Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
SeI1ota clttzens Of The Senate

be confederation OF GOA NsaS sdGH measures AS
he may judge necessary ani eNpedent, tout also
That he shall give Information to t'icih Of the
stete Of the Union. 70 do ills fully involves
opposition Of all matters in the actual condition
0i me country, domestic or foreign Which es-
sentallr concern tho general welfare While
performing his constitutional duty in this re
spect, tlte s'frsdent does not speak nicely To
express personal convictions, but as the oXecu-
tive minister OF the government, enabled by his
elosition, and called upon by his official edliga-
tons.to scan with an impartial eye the interests
ct the whole, aud CT every part Of tie United
States.
OF the condition Of the domestic interests of
the Union, its agriculture, mines manufactures,
navigation, and commerce, Il is necessary only
70 say that the internal prosperity of the eopn-
try, its continuous and steady Advancement ii
wealth and population, and in private rs well rs
public well being, attest tbs wisdom OF our in
sttutions, and the predominant spirit Of intelii-
genee and patriotism, which, notwithstanding
occasional irregularities OF opinion or action re-
saltag from popular freedom, has distinguished
ard characterized the people of America.
IN the brief interval between the termination
Of the last and the commencement Of tie pres
ent session Of Congress, the public rnd mas heen
occupied with the care Of selecting, for anol cr
constitutional term. tho President and y ice
President Of the United States
lhe determination o the persons who are Of
right, or oonti0geltly, to preside over the adj
rniHistrasesl q the government IS under our
eystefS, committed to the States and Tie people.
We appeal TO them, br their voice pronounced
IN the forms Of law, to call whumsoever they
will to the high post Of Chief Magistrate
And thus it is that as she senators represent
lie respective States Of tie nionzand the mel1-
bers Of the House Cd Representatives tbs several
constituencies Of each State, So the President re-
preaents the aggregate population Of the United
States. TAsir election Ct him IS he explicit and
solemn act Of The whole sovereign authority Of
the Union.
1t is impossible to misapfrelend the great
principles, which,by their recent political action
The people Of the United States have Sanctioned
md announced.
They have asserted the constitutional equality
Of each and all Of the States Of the Union As
States, they have affirmed the constitutional
qualtt ef each Gnd all Of she citizens of the L.
ssta.es as citizens, whatever their religion, wher
ever their birth, or their residence; they have
maintained tie inViolability Of tie constitutions
al rights Of the different sections OF lie Union:
aud they have proclaimed their devoted and TN
altetaele attachment 70 the Union and he con-
sttniion, as o. iects Of interest superior 10 all
subisc:s Of LEGAL Of sectional controversy, as the
safeguard Of tae right Of all, as the spirit and
essence Of tie liberty, peace, and greatness Of
eils Republic.
IN dnius this, they have.at the same tilne,em-
rhhtcalls condemned the idea OF organizing IN
taess United States mere geographical parties
Of marsAalline in hostile array towards each
ether tie different parts OF the country, North
or South, West or East.
Sohslnas Of this nature, fraueht with incalcu-
liable mischief, and which the considerate sense
of the people has rejected, could have had coul-
tsaanoe Ia 40 para OF the country. had they not
heen disguised ~ suggestion plausible n appear
apee acting upon an excited stase 81 the pubic
mind, minced by causes temporary IN their
characterized II is TO be hoped transient Ia their
influence.
Perfect ltarty Of association for political Oh
jeois, and ths widest SCOPE Of discussion, the
received and ordinary conditions ot government
ia our country. Cur institutions, tfa 'aed IN Tire
spirit Of confidence 10 tbs Intelligence AMI ihte-
gfit7 of to Rsople, ID rot s5fa.S. citizens either
Individually o. associated together, 70 attack by
writing, speech. or any other methods skArs g
physical force tl.s Constitution sal tie very es-
issenee Of the Jnon Under the shelter OF tN}5
great haaHsy, AID protected " lie laws al Is
oses OF tie government they assaIl. association
have been formed, ID some If the States, ct in
diyiauais who rreSenliug TO seek only 10 pre-
veu. The spread 81 the institution Of slavery iUta
.ha praasat or future inohoate States Of tue I'm
ion, are really iuitaned With desire 10 change
'he domestic institutions Of existing States. To
accomplish their object they dedicate themselves
To the odous task Of depreeating the govern
laent organization which s auds in their way,
and of eliminating, wth iniiscfinina'e invee-
tive, and not only the citizens of particular
S.a,es, with whose laws they find fault. Int al
others Of their feiiow-citizens throughout the
country, who do not participate with chem in
their assallts upon the Constitution frairtd aud
adoptsd by or fathers, and claiming for the
privileges Il has saegrel, and the Blessings u
has conferred, the steady Sappors ant grateful
reverence Of their children. They seek an OH 4
ieot which they well know TO be d revolutionary
one They afs perfectly aware that the change
iG the tslssive condition OF The white and black +
races in lhs slaTeholding States, Which they
wah.A yroaate, IS beyond their lawful author
~ ; thai 70 them il IS G foreign oiect; that ii
came. bs effected 81 any peaceful instrumental i
isy Of iheirs that for them, and the State Tor
Which they ars eizeas, tie oaly patti to Is ac-
eontlishlnent Is through burning cities, and raw
aged aelds, and SIAN l2.esed pop0latians and all
faere IS most terrible n t.w9ien complicated in /,
civil and ssrviie war a'tl Tat tie first step in
the aftasnpt is the torciblA GiSr6s.ion Of y COM
try embracing il its broad bosom Il degree of
liberty and "a amouut Of iGj,igidaai ana public +
prosperity, to which there is no parallel IA bis
tory,snd substituting il its place hostile govern
indnts driven at once and Toe Yittsly INTO n.ttaal
LtFdsTtEIoA aAa FatrefdAl carnage tFliieiNiiN- f
ins the now peaceful ard ftlicitons brotherhood
toto a vast permanent camp OF armed rrstl Ike f
tia rival nonarohies Of Europe aud Asia. Well +
knowing that such, and such only are the tiseaas
ard The eonse4 aences Of their paas and pr
pesos. they eudeavor to prepare the people OF
lie united SAFES Ia civil war hy doing every
thing IL tlter power 10 deprive The Constitution
ard the laws ct moral authority, aud 70 under
mine the fabric Of the Union hy appeals to pas-
sion and sectional prejudice, by i..dootrinaating
its people with reciprocal haired and ~ edncat-
ing them To stand face to face as enemies, rather
than shoulder 20 shoulder as friends.
1t Is by the agency Of such nuwarantalle IN
reference, foreign ard domestic, that lie minds
Of many otherwise good citizens have been So
intianed into the passionate condemnation OF
the domestic Institutions Of the Southern States,
as at length to pass insensiAly to- almost equally
passionate hostilires towards their fellow Gill /
gens Of those States an. tIas na''y to fall into
temporary fellowship with the avowed and ae-
tive enemies ct the Constitution. Ariebtiy at.
tached to liberty in the abstract, they 40 ret
step 30 consider practically how tbe objects they
would attain can be accomplished nor 20 reflect