Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-31
resident 5 Message

l5s. c:s he ssage
ss Hoess q Rsere allres
49, fs..sna ,,esrs uratiiuae IS due 10 that
s.,,sr Power ssl.ssl 1es.owed epoa rs such
Il 5ra numerous l sselles throughout the past
~, esrcras ha.lil1 81 TIKI country -Aas been
fsilarf. or harvests teee been unusually pieIti-
Iss osperity s1nilee throughout tae land In
He.d Notwithstanding, our deinSEits we have much
ss,,, TO believe from the past events IN our histo-
-. shat we 9ave enjoyed the speciat protection OF
81 sfne providence ersr since Dur origin as nation
5yr have been exposed 70 many Threatening anu
slavr,ing dificultics in our pr0aress but on each
spccessiye occasion The impending cloud has been
dis fatad al the moment il Appeared ready 70 Ofst
rson our head, and the danger 10 cur institutions
has passed away. Nay we ever Dc under the DiEine :
guidance AMI protecticni 4
a. tins 20 give 20 Congress information OF The state
q the Inion saaii not refer IN detail 70 INC prs
cnt sad and bioc3y occurrence at harper fSIiy-I
sill ii Is rrorcr Il obs rse that these cyeI how
ever bad and cruel Themselves derive their cnei
importance from the apprehension that they are egt
ernttons OF an ncurabe disease in the public mind,
,rh;eh NAV break out IN still more dangerous out
RACES and terminate at last IN opea war by inc
Moth 10 abolish slavery in the South Whist. Tor
fnvself entertain such apprehension, they ought
10 afford 8 solemn warning 70 us ali 10 beware OF
The approaeh of danger. Our Union IS STAKE OF
such inesiimable value as TO demand our constant
ara watchfal vigilance for its preservation IN this
view. let me nnpiOre my couafrymen N0ith anu
South 10 cultivate TIE ancient ftellnGs OF unai ioi
Be srance and eOod viii toward each other ana strive
to aay the demon spirit Of sectional hatred ana
strife now alive in .he land ms ADVICE pro
cseds from the heart Of an old public iunctionaiyf
whose services commenced in the last genefa'lon
among the wise and conservative statesmen OF int
day now nearly all passed away, and whose hrst
and dearest earthly wish Is e leave ms country
tranquil. prosperous, united and powerful
We ought to reflect that in this age and especial
" in this country there is an neessant hux ana re-
hux Of public opinion Questions which N their
dav assumed a most threatening aspect, have now
nearly gore from the memory of men, They are
svoIcanoes burnt nut, and the lava and ashes
and squalid scOrir IF OLE efupuOns grow the
peaceful olive the cheering vine, and the sustaining
corn Such, in my opinion, viii prove to be the
tate of the present sectional excitement shorld those
who wisely seek 70 aIp'y The remedy, continue al
WAYS 10 c0nfiue their efforts within the pale Of ne
Constitution. II this course be pursued the EXIST
ING AGITATION on the subectof domestic slavery, like
every thing human will have its day and give place
Il other and less threatening controversies. Public
opinion in this country is ali powerful and when 1t
reaches dangerous excess upon any question the
good sense of the people viii furnish the corrective
and bring it back within safe limits. Still to hasten
this ausnicious result, at the present crisis, we
osgl to remember that every rational creature
must be presumed to intend the natural conse-
quences Of his own teachings.
Those who announce abstract doctrines subYer-
sive of the Constitution and the Union, must not be
surprised should their heated partzans advance one
step further and attempt by violence TO carry these
doctrines into practical effect In tis view OF the
subject it ought never TO be forgotten that however
ggeat mag have been The political advantages result
ing from the Union 10 every portion OF our common
country. these would all prove TO be nothing
should ths time ever arrive when they not be en-
loved without serious danger 90 the personal safety
of the people OF fifteen members of the Coniedera-
cy. If the peace of the domestic fire side through
out &c States should be nFaded-if the moth
ers of families within this extensive region should
not be able retire to night without suffer-
ing dreadful approximations of what may be their
fat nd of hQ5 u
ing-lt would be vain Il recount TO such a people
the political benefits which result 10 them from the
Union. SefpreservauOns the first instinct of ma
ture and, therefore any state OF society IN winch
the sword j. all the time suspended over the heads
of the people must at last become intolerable. But
indulge il no such gloomy furebodings On the
contrary, ] firmly believe that the events at Hlr-
per Ferry BY causing the people TO pause and re-
feet upon the possible peril 10 their cherished nst
tutions will be the under Providence, CT al
laying Il existing element and preventing future
outbreaks OF similar character They will resolve
that the Constitution and the Union shall not be en-
dlngered by rash coun>es, knowing that should
'the silver cord be lcosed the golden bowl be
broken at the fountain" human power
could never reunite the scattered and hostile trag-
ments
cordially congratulate you upon the final settle
ment by the Supreme Court Of the United States OF
the question Of slavery in the Territories which had
presented an aspect 50 truly formidable at the com
mencement OF my administration. The right has
been established of every citizen 10 take ms prop
Territories bet nsng equally TO all the States OF the
COntederacy. and Il have Il projected there under
the Federal Constitution. Neithe. Congress nor a
territorial legs RIre nor any human power has any
anlhority 70 inn air this vested right Iht
supreme Judicial tribunal Of the country, which il
co ordinate braDch of the Government, has sane
toned and affirm G. these principles Of constitution
al Law maniesty Just IN themselves. and so wei
calculated 10 promote peace a1d harmony among
the States Ii is striking proof IF The sense Of JUS
tice which is inherent in people that the prop
crIy in slaves mas never been disturbed TO my
knowledge, in any Of the Territories Even through
out the late tv8uhles III Kansas there has not beer
any attempt am creiibly informed, to interfere
in a single instance, with the light of the master
Had any such at empt been made. the judiclar,
would duu btess have afforded an adequate remedy
Should they fail 20 do this hereafter. It will then bl
tins enough to strengthen their hands by further
legislation. Had it been decided that eithsr Con
ross or the territorial legislature possess the pow
annu OF impair the right TO property IN slaves
the evil would be intoleiable Ia the latter event
there would be struggle for a majority o. The
members of the legislature at each successive cleo
ton. and the sacred rights of properly held unde
the Federal Constitution would depend for the TINS
being on the result. The agitation would thus be
rendered incessaut. whilst the territorial condition
remained. aad its baneim influence would keep alIv
dangerous excitement among the people Of tbs
several States.
Thus has the statutes Of Territory. during tn,
Intermediate period from its first settlement unit
il shall become a State. been irrevOcably fixed b,
pate has this beea fer the prosperity OF the Ierrl
tories. well for the tranquility of the States
Now. cmigrants from the North and the South. tn
last and the West viii meet IN the Territories on
common platform having brought with them tina
species of property best adapted, in their own opin
ion. 30 promote their welfare. From natural cause
the slavery question will in eacn soon virtual
~ settle ITSELF and before the Territory Is prcpar
ed for admission State into this Union the dc
cision. way the othe viii have been fore
gone conclusion. Meanwhile the settlement @
the Territory will proceed without seriou
interruption. and its progress and prosperity wi
not be endangered or retarded by violent politca
struggles
When in the progress of events the inhabitant
of any Territory shall Lave reached tie numbe
required 10 form State. they viii then proceed I
regular manner. and in the exercise Of tlIeright
of popular sovereignty. to form a constitution pro
parat0-y TO admission into the Union. After th
has been done 20 employ the language of tn
Kansas and Nebraska act. they "shal be recei'
"a into the Union with without slavery, a
their constitution may prescribe at the time Of thei
admission. This sound principle has happil
been recognized IN some form other, by an n
most unanimous vote Of both houses Of the las
Congress.
81 lawful means at my command have been EN-
pl0ycl. and shall continue TO be employed, TO eX,
cute the laws against the African slave trade. A
ter n most careful and rigorous examination of on
coasts, and q thorough investigation OF the subject
we have no; been able 10 discover that any slave
have been imported into the United States. eNcep
the cargo by the Waudcrer, numbering betwee
three ard four hundred. Those engaged in this III
lawful enterprise have been vigorously prosecuted
but not with as much success as their crimes hav
deserved. \ number OF them still under pros
cCutiUu.
Our history proves that the Fathers Of the R'
public in advance of all other nations. condemne
the African slave trade. Il was, notwithstanding
deemed expedient by the trainers Of the constItu
ton to deprive Congress OF the power to prohib
the migration Importation of such persons a
any of the States now existing shall think prope
80 admit prior 70 The year one thousand eigh
l;;5i1rgj and eight
Il win be seen that this restriction on the powe
of Congress WAS coaiaci 90 such States only a
might think proper to admit the importation q
slaves. It did not extend to the states or to tn
trade carried on abroad Accordingly we find that $
early rs the 22d Of March, 1924. Congress passed a
act imposing severe penalties and punishments upo
citizens and residents of the United States wh
should engage in this trade between foreign nations
The provisions Of this act were extended and en-
.crccd by the act of l0th May, 1900.
Again: The States themselves had clear RICH
priyflaqp intended