Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Throughout the wear since last meeting, the cOun-
try has been emue0ty prosperous in oil is material H.
terests The general health has been excellent bar
vests have bsen abundant and plenty smiles throughout
the land. Our commerce and manufactures have been
prosecuted With energy and industry, and have yielded
fair and ample In short nation in the tide
OF time has presented spectacle Of greater mate
rial prosperity than We have done until within very re-
cent period.
Why Is ii, then that discomfort nov so extensively
prevails and the UliOl Of the States which the
OF all thess blessings is threitened With distraction -
The ongcontnued and Incorporate Interference Of the
Northern people with the question Of slavery in the
Southern States has at length produced ts natural e
fleets. Tue different sections Of the Union are now ar
rayed against each other, and the time has arrived
80 much dreaded by the Father OF his Country, when
hostile geographical parties have been formed. have
long oreseen and often iorewarned my couotrymen OF
the impending danger. This does not proceed sole
Is ircm the claim the part Of Congress the terrific
rial legislatures % exclude slavery from the Territories
nor from the Efforts OF different states 70 defeat the exc
cu;ion Of the fugiive-s!ave law. All any Of these
evils might have been endured by the South without
danger 70 the Union. l Others have been in the hope
that time and reflection might apply the remedy. The
immediate peril arises not much from these causes
as from the fact that the incessant and violent ag-
talon Of the slavery question throughout the North
for the last quarter OF century, has at length pro
dsced les magl influence on the slaves aud inspired
them with vsgUe notions Of freedom Hence, sense Of
security longer exists around the family altar Tbs
OF seryie resurrection. Many matrOn throughout The
South retres night 10 dread OF whst may beiL herself
aud her children before the morning should this appre
hcnson Of domestic danger whether real o. imaginary,
extend and itensiiy itself until it shall pervads the
misses OF thc Southern people, then dsuuion viii be-
come Inevitable. Sepreseryaon is the first law OF ua-
tgre ard has been implanted in the heart OF m1a by hrs
Creator for The wses purpose and no political unioo,
hoseyer aught with blessings and benefits IN a other
respects can long continue IL the necessary consequence
be 70 render the homes and fresiGes Of nearly half
she parties 20 hl5itually and hopelessly insecure
Sooner or later the bonds Of such Union must be sew
cred I is nv conviction that this ata, period has
vet arrived; and prayer God is that He would pre-
serve the Constitution and the Union throughout al gen
erlions.
Bls lst Us take warning in time and removable cause
o. dlnger H cannot be denied that for i've aud twen'y
vear- the agitation az the North against slavery in the
South has been incessanL In 1885 pictorial hAndbils
and indammlt0rv appeals circulated extensively
tlr0lghogt the south OF character 20 excite the pas
s1ns Of the slaves and In the language Of General Jack
son 10 stimulate them 20 Instruction AMI produce -i
the horrors Of seryils war This agitation has ever
since been continued By the pubic press oy the proceed
ilgs Of safe and county convenoos, aud by abolition
sermons and lectures The time Of Congress has been
Occupied IN vOer speeches on this ending subject
and appeals in pamphlet and other forms, endorsed by
Distinguished names have been forth tom this
triI point and spread brolics,: over the Union.
How easy would {. 5e for the American people TO set
A the slavery question forever and % restore peace aud
harmony 20 this distracted cou1try.
they and they alone, can do t. All that is necessary
TO accomplish the OLDEST and all for which the slave
Sues have ever coltsuded il % be let alone and per-
ted 20 manage their domestic institutions il their
way. AS sovereign SAFES they, and they alone
spols5,s before tod and the world for The slavery
i-tag among them FOR this the people OF the North
rcsDonsisl' aud have more right 20 iu
terlere than with similar in,toas "a Russia or In Br
ziL Upon their good seusc aud patriotic toroearance
eoofsss sslr s'ealy rely Without their aid &c is be-
yond the poNer OF any Presidcat matter what may
h5 hs OEn political DrOevitis 90 restore peace aud har-
moay among the STATES Wisely limited and restrained
IS his poser. uHdes Constitution aud laws be alone
accomplish bat i,ie for good or for evil on such
mOm.lt0us question.
AMI ibis brog me TO observe that the election Of auy
one o; our fcou-,zsns the c,e Of President does
10; OF ITSELF afford just for disaolyug the Juion-
Tli, &, especially trceit his election has been effect
"a by mere plurality, and nor majority OF The pe1-
pie and has resulted from transient and temporary Clg-
s,s, walsh NAV probably never again occur III order
justify resort % revolutionary resistance the Federal
Goyerlme1t must be guilty Of "a deliberate, pplo',
rul dangerous exercise OF powers NOS cr-uted oy t-
C1lsiu ion The late PrCs.deutitl e'ec.ou, tOEev,r,
has been held 10 strict conformity with express provi-
ions How then, can the rcsu, justify revolution 90
DESTROY this very Coos u'Ocs Reason, Istige regard
for The Constitution all require tai- shall wi. Tor
some overt ard dangerous sc. Gu The part Of the Pe
den. el-c, before r,sosLug 10 such d remedy.
Il Is -a.d however that The lnteccdents Of the Pres
dent elect have been sufficient % justify the fears Of the
Sog'h that De vii. attempt 90 invade their constitutional
rights But such apprehension Of contingent danger
in tie future sufficient TO justify Jde immediate destr-c
,0l of tie uo1sl system Of government ever devised oy
uoIta.-s lrom the very nature OF bis olce, and its
high responsibilities be must necessarily DC conservative
TIE stern duty OF administering the and complicated
concerns OF this Government Gh1ru5 10 itself guarantee
shat be will not attempt any violation Of clear col-
stuiiousl right After an, he Is more than the
chief executive officer o. the Government Ills province
is MOI % make but execute che ass and &c Is re-
rnsrsabs fact 10 our history that, notwithstanding the
repeated efforts OF the antsayery party, no single act
has passed Congress unless We may possibly e1cep
tbe Missouri COMPROMISE impairing, IN the slightest DE-
cree tie rights OF the South heir pzOpery in slaves
Aud NAV also be observed judging from preseat nd
cations that probability exists OF the passage oil suca
a. act OF majority OF both Houses, either IN the pies
ems or the next Congress Surely under these crCu-
stances We ought to DO r,sraiaed from present action
By the preeept Of Hm who snake never man spoke,
that suliciell unto the day Is the evil thereof Toe
day Of evil NAV come unless We shall really bring
10 upon ourselves
the southern States are denied equal rights with the
u,hsr States 10 common Territories. Bus by What gu.
thori.y are these deueds NOT by Congress, which has
never passed and believe never VII pass, any act TO
exclude slavery .om these Territories: ami certainly no,
by the S1p5eme Court which h.s solemny decided hs;
slaves are property, aud Ike all other property, their
owners have rich. 70 take them ilto the common Ter
5res and hold them there under the protection OF the
Constitution
s. lar then as Congress Is concerned the objection
s no. TO anything they have already DONE but 10 What
they may do hereafter. Il viii surely be admitted that
this apprehension Of future danger Is no good reason for
An immediate dissolution Of the Union. IL il true that
ths territorial legislature Of ku,a the 23d Of FEB
ruirv 500 pissed in great haste an act over the veto
Of ths governor declaring cha. s'v"rv % AID shall p,
f1-evlS prohibited in this feF5uU. rH-a 40 ser how
e7r ptilly violating the rghs Of properly secured by
he Constitution viii surely be declared void by the jl
dietary whenever it shall. be presented ia gal form
Oily three days after my Inauguration the supreme
Court of The Unred States s'smuy adjudged that this
p9rer did not exist IN a territorial legislature. lc.
uci has been the iacrou temper Of the times that the
correctness Of this decision has b,cn extensively ir-
puglsd before the people and the question has given
rise % Angry political conflicts throughout the country.
hiz1egt constitutional tribunal 70 popular assemblies
would il they could inves. territorial legislature with
p34er 10 aangl tue slcrsd rights OF property. Tbs
DoEer Congrtssis expressly forbidden by the Federal
Consttu ion 20 exercise Every State Legislature u the
Unoa Is forbidden By rs Constitution 20 exercise o.
L. cannot be exercised la any State ezcepoy the people
In their highest sovereign capacity when framing or
amending their STATE Constitution. In Ike manner, it
can oly be exercised by the people Of Territory rep
snted IN convention Of deegaes for the p-rPose Of
framing a constitution preparatory % admission as q
sac ioto the Union. Then, and not until them are
tbv iave. cd With power 10 decide the question Whether
alvey shall or shall not exist within their limits Tbs
4 a. aes OF sovereign authority, and not o. subordinate
territorial legislation. Were il otherwise, then indeed
would The equality Of the States IN the territories pc de-
s,royed and the rights Of property in slaves would de-
psnd no. uDon the guarantees Of the Constitution, but
n9On the shifting maj0tes OF an lrrasponsols territorial
iegisltture Such doctrine from is intrinsic uusound-
ness cannot long influence any considerable portion OF
our people much less il Afford good reason Tor