The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-01-09
The President,s nessare

tlme 10 digest II and form their opinions res
pecting its recommendation and general
merits. 1t will 20 to our country readers
with this days issue.
sepresume no reader will be able 10 ex
PLAN from Its contents what was the ocea-
sion of its delivery in advance OF the const-
tutional period. There might have been an
excuse for its delivery, perhaps a need and
propriety for its delivery, under the circum-
stances in which it has been delivered. had
there been any thing of paramount and
pressing Importance which demanded the i'm
mediate action Of Congress. But there is
mol among the many topics alluded to, anv
thing involving an exigency of this sort
there was nothing which was liable to suffer
material injury from the temporary DELAY IN
the organization of the House. The ronst;
tuition makes it the duty Of the President to
give Congress such information upon the
state OF the Union, and to make such snc.
gestohs, as IT seems to him the public inter
ests demand. At present there is officially
no congress IN session, to receive or act upon
MS message. and ln the absence of any such
exceedingly important information as would
nave been likely TO have induced an im,ne-
date organization, and to disregard which
the pubic interests must have deeply suffer
Gu we see no occasion for his anticipating
Inc regular and proper time for its delivery
ana II appears to us, as the House seems in
Silheo 10 consider II, wanton disregard of the
letter and design of the constitution ond i,
insult 10 the House and the country. But
weak men DO weak things, and vanity i Of
ten sufficient reason for believing ma wronc
intent. We give Franklin Pierce the benefit
OF charitable construction.
The first half Of the message is q mere ron.
Hne document, clearly and well cnoneb
stated but such as any competent clerk il
Tue otate Department might have lust No VOL |
prepared. II has no particular fantts :, ev.ol
fences, Tor Is recommendations are few and
slsht' and generally such as the circnms,an.
ces OBVIOUSLY demand. To this remark tbe
suggestions relative 10 the Mosquito country
are perhaps the only exception, ana they can
hardiy be regarded rs such until il i *.
p'alhed what Is involved in the expression |
geographical position and other circnm.
stances, AN exposition of important af-
lars which seems "as clear az mud,
Inc balance Of the message, comprising
nearly one half, is devoted to issues nris;ng
out o. the slavery question, and il il d curl
osi'y worthy Of observation how man can
'Alk so long upon such a subject without
once employing the term '.slayerv.' The
president Sees no great wrong in that ralo.
'loh' sees IN II nothing SO peculiarly offensive
lhal II need TO evoke such urgent efforts IN
prevent It's introduction into the Territories
when are under the exclusive control Of the
general government but yet as the represen-
'A'iNe u tree people, Il people who profess
sedly base AL their institutions upon the mar.
orai equality and ina!ienablo personal liner
q al men, he bears this involuntary
testimony to the monstrous injustice Of the
institution, that he has, doubtless uncon.
sciously, excluded the plain and common
Term winch describes it. How palpable to
me common understanding must be the ;ncon.
sistency 81 slavery with the spirit of onr ~;
tutions, how hateful to the common sonsaa =
justice must il be, when observation-disclosures.
treatment Of questions arising out Of i
it, apologist dare not even employ the ,nrn,
which describes il. but through c;ron,.Iaa,
ton conveys the idea in a saftenad w.
The first Of these ,.l..a,..,...