Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-12-04
The Presldent,s Message.


For interesting news, telegrsphic, etc. outside.
t The Presidents Message.
We had neither space time to allude to this
document in our issue Of yesterday. We eontented
ourselves with simply spreading before our readers
for their perusal intending to make such comments
on Il this morning As, in our judgment, its views
and its positions might descrr~
We must be permitted in brief terms, to express
our unqualified admiration Of the tone and temper q
President Pcrce's views on the subject OF slavery
and the constitutional rights Of the States. He
comes out clearly boldly and triumphsn;ly in vndi-
cation and support Of the rights and interests Of each
and every section o; the Union, and desire for
oEicil promotion can be no longer Supposed 10 mar
his conduct or regulate his opinions being ,bOu; TO
retire to the shades Of private life forever, vii
hnry conce5e to him the merit OF sincerity oAndor
and patriotism in the expression Of his sentiments
upon those vexcd sectional issues which disturb the
rcpose Of the country and menace the very eH-
isrence Of the government As VIC have already SAID
ms views on these exciting questions are not only
Just and true in themselves but Are expressed N
distinct manly and fearless language. and we there
fc-e-politicx opponent rs nc is-ohee-fnlly accord
q him the homage Of our thanks and our praise
In the discussion OF these sectional topics, PreSi-
dens Pierce places the blame Of perpetual agitation
aad disoord rightly enough at the door OF those
Northern individuals and associations, that
organized into 8 compact and powerful party for the
purpose o. assailing and trampling under foot the
equal constitutional rights Of the Southern States
He traces the present disturbances Of the country to
their true source and shows that antislavery asia
ton with all its long train Of subsequent evils, in
Guiding civil ieuds and bloodshed upon the plains Of
Kansas, had its origin in spirit Of direct hostility
TO the plain and obvious injunction and obligations
of the Constitution itself Ii commenced with por-
ton Of the Northern States in effort srenuously
made and persistenty persevered in to secure negro
emancipation in the Southern States-involving i'm
pertinent gross and exasperating interference with
question in which they had no interest whatever,
direct or indirect Failing in their purpose in this
respect they next aimed to render null and void
important and solemn provision of the Constitution,
by obstructng, both in their individual and State
capacity the execution of the law providing for the
reclamation Of fugitive slaves And not only did
they seek to nulify this law by throwing every pos
sibe obstacle in the way of its ulRlment but they
went farther, and by incendary publications and in
fammatory appeals, backed up by direct individual
exertions to that end they attempted to ncite the
slaves Of the Southern people to escape from their
masters and have constantly kept up their efforts in
this direction to the present time, in contraventon
OF their constitutional obligations and in the face Of
all law, common justice and common honesty. Their
next assault upon the rights Of the Southern States
consisted in their attempt as far back 1919, to
impose limitations and restrictions upon them not
warranted by either the letter or the spirit of the
Constitution and altogether odious unjust and OPP
pressiye And hence the Missouri compromise line,
30 Objectionable and CALLING to the South, and which
I,,,..
ly sullenly acquesced in by them for the sake of the
public tranquility, and in consequence Of their
rental devotion to the Union and their estimate Of
the countless blessings which would inevitably flow
from it if preserved and cherished in the spirit in
which it was established. And this attempt to i'm
pose unjust and unconstitutional restrictions upon
the Southern States again aud again repeated
until, when the time arrived for the organization
territorial governments for Kansas and Nebraska,
powerful and formidable Northern sectional party
was formed upon that idea alone and then followed
the exciting and dangerous scenes through which
the country has since passed. and the end OF which
no human vision is yet keen enough to foresee
Such some of the views taken by President
Pierce in his late annual message. That he Ia,
correctly traced the history of this systematic anC
pernicious ant-slavery agitation, its origin and it
consequences, believe unprecedented and re
fecting mind can doubt. That his views and hi
positions will meet with cordial approval at tn
hands of conservative, Union-loving men OF al
parties, both in the South and in the North, Will
they will be impugned and assailed with indiscrimi
nate denunciation by the whole Of that motley
horde Of fanatics and traitors, who ranged them
selves under the black, practical flag of Ere
mont and Dayton in the late canvass we hav,
just as little dOubt-and it is fortunate for his owl
peace Of mind and his own fame that such will b,
the case.
We confess to lively sense of regret in having
TO exchange Pierce, who has done so we'll for tn
last year two, for Buchanan who is at best but al
exponent, and who is likely to prove a most disas
trous at that. We distrust both his public ant
his personal character and We dstrust his surround
ings. But We shall await the advent OF his admin
istration, and, judging it canddIy shall decide up
on its merits and its dement's in spirit Of sterr
and impartial justice.