Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-01-05
Presidents Message.
Fslou 'citizes,s Of The Senate and House 81
ReppeseRtdttpes:

Representatives:
CTR deep and heart felt gratitude is due to .
that Almighty Power which has bestowed up
on us such varied and numerous blessings |
throughout the past year. The general health |
-ct The country has been excellent; our har- |
vests have been unusually plentiful and pros
perity smiles throughout the land. Indeed, !
notwithstanding Our dement's, We have much
reason to believe from the past events in our
history, that we have enjoyed the special pro-
lection of Divine Providence ever since orr
origin as nation. We have been exposed to
many threatening and alarming diflicultiesin
our progress but on each SUGGEST We occasion
the impending cloud has been dissfpated at
the rifdtnent it appeared ready to burst upon
our head, and the danger TO our institutions
has passed away. May we ever Ire under the
divine guidance and protection
Whilst Il is the duty of the President from
time to time TO give to Congress information
'uf'tie state of tho Union shall not refer in
detail to the recent sad and bloody occurrence
at IIarper's Ferry. Still, it is Ifoper TO OBJ
serve that these events, however bad and cru
VI in themselves derive their cliief importance
from tile apprehensonthat are but symp
toms of an incurablc disease in the public
mind, which may break ont in still more dan
gcrous outrages ard terminate at last in all
open war by the North to abolish slavery in
the South. Whilst, for myself, entertain
no such apprehension, they ought to afford
solemn warning to us all to he aware of the
approach of danger Our Union is q stake
Of such inestimable value rs to demand our
constant and watchhl Vigilance for its pres
ervation. In this view, let Inc implore my
countrymen, North and South, to cultivate
the ancient feelings of mutual forbearance
l,,,,1 .1l,a Il t.,,
TO nllay the demon spirit Of sectional hatred
and strife now alive in the land. This ad
vice proceeds from the heart of an old pub
lie functionary whose service commenced in
the last generation, among the wise and con-
sentative statesman of that day, now nearly
all passed away, and whose first and dearest
earthly wish is to leave his country tranquil,
prosperous, united, and powerful.
We ought to reflect that in this age, and
especially in this country there is an inces
SAINT fuX and rellux Of public opinion
Questions which in their day assumed n most
threatening aspect, have now nearly all gone
from the memory of men. They are ''vol-
canoes burnt out, and Of the lava and asles
squald scorm of old eruptions grow the peace
full olive, the cheering vine, and the sustain
ing corn" Such, in my opinion, will prove
TO be the fate Of the present sectional excite
ment, should those who wisely seek to apply
the remedy, continue always to confnc tlcir
efforts within the pale OF the Consultation. -
If this course be pursued, tire existing ngita-
ton on the subject Of domestic slavery, like
everything human, will have its day, and
give place to other and less threatening con-
iroversies. Public opinion in this country is
sl!-powerlul, and when it reaches q dagger
Gus excess upon any question, the good sense
IL Il, a,
bring it back within safe limits. Still, to
hasten this suspicious result, at the present
crisis we ought to remember that every ra-
tionnl creature must be presumed to intend
the natural consequences of his own teach
ings. Those " no announce abstract doctrines
subversiye of the Constitution and the Union,
must not be surprised should their heated paI =
tisans advance one step further, and attempt
by violence to carry these doctrines into prac-
teal effect In this view Of the subject it
ought never to be forgotten that, however
great may have been the political advantages
resulting from the Union to every portion Of
our common country, these would all prove
10 be as nothing should the time ever arrive
when they cannot be enjoyed without serious
danger to the personal safety of the people of
fifteen members of the confederaoy. If the
peace of the domestic frcside throughout these
States should ever be invaded-if the mothers
OF families within this extensive region should
not be able to retire to rest at night without
suffering dgesdfa apprehensions of what may
be their own fate and that of Their children
before the morning--it would be vain to re-
count to such people the political benefits
which result to them from the Union. Self
preservation is the first instinct Of nature; and
thersfore any state Of society in which the
q, ,l,l tl,1I Il
Of the people, must at last become iutolcrablc
But indulge in no s,,ch gloomy furcbodings
On the contrary, firmly believe that the
events at IIarpers Ferry, by causing the peo-
pie to pause and reflect upon the possible
peril to their cherished institutions, will be
the means, under Providence, of allaying the
existing excitement and preventing future out
breaks of a similar character. They will re-
solve that the Constitution and the Union
shall not be endangered by rash counsels
knowing that, should the silver cord DO loos-
cd or the golden bowl be broken ct the foun-
tain human power could never reurite the
scattered and hostile fragments
Icordially congratulate you upon the final
settlement by the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States of :hs question Of slavery in the
Territories, which had presented an aspect so
truly formidable at the commencement of my
administration. The right has been estab-
lished of every citizen to take his property of
any kind, includiug slaves, into the common
Territories belonging equally to all the States
of the Conte,isyacy and to have it protected
there under the Federal Constitution. Neither
Congress nor territorial legislature nor any
human power has any authority to annul or
impair this vested right. The supreme judi
eial tribunal Of the country. which is CO.
~; h., h ,f t,a , b,,
toned and affirmed these principles of const-
tutional law. so mauifesty just in themselves
and 30 well calculated to promote peace and
harmony among the States. It is striking
proof of the sense of justice which is inherent
in our people, that the property in slaves has
never been disturbed, to my knowledge, in
any of the Territories. Even throughout the
late troubles in Kansas there has not been
any attempt rs am credibly informed, to
interfere in single instance, with the right Of
the master. Had any such attempt been made
the judiciary would doubtless have afforded
an adequate remedy. Should they fail to do
this hereafter, it will then lie time enough TO
strengthen their hands by further legislation
Had it been decided that either Congress or
the territorial legislature possess the power to
.annul or impair the right TO property in slaves
the evil would be intoierabe. In the latter
event, there would be a struggle for major
ity Of the members of the legislature at each
successive election, and the sacred rights of
property held under the Federal Constitution
would depend for the time being on the re-
suit. The agitation would thus be rendered
incessant whilst the territorial condit on re-
NAMED, and its baneiu influence would keep
alive dangerous excitement among the peo-
pie of the several States.
Thus has the status of a Territory, during