Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-12-14
Tzn PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


ing, the country has been eminently pros
porous in its material interests. { The cencr
u health has been excellent, our harvests
have been abundant, and plenty smiles
throughout the land Our commerce and
manufactures have been prosecuted with en-.
ergy and industry, and have yielded fair and
ample returns. In short no nation in the tide
Of time, has ever shown spectacle ofgreater
material prosperity, than we have done until
very recent period. Why is it, then, that
discomfort now extensively prevails, and the
union Of the States, which IS the source Of all
these blessings, is threatened with destruc-
ton 1? The long continued and incorporate
interference of the Northern people with the
question of slavery in the Southern States,
has at length produced its natural Effects
The different sections Of the Union are now
arrayed against each other, and the time has
arrived so much dreaded by the Father Of
His Country, when hostile geographical par
ties have been formed Ihave long foresecn,
and often forewarned, my countrymen Of the
now impending danger. This does not pro-
coed solely from the claim on the part of
Congress or the Territorial Legislatures to
exclude slavery from the Territories; nor
from the efforts of different States to defeat
the execution of the Fugitive Slave Law. All
or any of these evils might have been en-
slured by the South, without danger to the
Union, as others have been, in the hope that
time and reflection might apply and remedy.
The immediate peril arises, not somuch from
these causes, as from the fact that the violent
agitation of the slavery question throughout
the North for the last quarter of century,
has at length produced its malign influence
on the slaves, and inspired them with vague
notions of freedom hence sense ofsecurity
no longer exists around the family altar
This feeling Of peace at home has given place
to apprehensions of servile insurIection.-
Many matron throughout the South, retircs
at night in dread Of what may befall herself
and her children before the morning. Should
this apprehension Of domestic danger, wheth-
or real or imaginary, extend and intensity
itself until it shall pervade the masses of the
Southern people, then disunion will be inev-
liable. Self preservation is the first law of
nature, and has been implanted in the heart
Of man by his Creator, for the wisest pprpos-
cs, and no political union, however Taught
with blessings and benefits in all other re-
spccts, can long continue, if the necessary
consequences be to render the homes and
fircsidcs of nearly half the parties to it habit
ually and hopclessly insecure Sooner or
later the bonds Of such nation must be sew
cred. It is my conviction that this fatal pc
Rod has not yet arrived, and my prayer to
God is that he would preserve the Constitr-
ton and the Union throughout all generations.
But let us take warning in time and remove
the cause Of danger. 1t cannot be denied
that for five and twenty years, the agitation
against Slavery in the South has been inces-
M ~ hor o,,I ;,,Ac
matory appeals were circulated extensively
throughout the South, of a character to ex-
cite the passions of the slaves-and in the
to instruction, and produce all the horrors
since been continued by the public press, by
the proceedings of State and County Conven-
tons, and by abolition sermons and lectures.
The time of Congress has been occupied in
violent speeches on the never ending subject,
and appeals in pamphlet, and other forms,
endorsed by distinguished names, have been
sent forth from this central point, and spread
broadcast over the Union. How easy would
it be for the American people to settle the
slavery question forever, and to restore peace
and harmony to this distracted country
They alone can do it. All that is necessary
to accomplish this object and all which the
slave Safes have ever contended for, is to be
let alone, and permitted to manage their do
mestc institutions in their own way, as SOW
cregn States. They, and they alone are re-
sponsible before God and the world for the
slavery existing among them. For this the
people of the North are not more responsible,
and have no moro right to interfere than with
similar institutions in Russia or Brazil. Up
ON their good sense and patriotic forbearance
can greatly rely. Without their aid it is
beyond the power of any President, no mat
ter what may be his own political proclivi-
ties, to restore peace and harmony among
the States.
Wisely limited and restrained as his pow
er under our Constitution and laws is, he
alone can accomplish but little for good or
evil, OH such monentous question; and this
brings me to observe that the election of any
one Of our fellow citizens to the Office of Pres
ident, does not in itself afford just cause for
dissolving the Union. This is more especially
true if his election has been effected by mere
plurality, and not a majority Of the people.
aud has resulted from transient and tempo
rary causes which may probably never again
occur. In order to justify resort to revou-
tionary resistance the Federal Government
must be guilty Of a deliberate, palpable and
dangerous exercise of powers not granted by
the Constitution. The late Presidential cleo
ton has however, been held in strict conform
ity with its express provisions. How, then.
can the result justify revolution to destroy
this very Constitution? Reason, justice and
regard for the Constitution, all require that
We shall wait for some overt and dangerous
act on the part of the President elect before
r,sorting to such remedy. 1t is said, how
ever, that the antecedent of the President
elect have been sufficient to justify the fears
Of the South that he will attempt to invade
their constitutional rights; but are such APP
prchensions Of contingent danger in the flu
.ture sufticicntto justify theimmedate destruc-
ton Of the noblcst system Of government ever
devised by mortals? From the very nature Of
his Office and its high responsibilities he must
necessarily be conservative. The stern duty
of administering the vast and complicated
councils of this government affords in itself a
guarantee that he will not attempt any viola
ton Of clear constitutional right. After all
he is no more than the chief executive officer
Of the. Government
His province is not to make but execute its
Jaws, and it is remarkable fact in our histo-
~ that, notwithstanding the repeated efforts