Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-29
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

iAlniehtv Power which has bestowed upon Us
Isuch varied and nameroas blessings throughout
lths past year. The general health sfthe Gun
"Trip bss been exceiient; oar nassess navs oeen
lanusuaIly plentiful. and prosperity smiles through
out the land. Indeed, notwithstanding our de-
merits. wc have much reason 10 believe from the
mas, events of our history, that We have enjoyed
the special protection Of Divine Providence ever
since our origin as a nation. We have been ex-
posed to many threatening and alarming difficult
ties in our progress; but on each successive "eea
sion the impending cloud has been dissipa;ei at
the moment il appeared ready TO bsrst upon our
head, and the danger to our institutions has pass
ed away. May we ever be under the divine guild
ases and protectionl
Whilst !, is the duty Of the Prcsidcn, "fr'm
time to time to give to Congress information Of
the state OF the Union ] shall not refer IN detal
to the recent sad and bloody occurrences ut iiar-
por's Ferry. Still. it is proper To observe that
these events, however bad and cruel in themselves
derive their chief Importance from the appreben-
sion that they are but symptoms OF an incurnble
disease in the public mind. which may break out
in still more dangerous ou,rages and terminate at
last in an open war by tho North TO abolish slave
.ry in the South. Whilst for myself, ] entertain
no such apprehension. they ought to afford n sol
emn warning to us all to beware Of the approach
of danger. Our Union is q stake ef such inesti-
Imablc value a. to demand our constant aud watch
full vigilance for its preservation. In this view,
let me imploro my co~untrymen. North ana south
TO cultivate the ancient feelings and mutual Tor
bearance and good. will towards each other, and
strive to allay the demon spirit Of sectional hatred
and strife now alive in the land. This advice pro-
cecds from the heart Of an old public functionary
whose services commenced IN the last generation
among the wise and conservative statesncn oil
that day. now nearly all passed away, and
whose first and dearest earthly wish is to leave
his country tranquil, prosperous, united, aud
powerful.
We ough. to reflect that in this age. and espe-
chilly in this country, thor. is an iuccssant influx
and relux Of public opinion. Questions which
in their day assumed n most threatening inspect,
have now nearly gone from the memory Of men.
They are volcanoes burnt out, and on the
lava and ashes and squalid scoria of old c%ruptions
grow tho peaceful olive. the cheering vine, and
the sustaining corn" Such, in my opinion. will
prove TO be the tate Of tho present sectional OK
element. should those who wisely sock TO apply
the remedy. continue always 10 con!ino their Ell
forts within the pale Of the Constitution. If this
course be pursued, the existing agitation on the
subject Of domestic slavery, like everything HUI
man, will have its day and give place to other and
less threatening controversies. Public opinion in
this country isall powerful, and when it reaches
a d dangerous excess upon any question, the good
sense OF he people will furnish the corrective and
bring it back within safe limits. Sill. to hasten
the suspicious result, Mt the present crisis. we
ought TO remember that every rational creature
must be presumed 10 intend the natural consc-
qucnccs II his own teachings. Tho.e who an
nounco abstract doctrines subyersi,e Of tho Constr
tuition and the Uniou. must not be surprised should
their heated partisans advance ono step further,
and attempt by violence to carry these doctrines
practical effect. In this Wow Of tho subject
it ought never TO be forgotten that, however great
may have been the political advantages resulting
from tho Union to every portion OF our common
country, these would all prose 10 be ~ nothing
should the timo over arrive when they cannot be
en- Dyed without sci iuus danger to the personal
safety of the people Of fifteen members Of tho con-
iedcrasy. 1t tho peace If tho domestic trcsidc
throughout these States should ever he invaded
If the mothers Of families within this extensive
region should not bc able TO retire TO rest ut night
without suffering dreadful approhensions oi what
inny he their own fate and tina. Of their children
before the morning--it would be yaia to recount
to such u people tho political benefits which result
to them from tho Union. Self preservation is the
first instinct Of nnturc; and tllere.orc any state Of
society in which the sword is all the time suspcn-
dcd over the heads If the people, must ut lat b.
come intolerablc. But ! indulge IN no such gion-
my furcbodings. Ga the contrary, firmly believe
that the events at ~llarpcr's Ferry. by causing The
people to pause and reflect upon the possible rer-
Il to their cherished institutions. will he the
means, under Providence. Of %ullnying the ox.sIing
tScltcNel anu preventing lutute outDfchkS VI IL
similar character. They will resolve that the
Constitution and the Union shall MT he cndnnScr-
cd by rnsh counsels, knowing that, SHOULD Tho
silver cord ho louscl or the golden bowl be
broken Mt tho fountain" human
power could never rcunilc the scattered Iud hos
tile fragments.
| cordially congratulate you upon the FINAL set
Element by the Supreme Court Of the United Stntcs
Of tho question of slnvory in the Territories,
which has prpapntQl mn ngpprt ~ trnlv formidable
ut tho commencement Of my administration The
right has been established Of every citizen to take
his property Of any kind, including slaves, into
the common Territories belonging equally to ali
tho States uf the Coniederncy, and to have 1t pro.
ltected there under the Federal Constitution. Nei
thcr Congress nor a territorial legislature nor AM
human power has any authority to annul or i'm
pair this vested right. The supreme judicial tri
ibnnsl Of the country. which is II co-,rdinate branci
of tho Government. hns sanctioned and aiirmeC
these principles Of constitutional law, 10 manifest
y just in themselves, and so well calculated Il
promote peace aud harmony among tho States
1t is n striking proof of the sensc Of Justice whicl
ia inherent in our people, that tho property il
slaves Inns never been disturbed. to my knowledge
in any of the Territories. Even throughout tn,
late troubles in Kansas there has not been any ut
tempt, as | am creditly informed, TO interfere. ii
n single instance, with tito right of tho master
Had any such attempt been made, the judiciar.
would doubtlcss have afforded an adequate RENE
idy. Should they fail to do this hereafter, it vii
then be time enough to strengthen their hands b.
further legislation. Had it been decided that e
D., Their Congress or the territorial legislature posses
the power to annul or impair the right to proper
4 ty in slaves, tho evil would be iutolerablc. In til
p. latter event. there would he struggle for n majo
= rity of tho members Of the legislature ut eacl
t successive election, and the sacred rights of pro
0 perty held under the Federal Constitution woul,
depend for the time being on the result. The ns
italion would thus be rendered incessant willis
the territorial condition remained, and it's banctu
influence would keep alive u dangerous excite
i, ment among the people of the several States.
. Thus has the status of u Territory, during tn,