The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-12-28
Presidents Message.
Fsllo.ol 0si.ass Of de Senate aua House Of Re.

Fetoso' tfftT17s cJ Ane cenGfe nsa fzoaee oJ he-
presmt4tiues:
Our deep and heartfelt gratitude Is due to that |
Almighty Power which has bestowed upon US
such varied and numerous blessing throughout |
the past year. The general health of the coun-
try bas been excellent; our haryests have been
unusually plentiful and prosperity smiles |
throughout the land. Indeed, notwithstanding
our demerits we have much reason to believe |
from the past events our history. that we have
enjoyed the special protection of Divine Provi-
dence ever since our origin as nation. we
have beer exposed TO many threatening and
alarming difficulties IN our progress; but on each
successive occasion the impending eiond mas
been dissipated at the moment it appeared ready |
to burst upon our head, and the danger to our |
institutions has passed away. May we ever he
under the Divine guidance and protectloni
HARpER's FERRy NATTER.
Whilst it is the dLty Of the President @from
time to time to give to Congress information of
the State of the Union,' shall not refer in de-
tail to the recent sad and bloody occurrences at
Harpers Ferry. Still, 1t Is proper to observe
that these events, however bad and cruel in
themselves, derive their chief Importance from
thenpp-ehension that they are but symptoms Of
an incurable disease in the public mind, which
may break out In still more dangerous outrages
aud terminate at last in an open war by the
North to abolish slavery in the South Whilst,
for myself entertain no such apprehension,
they ought to afford q solemn warning to US all
20 pewarg or inc approacn OF danger. Our
= ..aas =. ".,d s
;ts nrsssryat;on In this view. let me imnlore
INV countrymen. North and South. to cultivate
the ancient feeling Of mutual forbearance and
good will towards each other, and strive to aliey
the demon spirit of sectional strife now alive In
the land. This advice proceeds from the heart
OF an oia PUBIC tunc'ionary whose ssrsicss .ts
,uN c9nlnenSeo ~ 'ne . s ss .ta.s sns
ss III "a x,sss t;sst a,,i
5ea-ast say,hIv pish = y, ,eave bis countrv tran.
ouiI. prospercus. united and happy.
We ought to reflect that in this age, and espe-
cially in this country, there is an incessant fux
and rcdux ofpublc opinion Questions which in
their day assumed q most threatening aspect,
have now nearly gone forth from the memory OF
men. They are volcanoes burnt out, and on
the lava and ashes and squalid scori@ of old
eruptions grow the peaceful olive the cheering
vine, and the sustaining corn.D Such in my
opinion viii prove to be the fate of the present
sectional excitement should those VINO wisely
seek to apply tue remedy, continue always 10
eonfne their effort within the paie oi me Con-
stitufion. Ii this course Do pursued, tne exist
ing agitation on the subject OF domestic Slavery,
like everything human, will have its day and
give place to other and less threatening centro-
versies- Public opinion in this country is all
powerful, aud when it reaches dangerous ex-
cess upon any question, the good sense OF the
people will furnish the corrective and bring it
back within safe imits. STILL to hasten this
suspicious result, at the present crisis, we ought
to remember that every rational creature must
be presumed to intend the natural consequences
of bis own teachings. Those who announce abb
stract doctrines subyeIsive to the Constitution
and the Union, must not be surprised should
their heated partisans advance one step further,
and attempt by violence TO carry these doctrines
into effect In this view OF the subject 1t ought
never to be forgotten that, however great may
have been the the political advantages resulting
from the Unionto every portion OF our common
country, these would all prove 70 be as nothing
should the time ever arrive when they cannot be
enjoyed without serious danger 70 the personal
safety OF the people OF hiteen members OF the
; confederacy. Ii the peace OF the domestic hre-
side throughout these States should ever be IT,
vaded-5f the mothers oil families within thls
extensive region should not be able to retire to
rest at night without suffering dreadful apprc-
hensions OF what may be their own. fate and
that Of their children before the morning--lt
would be in vain to recount to such people
me pohtleai dement's winch result to them
from the Union. Sel,preserystloh Is the nrst
lnsthcs OF natlfeii anu tnefeiore any state Oh
society IN wnieh tne SWORD is al tne Time sus-
pended over the heaas OF the people, must at
Last become mtoleraDle. But i indulge In nc
such gloomy forebodings. On the CONTRARY, /
firmly believe that the levents at Harpers
Ferry, BY causing the people to pause and re-.
hect upon tins possible peril OF their cherished
lnshtunons VIII De the means, under Provl-.
dence oI alaylng tne existing e1citement ana
preventing future outbreaks OF a similar eharac-
ter. They will resolve that the Constitution
and the Union shall not be endangered by rash
counsels, knowing that, should the silver cord
be loossd or the golden bowl pc broken
at the fountain, human power eouloz never re-
uulte the scaeeetee. anu nos'tle nag slii''lss'
SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES
cordially congratulate you upon the fna
sett,srnentb by the Supreme Court Of the United
Sores If the Question Of slavery in the teri, to