The Shasta courier., 1860-01-21
SHASTA COURIER,
The Presidents Message.

sioAs GiEuletH HlIeS nOrIu Oh CpIlnRUelus MlS-
souri,, thence by overland mail to Firebaughs
Ferry, thence by telegraph to Sacramento for
the Union. 1t was brought across the con-
tinent in fifteen days and three and a quarter
hours The message last year brought a.
cross in nineteen days and fifteen hours. We
have space but for meagre synopsis of this
very mastery document.
We give The entire portion of the message on
the question of slavery in the Territories;
cordially congratulate you upon the final
settlement by the Supreme Court of the United
States of the question of slavery in the Terrific
ries, which had presented an aspect so truly
formidable at the commencement of my admin
istration. The right has been established of
every citizen to take his property of any kind,
including slaves, into the common Territories
belonging equally to the States Of the Confeder-
acy, and to have it protected there under the
Federal Constitution. Neither Congress, nor a
Territorial Legislature, nor any human power
has any authority to annu or impair this vested
right. The Supreme Judicial Tribunal of the
country, which is a coordinate branch of the
Government, has sanctioned and affirmed these
principles of Constitutional law manfestiy just
In themselves, and so well calculated to promote
peace and harmony aSss6u1i States. 1t is
PROOF OF the sense Justce Wulcn Is
inherent in people, and the property in
slaves has never been disturbed to my know
ledge in any of the Territories. Even through
out the late troubles in Kansas there has not
been any attempt as am credbly informed, to
interfere in a single instance with the right of
the master Had any such attempt been made,
the Judiciary would doubtless have afforded an
adequate remedy. Should they fail to do this
hereafter it will then be time enough to strength
their hands by further legislation. Had it
been decided that either Congress or the Terri
torial Legislature possess the power to annul or
impair the right to property in slaves, the evil
would be lntolerable. In the latter event there
would be a struggle for majority of the mem
bers of the Legislature at each successive cleo
tion, and the sacred rights of property held
der the Federal Constitution would depend for
the time being the result. The agitation
would then be rendered incessant whilst the
Territorial condition remained, and its influence
would keep alive dangerous excitement among
the people of The Several States. Thus have the
statutes of Territory during the intermediate
period from its first settlement till il shall be-
come State been irreyocably fixed by the final
decision of the Supreme Court Fortunate has
this been for the prosperity of the Territories as
well as the tranquility of the States. Now
igrants from the North and South-the East and
the West viii meet in the Territories on a COM
mon platform, having brought with them that
species of property best adapted, in their own
opinion to promote their welfare. From natu-
raj causes the slavery question will in each case
soon virtually settle itself, and before the Terri
tory is proposed for admission as a State into
the Union. This decision, one way or the 9TH
er, will have heen foregone conclusion. Mean
while the settlement of the Territories will pro-
ceed without serious interruption, and its pro-
gress and prosperity will not be endangered or
retarded by violent political struggles When
IN the progress of events the inhabitants of any
Territory shall have reached the number re-
qnired to form State, they will then proceed in
regular manner and in the exercise of their
rights of Popular Sovereignty to form Consti-
tuition preparatory to admission into the Union.
After this has been done, to employ the Ian
-ernaGe of the Kansas and Nebraska Act, they
shall be received into the Union with or without
slavery, their Constitution may prescribe at
the time Of the admission. This principle has
happily been recognized in some form other
by an almost unanimous vote of both Houses of
the last Congress.
In reference to the Harper's Ferry raid, and
the doctrines which led to it, the President ex-
presses confidence in the perpetuity of the Union.
He believes when public opinion reaches a
dangerous excess upon any question, the good
of the people will furnish the corrective. -
Nevertheless he thinks
Those who announce abstract doctrines sub
versive of the Constitution and the Union, must
not be surprised should their heated partisans
advance one step further and attempt by vio-
ience to carry these doctrines into practical eff
feet. In this view of the subject it ought never
to be forgotten that, however great may have
been the political advantages resulting from the
Union 10 every portion of our common country,
these would all prove to be as nothing should
the time ever arrive when they cannot be en-
joyed without serious damage to the personal
safety of the people of fifteen members of the
confederacy. 1t the reace of the domestic fire.
side throughout these States should ever be in
vaded; if the mothers of families within this
extensive region should not be able to retire to
rest at night, without suffering dreadful appre-
tensions of what may be their own fate and that
of their children before the morning, it would
be vain to recount to such people the political
benefits which result to them from the Union
Self-preservation is the first instinct of nature
aud therefore any state of society in which the
sword is all the time suspended over the heads
of the people, must at last become intoerabe
But INDUCE in no such gloomy forebodings.
On the contrary firmly believe that the events
at Harper's Ferry, by causing the people to
pause and reflect upon the possible peril to
their cherished institutions, will be the means,
under Providence, Of allayng the existing ex-
element ard preventing future outbreaks of a
similar character. They will resolve that the
Constitution and the Union Shall not be endang-
cred by rash eounsels, knowing, that, should
the Silver cord be lo6sed, or the golden bowl be
broken at the fountain, human power could
never reunite the scattered and hostile frag-
mentS.
Every effort has been used to prosecute to
conviction those engaged in violating the laws
against the African slave trade 1t is believed
that the cargo OF the q Wanderer," numbering
between three and four hundred, embraced all
the slaves imported into the United States
The wisdom of our course towards China has
been vindicated by the negotiation and ratifca-
lion of favorable treaty and two supplemental
conventions
Our difficulties with the Paraguay Republic
have been satisfactorily adjusted.
Our relations with all the Governments on the
Continent of Europe, except Spain, continue of
the most friendly character.
The Presidents views in favor Of the acqui-
sition of Cuba, by fair purchase, remain un-
changed.
The President vindicates the action of a the
Gallant General n-Uarney-iu ordering Cant