The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-12-13
Presidents Message,


H.ssf "'s~ Ao"oo " AeoP oooHtuttOcS.
Throughout the year since our last meet
ing, the coun try has been eminently pros
porous in its material interests. The general
health has been excellent, our harvests have
been abundant, and plenty smiles throughout
the land. Our commerce and manufactures
have been prosecuted with energy and indus
try, and have yielded fair and ample returns.
In short, no nation in the tide Of time, has
ever presented spectacle of greater materi
al prosperity, than we have done until vtry
recent period. Why is it, then, that discon-
tent now extensively prevails, and the union
Of the States. which is the source ofall these
blessing>,is threatened with destruction The
long con inued intemperate interference OF
the Northern people with the question of
slavery in the Southern States, has at length
produced its natural effects. The different
sections ofthe Union are now arrayed against
each other, and the time has arrived so much
dreaded by the Father Of His Country, when
hostile geographical parties have been form
cd. have long foreseen, and often fore
warned, my countrymcn Of the now impend-
ing danger. This does not proceed solely
from the claim on the.part Of Congress or the
Territorial Leg g'slatures 10 exclude slavery
different States to de.eat tie execution of the
Fugitive Slave Law All or any of these
evils might have been endured by the South,
without danger to the Union, as Others have
been, in the hope that time and reflection
might apply the remedy. The immediate
peril arises, not so much from the causes, as
from the fact that the violent agitation of the
slavery question throughout the North for
the last quarter ofa century, has at length
produced its malign influence on the slaves.
and inspired them with vague notions of
freedom hence a sense Of security no long
er exists around The family altar. This feel
ing Of peace at home has given place to ap-
prehenEions of servile insurrection MANY
matrons throughout the South, retires at
night in dread ofwhat may befaIl herself and
children before morning. Should this appre
hension Of domestic danger, whether real or
imaginary, extend aud intensity itself. until
it shall pervade the masses Of the Southern
people, then disunon will be inevitable
Selfpreservation is the first law of nature,
and has been implanted in the heart of man
by his Creator for the wisest purposes, and
no political union. however fraught with
Blessings and benefits IN all other respects,
can long continue if tie necessary conse-
quences be to render the homes and firesides
of nearly halt the parties to it habitually and
hopeleSsly insecure. Socncr or later the
bonds of such a union must b. severed Ii
is my conviction that this fatal period has
not yet arrived, and my prayer to God is
that he would preserve the Constitution 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 incas-
SAINT. In 1888, pictorial hand bills and in
fammatory appeals were circulated exten-
sively throughout the South, Of character
to excite the passions Of the slaves-and in
the language Of Gen. Jackson, to stimulate
them to insurrection, and produce all the
horrors of a servile war. This agitation has
ever since been continued by the public press
by the proceedings of State and County
Conventions 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
othr forms, endorsed by distinguished names
have been sent forth from this central point.
xnd spread broadcast over the Union. How
easy would it be for the American people to
settle the slavery question forever, and to
restore harmony and peace to this distract
ed country. They alone can do it. All that
is necessary to accomplish this object and
all which the Slave States have ever contend
ed for, is to be left alone, and permitted 10
manage their domestic institutions in their
own way, as Sovereign States. They, and
they alone, are responsible before God and
the world for the slavery existing with them.
For this the people Of the North are not
more responsible. and have no more right to
interfere, than with similar institutions in
Russia or Brazil. Upon their good sense
and patriotic forbearance confess greatly
rely. Without their aid it is beyond the
power Of any President, no matter what may
be his political proclivlties, to restore peace
and harmony among the States. Wisely
limited and restrained as is his power uader
the Constitution and laws, he alone can &C.
complish but little for good or evil, on such
q momentous question and this brings me
to observe that the election Of any one Of our
fellow-citizens to the Office of President, does
not of itself afford just cause for dissolvine
the Union. This is more especially true il
his election has been effected by mere plu-
rality, and not a majority of the people, ard
has resulted from transient and teampo
rary causes which may probably ney-
er again occur. In order to JUST
fya resort to revolutionary resistance, the
Federal Government must be guilty Of de
liberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise oI
powers not granted by the Constitution
The recent Presidential Election. however
has been held in strict conformity with its
express provisions. How then can the re-
silt Justify a revolution 10 destroy this very
Constitution Reason, justice and regard
for the Constitution all require that we shal
wait for some overt and dangerous act or
the part of the President elect before resort
ing to such remedy. 1t is said. however
that the antecedents Of the President cleo,
have been sufficient to justify the faars Of The
South that he will attemDt to invade their
constitutional rights but are such appre
tensions of contingent danger in the future
sufficient to justify the immediate destruc
ton of the noblest system of Governmen,
ever devised BY mortals From the very
nature # his Office and its high responsible
ties he must necessarily be conservatives -
The stern duty of administering the. vas'
and complicated councils Of this government
affords in itself a guarantee that he will no,
attempt any violation Of q clear C0nstiiu
tional right. After oil he Is nothing but tht
Chief Executive officer of the Government
His province Is not to make, but execute it
laws. and it Is 4 remarkable fact in oul
history that, notwithstanding the repeated
sGorts ofthe anti-slavery. party, no s'ngl'