Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-12-12
WHOLE NO. 952.
The Presidents Message.
FsllolD citizens Of the Senate and House o.
Representatives.:

nave Deen aOundant, aud plenty smiles
throughout the land. 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 very recent period
Why is 1t then that disconten tnow so exten.
sively prevails, and the Union Of the
States, which is the source Of all blessings
is threstered with destruction? The long
continued and intempera,e interference OF
the Northorn people with the question of
Slavery IN the Southern States has at
length produced its natural effect. The
different sections of the Union are now
arrayed against each other, and the time
has arrived so much dreaded by theFather
OF his Country. when hostile geographical
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 90 the part Of Congress or the Ter
rltorial Legislatures 20 exclude slavery
from the Territories. nor from the efforts Of
the different States to defeat the execution
of the Fugitive Slave Law. All or any of
these evils might have been endured by
the South. without danger TO the Unio ,as
Others have been, in the hope that time
and reflection might apply the remedy
The immediate peril arises. net 50 much
from these causes, as from the fact that the
violent agitation Of the slavery question
throughout the North for the last q quarter of
century, has at length produced it's
malign influence on the slaves and in
sPired them with vague notions of free
dom. Hence sense Of security no longer
exists around the family altar This feel
ing at home has given place to apprehen
tions OF servile insurrection. Many a ma
tron, throughout the South, retires at
night in dread OF what may befall herself
and children before the morning. Should
this pprehension of domestic danger.
whether real or imaginary, extend
and intensity itself until it shall per-
wade the masses OF the Southern people,
then disunion will become inevitable
Self preservation is the first law of nature,
and has been implanted in the heart of
man by theCreator, for the wisest purposes,
and no political union however fraught
with blessings and benefit in all other re-
spects can long continue, if the necessary
consequence be to render the homes and
firesides of nearly half the parties to il
habitually and hopelessly insecure
Sooner or later the bond Of such union
must be severed 1t is my conviction that
this fatal period has not yet arrived. and
my prayer to God is that he would pre-
serve 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 fve and twenty years, .he agitation at
the North against Slavery in the South
has been iucessant. In 1885 pictorial hand
bills and infsmmatory appeals were cir
culated extensively throughout the South,
Of a character to excite the passions Of the
slaves-and in the language of Gen. Jack
son, to stimulate them to insurrection, and
produce all the horrors of servile war
This agitation has ever since been contin-
ued by the public press, by the proceed
ings cf State and County Conventions, and
by abolition sermons and lectures. The
time of Congress is occupied with violent
speeches on this 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 1t be for the American people
to settle the slavery question forever, and
restore peace and harmony to this distrac
ted country. They alone can do it. All
that is necessary to accomplish this object,
and all which the the slave States have
ever contended for, is TO be let alone, and
permitted to manage their domestic insti-
tutions in their own way, as sovereign
States. They, aud 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 re-
sponsible, aud have no more right 10 in
terfere than with similar institutions in
Russia or Brazil. r .ir aesfflr - .il..i
Upon their good sense and patriotic for
besrance / esnfess still greatly rely
Without their aid It Is beyond the power ol
any President, no matter what may be his
own political proclivities. to restore peace
and harmony among the States Wisely
limited and restrained as is his power un-
der our Constitution and laws, he alone
can accomplish but little for good or evil
on such Dolnentous question, and thi.
brings me to observe, that the election oil
any one OF our fellow citizens TO the Office
of President does not of itself afford ju.
cause for dissolving the Union. This i:
more especially true il his election ha'
been effected by mere plurality. and no
majority Of the people, and has resulted
from transient and temporary causes
which may probably never again occur
In order to Justify resort To revolution
ary rssis,ance the Federal Govcrnmen
must be guilty Of a deliberate. palpable
and dangerous exercise of powers, no
granted by the Constitution. The lat
Presidential election, however, has bee
held in strict conformity with its provi
sions. How then can the result jus
tify a revolution TO destroy this yer
Constitution reason. justice and regar
for the Constitution all require that W
shall wait for some overt aad dangerou
act on the part oft the President elect befoi
resorting TO snch remedy.
IL is said, however, that the antecedenl
of the Presid cnt cleo: have been sufficiei
TO Justify ts3 fears Of the South tina
will atteinp; to invade their Constitution
rights. but are such apprehensioris OF col
tingent danger in the future sufficient
Justify the Immediate destruction of ii
noblest sys,em Of government ever devise
by snortals From the very nature OF b
Office suefits high responsibilities be mu
necessarily be conservative. The stern d,
ty Of administering the vast and comp
Gated councils Of this Goyerprncnt affor
in Itself guarantee that he will not a
tempt any violation Of a clear Constit
tional right. After all he is no more tn
the Chief Executive officer Of the Gover
msnt. His provinceaisanot 10 make but
execute the laws. -abA II is remarkat
fact 10 our history that. notwithstand'
the reported efforts of the anti
marty. no single act has ever passed Ct
eress. tnicss we may possibly except
Missouri Compromise, impsiring 10
slightest degree the rights OF the south
their property in slaves. Aud IT may q
be observed judging from present ind''
tions, that no probability exists ct
passage of such an act by majority
both Houses either In the present or
next congress. .e3oss nHiH
Surely under these circumstances
ought to be restrained from present act
bv the preeept Of Him who spake as ne
man spoke, that Sufficient unto the
is The evil thereof" fhc day OIL
NAV neyer come ualess We shall ras
brisg it upon ourselves. IL is alleged IS
cause, for Immediate secession that
Southern States are denied equal rii
with the other States in the common te
torv: but by what authority are these
niedl Not by Congress, which has M NJ
passed and 1 believe never VII pass
act to exclude slavery from these terr
ties; and certainly pes BY the suPr
Court, which has. solemniy dscided
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