The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Read i'm Congress, Tuesday, Dec.
=, 1856.

feEl0U-CU t~t"o " tNS Ceft"tC "bE A1o0Sb "
Representatives,
The Constitution requires that the President
sbail, from time to time, not only recommend
70 the consideration of Congress such measures
., he NAV Judge necessary and expedient, but
ala, that he shall give information 10 them of
the state of the Union. To do this fully in
wolves exposition of all matters in the actual
condition Of the country, domestic or foreign,
which essentially concern the general welfare.
While performing his constitutional duty in
this respect, the President does not speak mere
" to express personal convictions, but as the ex-
ecutive minister of the government, enabled by
his position, and called upon by bis official OBJ
ljgalions, to scan with an impartial eye, the in
tprests of the whole, and of every palt of the
United States.
OF the condition of The domestic interests of
the Union, IFS agriculture, mines, manufactures,
navigation and commerce, it is necessary only
10 say that the internal prosperity of the coun-
trv. its continuous and steady advancement in
wealth and population, and in private as well
as public welI-being, attest the wisdom of our
institutions, and the predominant spirit of intel
ligencr and patriotism, which. Notwithstanding
occasional irregularities of opinion or action re-
suIting from popular freedom, has distinguished
and CHARACTERIZED the people of America.
In the brief interval between the termination
Of the last and the commencement of the pres
ent session of Congress, the public mind has
been occupied with the care of selecting, for a.
mother constitutional term, the President and
Vice President of the United States
The determination of the persons who are of
right, or contingently, to preside over the ad-
ministraton of the government, is, under our
system, committed 10 the States and the people.
We appeal to them, by their voice pronounced
in the forms of law, 10 call whomsoever they
will TO the high post of Chief Magistrate. And
thus it is that as the Senators represent the re-
sprctve States of the Union, and the members
of the House of Representatives the several
constituencies of each State, so the President
represents the aggregate population of the Uni
ted States. Their election of him is the eXpli-
cit and solemn act of the sole sovereign author
iy of the Union.
1t is impossible to misapprehend the great
principles, which, by their recent political ac-
zion, the people of the United States have sane
toned and announced.
They have asserted the constitutional equali-
~ vi Ndt dliN All Va itiF NNtdlrS Ot tIF 1JlIlpi
as States; they have affirmed The constitutional
equality of each and all Of the citizens OF the
United States as citizens. whatever their rel-
elon, wherever their birth, or their residence !;
they have maintained the invioability Of the
Constitutional rights of the different sections of
the Union and they have proclaimed their de-
voted and unalterable attachment TO the Union
and TO the Constitution, as objects of interest
superior TO all subjects of local or sectional con-
troyersy, as the safeguard of the rights of all,
as the spirit and the essence of the liberty,
peace and greatness of the Republic.
In doing this, they have, at the same time,
emphaticaiy condemned the idea of organizing
in these United States mere geographical par
ties; of marshaling in hostile array towards
each other the different parts of the country,
North or South, East or West.
Schemes of this nature, fraught with meal
cuIabIe mischief, and which the considerate
sense Of the people has REJECTED. could have had
countenance in no pat of the country, had they
not been disguised BY Suggestions plausible in
appearance, acting upon excited state OF the
mind, induced by causes temporary IN their
character, and it is to be hoped transient in
their influence.
Perfect liberty of association for political OBJ
Jrcts, and the widest scope Of discussion, are
the received aud ordinary conditions Of gov
ernment in our country. Our institutions, fra
med in the spirit of confidence, in the inteIli-
Sence and integrity Of the people, do not forbid
citizens either individually or associated togeth-
eF, TO attack by writing, speech or any other
methods short Of physical force, the Constitu-
'Ion and the very existence Of the Union. In
der the shelter of this great liberty, and pro-
lected by the laws and nssges of he govern
ment they aSSail, associations have been formed,
IN some of the States, of individuals, who, pre-
tending TO seek only to prevent the spread of
'he institution of slavery into the present or fu-
tuTe inchoate States Of the Union, are really
'nHamed with desire to change the domestic in
Slllutlons of existing States. To accomplish
'heIr objects, they dedicate themselves to the O.
0lous task Of depTeciailng the government Or
SANITATION which stands 10 their way, and of ca
Eliminating, with indscriminaie invective, not
'aiy the citizens of particular States, with
whose laws they find fault, but all others oi
"elr ieilow-cltizens throughout the country,
VINO DO not participate with them in their as
SaNltS upon the Constitution, formed and adopt
90 By our fathers, and claiming for the privile-
Ses II has secured, and the blessings il has con-
'rFFed, the steady support and grateful rever-
ence of their children. They seek an object
winch they well know TO be a revolutionary
one.
lhey are perfectly aware that the change in
'he relative condition of the white and black
races IN the slaveholding States, which they
would promote, is beyond their lawful authori-
y; that to them it is foreign object; that il
cannot be effected by any peaceful instrument
'aIliy OF theirs; that for them, and the States
o' which they are citizens, the only path to its
accomplishment is through burning cities, and
faSased fields, and slaughtered populations, and