The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-05
THE CRISIS.
STATE OF THE UNION.
-~>~~.~~~~-~~-~~~~~~~-
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Annual Reports Of the Treasury,
War, Navy, Interior and
Post Office Departments.
Important Position Of the President on
the Crisis Of the Union.
The Material and Industrial Pros
perity Of the Country.
Shall Such a Nation be
Dissolved 2
Appeal Of tho President to the
Patriotism Of the People,
&s., &s.s &ss
Shall Such a Nation be
Dissolved 2
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

AND HOUSE, OF RxPR8sENTArvEs:-
Throughout the year since eur last meeting the
country has been eminendy prosperous In al It's
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 ener.
xy and industry, and have yielded fair and ample
returns. In short no nation in the tide of time has
ever presented Q spectacle of greater materia'
prosperity than We have done until within very
recent period.
Why Is IT, then, that discomfort now SO extensive
Iy prevails, and the Union Of tho States, which Is
the source Of all these blessings, Is threatened with
destruction! The long continued and Incorporate
interference Of the Northern people with the ques-
ton of slavery in the Southern States has st 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
parties have been formed. have long foreseen
and often forewarned my counrymen Of the now
Impending danger. This does not proceed solely
from the claim on the part Of Congress or the Ter
ritorial Legislatures TO exclude slavery from the
Territories, nor from the efforts of different States
to defeat the execution Of the Fugitive Slave law.
by the South without danger TO the Union,
Gas others have been,) In the hope that time
and reflection might apply the remedy. The
Immediate peril arises not so much nom these
causes a. from the fact that the ncessant and vio-
lent 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 Of security no longer exists around
the family altar. This feeling OF peace at home
has given place to apprehensions Of servie insur-
rection. Many q matron throughout the South re-
tires at night in dread Of what may befall herself
and her children before the morning. Should this
apprehension Of domestic danger, whether real or
imaginary extend and intensity itself until II shall
pervade the masses of the Southern people, then
disunon will become inevitable. Selfpreservation
Ia the first law Of nature, and has been implanted
In the heart Of man by his Creator for the wisest
purpose; and no political union, however fraught
with blessings and benefits In all other respects,
can long continue, II the necessary consequence be
to render the homes and the resides Of nearly half
the parties to II hsbtually and hopelessy insecure
Sooner or later the bonds of such Union must be
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. II cannot be denied that for five
and twenty years, the agitation at the North
against slavery in the South has been incessant.
In 1895 pictorial hsndbills and nnammatory ap-
peaIs we're 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 nsurection and produce all
the horrors Of 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 this never ending subject; and appeals in
pamphlet and other forms, endorsed by distin.
auished names, have been sent forth from this cen
trail point, and spread broadcast over the Union.
How easy would II be for the American people
70 settle the slavery question forever, and TO re-
store peace and harmony TO this distracted coun-
try.
They, and they alone, can do IL. All that i no.
cessary to accomplish the object, and all for which
the slave States have ever contended. Is 10 be lei
alone. and permitted to manage their domestic in
stisusions in their own way. As sovereign States,
they, and they alone. are responsible before ood
and the world for the slavery existing among them
For this the people Of the North are not more res
pousible and have no moro right to interfere, than
with similar institutions in Russia or IN Brazil.
Upon their good sense and patriotic forbearance
confess still greatly rely. without their aid, II =
beyond the power Of any President, no matter
what may be his own political proclivities, 70 re-
store peace and harmony among the States. Wise
iy limited and restrained as l. his power under ON
constitution and laws, he alone can accomplish bu
little, for good or for evil, on such a momeotou
question.
And this brings nc to observe that the election
OF any one Of our fellow citizens 70 the Office o
President does not Of itself afford Just cause fo
disaolving the Union. This is moro especially tru,
sfb,. election has been Effected by mere plurality
and not a meior'y, ofthe people, and has resu,e'
from ,rsrsient and temporary causes which N j
probably never again occur. In order 70 Justify
resort 10 revolutionary resistance, the federal 80