Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

'hS, 'ne country HIS oeeh eIhIhently pros
porous III all its material interests. The
general health has been excellent, our har-
vests have been abundant, and plenty smiles
throughout the laad. Our commerce and
manufactures have been prosecuted with
energy and industry, and have yielded fair
and ample returns. In short, no nation in
the tide Of time has ever presented a spec
tacle Of greater material prosperity than
we have done until within very recent
period.
Why is it, then, that discomfort now Sc
extensively prevails. and the Union Of the
States, whicl, Is the source Of all these bles
sings, is lEreataped with destruction The
long. continued and iI,emrera.e interfer-
ence of the Northern people with the 9ues
ton 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 Fa
ther Of his Country, when hostile geograph
ical parties have been formed. have long
foreseen and often forewarned my country
men Of the now impending danger. This
does not proceed solely from the claim on
the part Of Congress or the Territorial Leg
islatures to exclude slavery from the Ter
ritories. nor from the efforts of different
States to defeat the execution OF the Flu
gi,ive Slave law. All or any Of these evils
might have been endured by the South
without danger 10 the Uuion, (as others
have i'ern,) in the hope that time and re-
hec'on might apply the remedy. The i'm
mediate peril arises not SD much from these
CAUSES 4. from the ta,:l that the incesS;.u,
and violent agitation Of the slavery qmes-
ton thrnugr"u, the North for the last
quarter of Il century, has At leugti produced
malign Influence on the slaves. anil inspired
them with vague notions Of frecdom.-
Hence 4 sense Of security no longer exists
around the family aI:ar.
This feeling Of prare at home has given
place to apprchcnsious Of serviIo insurrec-
ton. Many n'a,ron throughout the
South r",rcs ut night in dread Of what may
befnll herself and her children before tie
morning. Should this apprehension of do
mestic danger, whether real or imaginary,
extend and intensity itself until it shall per-
wade the n.asses Of the Southern people
then disunion will become inevitable
Self-prese'va,ion is he first law Of nature
and has been implanted in the heart Of man
BY lis Creator for the wisest purpose; and
no political. Union, however fraugbt will
blessings and benefits in all other respects
can long continue, If the necessary consc-
quence be to render the homes and the
tirosi.les Of nearly half the parties to il Ia
bitually and hopeIessIy insecure. Sooner
or later the bonds Of such Union must bc
severed. 1t i, my conviction that this fat4
period has not vet arrived: and my p,ave,
to God is that lie would preserve the Con,
sttu,ion and the Union throughout al
generations.
Ifut let lis take warning in time, and re
move the cause Of danger. II cannot b,
denied that, for five and twenty years, th'
agitation at the North against slavery i.
the Soutl. has been incessaut. In le3:
pictorial hanl.LiIls, and inf 'Inmat"ry ap
PeaIs, were circulated extensively through
out the South, OF cllar,,clrr to excie tn
passions OF The slaves; and, in the Ianguag
of General Jackson, to s,i:unIatc Them 4
insurrecti"n, and produce all the horr'.rs q
servile war; This agitation has eve
since esen continued hy .he public pres,
by the proceedings Of State and Cpnven
lions, and by abolition sermons and lee
lures: The time Of Congress has been oe
cupied in violent speeches on this ueve.
ending subject; and appeals in pamphI.
and Other. FORMS. endorsed by distirguisl,e
names, bsxs been sent forth from this cen
tral point, ard spread broadcast over ii,
Union. ~.
How easy would itbe for the America
people tosettle ihs slavery question :oreve
and to restore peace and harmony in Il,
distracted county.
They, and they alone, can do it. A
that is is'necsssary to accomplish tie oobjss
and all for Which the Slave States I'M
ever contended, is to tie let alone, and, pei
mitted to manage their domestic insli.,
tions in their own way. AS sovereie
States, they, ana they. a'one. are respons
.bIe before God and the world for tie sIav
~ existing among them. For this. ii
people of The North are not more resppo,
sibls, and have no more right to i'tsffe,
than with simIar institutions. 10 Russia
in Brazil. Upon their good sense and p
tr,otic forl'earance ! confess I atiil gfesl
rely, Without their aidait is beyond 4.
power Of spy&Presidept no nastter wi,
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