here shall have that sense of perfect security which is most favorable to calm thought and reflection. The course here indicated will be followed, unless current events and experience shall show a modification or change to be proper, and in every ease and exigency my best discretion will be exercised, according to circumstances actu- ally existing, and with a view and a hope of a peaceful solution of the national troubles, and the restoration of fraternal smypathies and affections. That there are persons in one section or another who seek to destroy the Union at all events, and are glad of any pretext to do it, I will neither affirm nor 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? Before entering upon so grave ~ a, matter as the destruction of our national fabric, with all its 247