New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-01
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.

In reply to 81 invitation 10 attend the recent Cen.
terary Celebration at Pittsburgh, the Presidsr.
addressed to the managers the annexed letter:
WAsHrSGroS Nov. -, 1853.
GENrIrMES: have had the honor To receive your
invitation to be present, on theiJh inst, at the cen'
teuia anniversary of the capture of Fort DuqIesnei
and regret that the pressure of public Affairs, 1s
period near the meeting Of Congress, renders lmpos
sihle that should enjoy this privilege.
Every patriot must rejoice while rejecting npon ,he
unparalleled progress OF our country "itMh 'he Ass
century. What was, at its commencement, an oo'
cure fort far beyond the Western frontier OF civia-
ion, has now become the center of a popuoGs, com
uercal and manufacturing city, sending IT. prodac.
tiors TO large and prosperous sovereign States TN
further West, whose Territories were then vx',
ule1plored and silent wilderness.
From the standpoint AT which We have arrived mo
anxious patriot cannot fail, while reviewing the pxl,
to cast glance into the future and to speculate upoa
wi at may be the condition OF our beloved coiltfy
when your posterty shall assemble 10 celebrate the
second centennial anniversary of the capture Of Fort
Duquesnc. Shall our whoie country then compose
uritcd nation popuous, powerful and free than
any other which has ever existed Or viii the Con.
federacy nave been rent asunder aud divided into
groups OF hostile and Jealous States Or msy il not
be possible that the next celebration all the rsg
meLts, exhausted by Intermediate conflicts with each
other, may have finally reunited and sought refuge
der the shelter Of one great and oyershadowing Des'
potism
Providence OF God, be virtually decided by the present
generation. We have reached a crisis when npon
their action depends the preservation of the Union
according to the letter and spirit Of the Constitution;
and this gone, ali s lost. regret 20 say that ha
present omens far fIom propous. In The last sgd
o the Republic was considered almost treasOnabeto
pronounce the word Disun.OH. Times have snce sally
changed, aud now dsunon is freely prescribed IS the
remedy for cyanescent evils, real imaginary, which
if leh to themselves would speedily vanish avsyia
the progress Of events
Our Revolutionary fathers have passo 4 away, sni
the generation next after them, who inspired by
their personal counsel and example, have nearly al
disappeared The present generation, deprived Of
these Light, must whether they will not decide
the fate Of their pOsterity. Let them cherish tho
Union in their heart Of hearts, let them resist ever
which may tend To relax dissolve its bonds
let the citizens Of different States cultivate feelings OF
Kindness and forbearance toward each other and le.
all resolve TO transmit to their descendants 10 the
form and spirit they have inherited il from their fore
fathers ard al will then be well for oar country u
future times.
shall assume the privilege Of advancing years ia
referring to another growing and dangerous evil. In
tie last age although fathers Ike ourselves wers
divided into political parties which often had seyers
conflicts with each other, yet We never heard, unu
within n recent period of the employment of money
10 carry elections. Should this practice increase anti!
the voters and their Representatives in the state anu
National Legislatures shall become infected the foun-
tain Of Free Government will then be poisoned a. ts
source and We must end history proves, in mill.
tary despotism. a democratic Republic, all agree,
canno, long survive unless sustained public virtue.
When this is corrupted and the people become vens,
there is capker at the root OF the Tree Of Liberty,
which must cause it to wther and to die.
Praying Almighty God tina, your remote posterty
may continue, century after century for ages veto
come TO celebrate the anniversy Of the capture OF
Fort Duquesne in peace and prosperity, nnd.r the
protecting banner of the Constitution and the Unions
'''''D JAMES BUCHANAN.