Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1856-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
FsaOse- cIfisss, ofnt Ssnsis
esd ef fAs House ef Rrpressai

EfoS<-tNt<ss of I've SeHdff
ssd eftAs House ef fRsPrsssnis,iess (
The Constitution requires that the President
'hall, from time to time, not Ouiy recommend
to TIE consideration Of Congress such measures
rs be may Judge necessary and expedient, but
also that be shall give information 10 them Of
the STATE Of The Unlou. To do this fnlly in
wolves exposition Of all matters in the actual
condition 81 the country. domestic or foreign,
which essentially concern the general welfare.
While performing his constitutional daty in
this respect, The President does no, speak
merely TO express personal couyiciio1S, but as
the executive minister of the government, en-
abled by his position, and called upon by his
official obligations. TO scan with AN impartial
eve the interests of the whole, and OF every
part Of the United Stsies
OF the condition Of the domestic interests OF
the Union, its agriculture, mines, manufseiures,
navigation, and commerce, il is necessary only
10 Say that tie Internal prosperity ofihe coun-
try, ats continuous and steady advancement in
wealth and population and 10 private as well as
pubic well-beiog, allies, The wisdom ol our IN
situations, and the Predominant spirit Of intel
Egence and patriotism, which, notwithstand.
ing occasional irregularities OF opinion or &C
ton resulting from popular freedom, has dis
u1guished AID characterized the people Of
| America.
| In the briefinterval between the termination
! Of the last aud the commencement Of the pre-
sent session Of Congress, the public mind has
( been occupied With the care OF selecting, for
another constitutional term, the President and
Vice President of the United States
I The determination Of the pcrsonS Who are
! OF right, or contingeutly, 10 preside over the
J administration Of the government, i, under
our System, committed 20 the States aud the
! people. We appeal TO them. by their voice
pronounced in the forms Of law, to call whom
soeyer they viii TO the high post Of Chief
| Magistrate.
And thus il u that the Senators represent the
! respective States Of the Union, and the mem
bers OF the House Of ofReprcseniatiyes the several
! constituencies Of each State, 80 the President
represents the aggregate population Of the
! United States. Their election Of him Is the
/ explicit sud solemn, act OF the sole sovereign
| authority Of the Union.
| 1t Is impossible 10 nisappreheud the great
| principles, which, by their recent political ac-
! tiou, the people OF the United States have
sanctioned and announced.
! They have asserted the constitutional equal
ity Of each and all OF The States Of the Union
as States tksy have sifirmed the constitution.
4
! United Slatea as citizens, whatever their reli-
J gioa. wherever their birth, or their residence /;
they have maintained the inviohbili,y Of the
constitutional rights fths diff rent sections Of
the Uuioa; and they have proclaimed their
/ devoted and unaltesAble attachment 10 The u
Mon aud to tie Constitutions, rs objects OF in
serest superior to all subjects of local or see
tionAi controversy, as tho safeguard Of the
1 rights Of alt, as the spirit aud essence Of the
hi~rty, peace, and gIeatness Of the Republic.
la doing this they have, AZ the same Tina,
empbaiic condemned the idea Of organizing
in these United States mere geographical par.
ties Of mar,haIling Ia hostile array towards
J each other the dihyTrah hparties OF the country,
North or South, East OF West.
Schemes Of this napre, itaught with inoal-
culablo mischief, and which tho considctaie
seass OF the people has rejected. could have
had c1uaicuaacs in 30 paGi Cg tie country, /,
bad they not been disguised by suggestions
plausible ia appearance, acting upon an excited
state Of the pablic mind, Induced by causes
Temporary N their character, aud, il Is TO be
hoped, transient 10 their influence.
Pertec, libeHy OF as-ociation for political
objects, and the widest scope q disou,sion. are
the received and OF iibary oenditiors Of govern.
4 meni in our country. Our ihstitutiens, framed
ia the spiTi, Of oobflebOo in tho ibisIGgence
and integrity Of The people, do not forbid citi-
Eens either Individually Or associated together,
to attack by writing speech, or any other me
tfod short Of physical force, the Constitution
and the very existence ~ the Union. Under
the s5s,. ,.,- = is sSsssi liberty and protected
BY the laws ard usage, o. ihs u. - -.
ssssIi. associations have baon formed. in spma
a. the States, Cf iBdifidnals, uho. pretending
I 70 eek os!.y to prevent the spteAd Of slavery
into The present :, future in6aoats s.ate. r
/ the Union, are really ihssmsd with desiys 10
change the domestic institutions of existing
/ States.
10 aocosoPlish ,heir objects, they dedicate
/ Themselves 70 the odous task Of drpgeciatng
\ The govcrnmgpt organization which stands in
7 their way, and of cAltmniaiiBg, with indis
u criminals inTective, not oniy the eitikeus Of
/ particular States. with Whose lass they fna
7 faali, bat au Others Of their fellow oiiizsns
Z Throughout theoounlry. wbo do not particip,te
I with them in tlaif sssanitFtS irthe Cons,itu
K ton, framed and adopted by our fathers. and
( clHming for ihs p6Tilsges Is has secure, ,nl
I tie blca Igs L As ooufefred, the steady am,
4 foft ss,f nis..siui Ievereuce of lh,ls chilIfsb
'fhsy seek an objsc, which they vel knoW 10
7 bs revolutionary one They are perfectly
Z awae that the change in the rslsligo eondliias
I of the white abi black races 10 The slayehold.
4 Jog states shish ihoy would promote T. b..
Z yosa thsif lsvfsi aaihoflty ihsi b n sm it
Y i fofeiga ubjest thal Il canno, b. effected
I by soy sacsfulinstfumeaialitv u th-irs that
I ~ them and o. States q uhich thsy ore
c.tizsns, ihs onlg path % iis accomplishment
K q tbfough bufang cities, and rsvagcd felds.
and slaaghtsfsd p7pulafoas, and al there Is
most terrible In igfeign, mPl.csici vilh eigii
snd ssfvils pafs snd that tlss ani step 10 toe
at,emp, is the l1Niblo JisrHption II e county
smlrariaz ca Cd tfosi bosom 4 dsrrss of Ei,
orty. ard sn stsesus vi isiisiluai ani patlie
pospsrisy, 10 EiisA ihsre y 10 fasalisi ~ his.
tory. and ssbsiiiatag in iis place hosi ls gov.
efhmenn. driven a onoe aad inssifabiy ints
nufud deFasiaiitn apd hNloidd csrpage.
irsnsf8naing ibs COZ fesesfd sai fluitsBs
br0fhehead nt1 4 visi pefmanfnt oamp ~
srssd u.ss .ika - Hri Fyaafeli-u of -.
sase sid As.a. Wci ksoEing thar sarb. aaI
sn'h ouiy. sss tas saesaf ~ iho ems qli.asss
m ,hsfr piass sn3 Puryaas ihsy sn,ls.tof 10
i. 4 n