The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-12-29
The Presidents Message.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The President
message has been delivered to Congress-
The President, after expressing gratitude
to the Almighty for blessings received
throughout the year, refers to the recent
bloody occurrence at Harper's Ferry These
events, bad and cruel in themselves. derive
their Importance from the apprehension that
they are but symptoms of an incurable dis
ease in the public mind, which may break
out in still more dangerous outrages, and
! terminate at last in open war by the North
and South to abolish slavery. While he
himself entertains no such apprehensions,
! they ought to afford a solemn warning to us
to be ready for the approach Of danger He
says, LET NE implore my countrymen North
and South to cultivate their ancient feelings
Of mutual forbearance aud good will towards
each other, and strive to allay the demon
spirit of sectional hatred and strife now alive
il the land
This advice proceeds from the heart of an
old public functionarv, WHOSE services COM
menced IN the last generation ofthe wise and
conservative statesmen Of that day, but he
INDUCES in no gloomy forebodings. He
thinks the affair Of Harp5r's Ferry will be
the means of al'ayiny the. existing excite
ment, and preventing further outbreaks. He
cordially congratulates Congress on the final
settlement by the Supreme Court of the ques
ton Of slavery in the Territories. The right
has been established for every citizen to
take his property of every kind, including
slaves, into the territories, which belong
equally to the whole confederacy, and to have
it protected there by the federal Constitution.
Neither Congress nor the Territorial Legisla
ture, nor any human power has any power
to annul or impair this vested right Thus
has the state Of a Territory during the in,
termediate period from its first settlement
until it becomes a State been irrevocably
fixed by the final decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States.
The secretary of the treasury in his re-
port does not doubt the actual receipts of
treasury for the present and next fiscal year
will be fully equal to the estimates. The
appropriations made at the present session
need not exceed the amount contained inthe
estimate. 1t is believed they can be with
the ordinary and extraordinary receipts al
ready provided by law. The estimated bal
ance that will be in the treasury June 30th,
is only $3,530,000, and leaving no margin
for additional appropriations II therefore
the appropriations should exceed
the estimates, or Congress should determine
TO provide within this period for payment of
any portion Of the public debt, it will be-
come necessary to make provision for such
contingencies. If additional demands are
created upon the treasury by legislation Of
the present Congress, provision must be made
to meet them by such increase in the tariff
duties, as may be required for that purpose.
In such an event, he respectfully refers Con-
gress to his last report Containing tho uie..,.,-
on the subject, as no provision is made for
the permanent redemption OF any portion of
the $40, 900 treasury notes and as an
thority, for issuing them win expire on 30th
June it will be necessary for Congress to ex-
tend the law for that purpose for another
period. ... .... 81. a..a ..... ..a