The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Ftl3ow Cii-ens Of tie Senate
uta TT,,tcs of P,prro,,y,y'r,e

E'hNi"i h'fAili las bNtll tNt'lltllls Oul
harvests have been abundant, and plenty
smiles throughout the land. Our com
merce and manufactures have been pros
ecuted with energy and industry, and
have yielded fair and ample returns. In
short, no nation IN the tide of time has
ever presented spectacle of greater me-
terial prosperity than we have done until
within very recent period.
Why is it, then, that discomfort now 50
extensively prevails, and the Union OF
these States, which is the source Of all
these blessings, is threatened with de.
struction? The long-continued and in
temperate interference OF. the Northern
people with the subject of Slavery in the
Southern States has ut length produced
its natural effects. The different sections
of the Union are now arrayed against
each other, and the time has arrived, SC
much dreaded by the Father of his Coun
try, when hostile geographical parties
have been formed. ! have long forcseen
and often forewarned my countrymen OF
the now impending danger. This does
not proceed solely from the claim on the
part of Congress or the Territorial Lcgis-
latures to exclude slavery from the Ter.
ritories, nor from the efforts of different
States to defeat the execution of the fu.
gitive-slave law. All or any of these evils
might have been endured by the South
without danger to the Union, las Others
have been,) in the hope that time and re-
Election might apply Il remedy. The inn
mediate peril arises not so much from
these causes as from the fact that the in
cessant and violent agitation of the slave
ry 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 no.
tons of freedom. Hence sense of So
curity no longer exists around the family
altar. This feeling of peace at home has
given place to apprehcnsions of servile
insurrcction. Many matron through
out the South retjrcs at night in drcd of
what may befaIl herself and her children
before the morning. Should this appre-
hension of domestic danger, whether
real or imaginary, extend and intensity il
self until it shall pervade the masses OF
the Southern people, then disunion will
become inevitable. Scll-preservation is
the first law of nature, and has been i'm.
planted in the heart of man by his Crea-
tor for the wisest purpose; and no politi-
cal union, however franght with blessings
and benefits in all other respects, can
long continue, if the necessary conse-
quence be to render the homes and the
tiresides of nearly half the parties to it
habitually and hopelessly Insecure. Soon
er or later the bonds Of such a Union
must he severed. 1t 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 Anne, and
remove the cause of danger. 1t cannot
be denied that, for five and twenty years,
the agitation at the North against slavery
in the South has been inccssant. In 1888
pictorial hand-bills, and inflammatory
appeals, were circulated extensively
throughout the South, of character to
excite the passions Of the slaves; and, in
the language of General jackson, "to
stimulate them to insurrection, and pro-
ducc all the horrors ofservile 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 this nevcrending sub
,ject; 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 Ameri.
can people to settle the slavery question
forever, and to restore peace and harmo-
ny to this distracted country.
They, and they alone, can do it, All
that is necessary to accomplish the object,
and all for which the slave States have
ever contended, is to be let alone, and per
mitted TO manage their domestic instltu.
tions ia their own way. As sovereign
States, they, and they alone, are respon.
sible 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 more right tc
interfere, than with similar institutions
in Russia or in Brazil. Upon their good
sense and patriotic forbearance ! confess
still greatly rely. Without their aid, il
is beyond the power of any President, nc
matter what may be his own political
proclivities, to restore peace and harmo
ny among the States. Wisely limited
and restrained as is his power, under oul
Constitution and laws, he alone can ac
comlhish out little, for good or for evil
on such momentous question.
And this brings me to observe that the
election of any one Of our tellow-citizen,
to the office of President does not O
itself afford just cause for dissolving tho
Union. This is more especially trle i
| his election has been effected by mere
plurality, and II majority, of the people
and has resulted from transient and TEN
porary causes, which may probably never
again occur. la order to justify a resort
to revolutionary resistance, the Fedora
Government must be guilty of "a delib
crate, palpable, and dangerous exercise
of powers not granted by the Constitu
ton. The late Presidential election
has been held in strict conformity with
its express provisions. How, then, cal
the result justify revolution to destroy
this very Constitutions Reason, justice
u regard for the Constitution, all require
that we shall wait for some overt and dan
gerous act on the part OF the President
elect before resorting to such a remedy.
1t is said, however, that the anteced
ents of the President elect have been
sufficient to justify the fears of the South
that he will attempt to invade their con
stitutional rights. But are such appre,
tensions OF contingent danger in the fu
ture sufficient to justify the immediate
destruction Of the noblest system of gov
ernnent ever devised by mortals? From
the very nature of his office, anl its high
responsibilities, he must necessarily be
conservative. The stern duty OF admin
istering the vast and complicated con
Germs of this Government affords in itselt
a guarantee that lie will not attempt any
violation ofa clear constitutional right
After all. he is no more than the chic
executive officer of the Government
His province is not to make, but to exc
cute the laws; and it is remarkable fact
in our history, that, Notwithstanding the